Approximately 50 percent of Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) managers surveyed indicated that CVISN electronic credentialing systems can save staff time and labor, allowing additional support to be assigned to more critical agency functions.
Date Posted
09/26/2008
Identifier
2008-B00561
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Description of Benefits and Lessons Learned from State Self-Evaluations of Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) Deployments (October 2003 to August 2006)

Summary Information

Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) is a cooperative, U.S. DOT-sponsored program for improving the safety, efficiency, and productivity of commercial vehicle operations (CVO) through the development of a unified national information technology (IT) architecture that each state can adapt to meet its own business conditions and operating environment. This report included an analysis of CVISN and its impacts on the commercial vehicle operations in the United States. Between October 2003 and August 2006 the U.S. DOT evaluated CVISN deployments in 34 states. The purpose of this report is to present a summary of the benefits and lessons learned in deploying technologies as part of the CVISN program, as reported by state transportation and law enforcement officials.

Self-evaluation survey forms were made available to state CVISN managers encouraging them to record and share information regarding their experiences with their electronic screening, safety information exchange, and electronic credentialing deployment activities. To help standardize the types of information collected and allow for cross cutting analysis, three types of survey forms or templates were developed (Deployment, Costs; Benefits/Lessons Learned). These forms were made available to CVISN managers on a password protected website.

The Deployment template included statistics and descriptions of CVISN technologies currently in place, deployment plans, and the scope of commercial vehicle operations in each state. The Costs template included information on start-up costs, annual labor, and operations and maintenance costs required to continue using CVISN. The Benefits/Lessons learned template was designed to collect more qualitative, contextual information on benefits and lessons learned including information on technical challenges, institutional issues, and recommendations.

Comments from several State agencies show that CVISN electronic credentialing and safety inspection software can improve data quality, reduce clerical errors, and make it easier and less time consuming for carriers to apply for and renew credentials. Overall, states indicated that CVISN technologies contributed to improved productivity as described below.

RESULTS

The following anecdotes, excerpted from the report, represent tangible benefits, in terms of money and time savings, experienced by State agencies.
  • "Motor carriers were often required to obtain credentials from a single location. . . . A round trip could take up to 15 hours driving time alone. They also had the option of mailing the application forms and waiting several days for their credentials. The new Internet system allows a carrier to obtain credentials from within its office in 15 minutes."
  • "Electronic credentialing has reduced the [time required for] data entry by at least 80%, and the time for issuing credentials has been reduced from 3 days to 1 hour."
  • "Preclearance saves carriers approximately $3 million, based on the fact that it costs $1.00 per minute to operate a truck, and they save on average 5 minutes if they can bypass a scale.
Respondents indicated that CVISN technologies saved time and reduced labor costs for the government agencies as well as the motor carriers with which they interact. Approximately 50 percent of managers indicated that as a result of the time and labor savings through CVISN, they were able to assign additional support to more critical functions. Other states indicated that system reduced the need for required overtime labor during peak periods of credentials processing. For example, the error checking features associated with CVISN credentialing and safety inspection software applications helped reduce typographical data entry errors which in turn reduced the need for required rework.
Goal Areas
Deployment Locations