Optimization of the freeway truck toll by weight policy, including external environmental costs

A policy for tolling trucks by weight has recently been implemented in China. However, the policy ignores the external environmental costs of heavy trucks. By referring to the German HGV toll policy, similar toll scheme has been implemented in China. This paper considers including the external environmental costs of heavy trucks on freeways in the Chinese toll system, similar to the German HGV toll policy. The truck toll by weight model is optimized to account for external costs of environmental pollution. A case study in Heilongjiang gives further insight into development of the toll by weight policy, which may contribute to development of sustainable transportation.