Design Vehicles

For intersection design, use standard "design vehicles" whose weight, dimensions, and operating characteristics will control the design. As a rule of thumb, intersections should be designed to accommodate a single-unit truck or the largest vehicle that will need to navigate through the intersection with considerable frequency. Common types of design vehicles include a passenger car, a single unit truck, a school bus, and an intermediate semitrailer.

UFC 4-022-01 for Entry Control Facilities (i.e., the installation gates) requires the commercial gate design to accommodate a minimum WB-67 design vehicle. ECFs that only process passenger cars must have the minimum ability for a wheel base (WB)-67 vehicles to be rejected prior to the identification (ID) check area. Installations should internally decide on the largest design vehicle to use for intersection design.

As stated, this decision should be based on the size of the largest vehicle intended to use the intersection. It is important to consider the actual size of the trucks that bring deliveries to the BX, PX, commissary, etc. Also, it is important to point out that this design vehicle is primarily to be used for the intersections along the truck routes that deliveries use and where they will be making a turning movement. For all other intersections, consider the use of a bus for the design vehicle if there is a City Bus system or school buses using the roadway.