In times of the EU Enlargement Germany has been faced with steadily increasing freight and transit traffic, due to its geographical position in the middle of Europe. The German expressway system has an overall length of approximately 25.000 kilometers (both directions) and therewith is the longest system in Europe. Overall 1.2 million trucks use the German expressways and cover a total distance of 22.7 trillion kilometers every year. The preservation and further expansion of this system is an important leverage of development for Germany and Europe as a whole. The costs for road construction and maintenance have been rising directly proportional to the transit traffic. Since this burden was only carried by Germany's public, namely by the German citizens' taxes, the Federal Government launched a distance-based toll for all heavy goods vehicles with a total weight of 12 tons or more, driving on German expressways.
This so-called "LKW Maut" came into effect on January 1st, 2005 and is a watershed in financing. For the first time the costs for maintenance are allocated to those who predominantly cause the abrasion. Politics call this a better and fairer financing of the infrastructure. One heavy truck stresses the streets 60.000-times more than a car. In addition this toll system leads to a higher transport efficiency, which can be seen in the fact that empty return trips went back from over ten to nine percent in 2005, respectively. Thereby it also has a positive effect on sustainability. The fee, each truck has to pay, is defined in accordance to the number of axles, the relating emissions class and the distance travelled. Political background of the toll is to shift freight traffic from the roads to railroad and waterways. Toll Collect GmbH has been responsible for developing a toll system in the name of the Federal Republic of Germany which united GPS technology for satellite-based positioning and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications). Together with vehicle-installed On-Board Units the system is able to determine the exact position of the trucks and to calculate the toll amount automatically without any need for stops because of personal log-ons for the intended route.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Road Tolls
- 2.1 Beginning of toll taking
- 2.2 Types and aims of road tolling
- 3 Truck Toll in Germany
- 3.1 Award procedure and introduction process
- 3.2 Judicial aspects for toll collection
- 3.3 Economic aspects of Toll Collect GmbH
- 3.4 General Survey about the Toll Collect System
- 3.4.1 Toll amount
- 3.4.2 Payment methods
- 3.4.3 Interoperability
- 4 Technical system/implementation
- 4.1 Automatic log-on
- 4.1.1 On-Board Unit (OBU)
- 4.1.2 Global Positioning System (GPS)
- 4.1.3 Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)
- 4.1.4 DSRC System
- 4.2 Manual log-on
- 4.2.1 Log-on at terminal
- 4.2.2 Log-on via internet
- 4.2.3 Cancellations
- 5 Ways of enforcement
- 6 Conclusion and thoughts for the future
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This study paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the Toll Collect system in Germany. It explores the historical context of road tolling, examines the technical implementation of the Toll Collect system, and analyzes its economic and legal aspects. * The history and development of road tolling in Germany. * The technical infrastructure and processes of the Toll Collect system. * The legal framework and regulatory challenges surrounding toll collection. * The economic impacts and financial considerations of the Toll Collect system. * Enforcement mechanisms and strategies for ensuring compliance.Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1 Introduction: This chapter likely introduces the Toll Collect system, its significance, and the scope of the study. It sets the stage for a detailed examination of the system's various aspects, including its technical implementation, legal framework, and economic implications. It may also briefly outline the structure of the paper and the main points that will be covered in subsequent chapters. 2 Road Tolls: This chapter would delve into the broader context of road tolling, tracing its historical development and exploring different types of tolling systems employed globally. It would likely discuss the various goals and objectives behind implementing road tolls, such as funding infrastructure improvements, managing traffic congestion, and promoting environmental sustainability. The chapter might also analyze the economic and social impacts associated with different road tolling models. 3 Truck Toll in Germany: This chapter focuses specifically on the German truck toll system, detailing its introduction, award procedure, and overall implementation. It would analyze the legal framework governing the system, including judicial challenges and regulations. Additionally, a significant portion would likely be dedicated to the economic aspects, examining the financial performance and sustainability of Toll Collect GmbH, the company responsible for operating the system. The chapter would also provide a general overview of the Toll Collect system's functionalities, including methods of payment and interoperability with other systems. 4 Technical system/implementation: This chapter explores the technical details of the Toll Collect system. It would explain the automatic log-on process, detailing the functions of the On-Board Unit (OBU), the Global Positioning System (GPS), the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), and the Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) system. It would also describe the manual log-on procedures, including log-on at terminals and via the internet, and discuss mechanisms for cancellations. The chapter likely provides detailed diagrams and explanations of the system’s technical architecture and data flow. 5 Ways of enforcement: This chapter would likely examine the strategies employed to ensure compliance with the German truck toll system. It would discuss the methods used to identify and prosecute drivers who fail to pay tolls, and potentially compare different enforcement mechanisms used in other countries. This would include analyzing the effectiveness of these strategies in achieving compliance and deterring toll evasion.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Toll Collect, road tolling, truck toll, Germany, GPS, GSM, DSRC, OBU, electronic toll collection, legal aspects, economic aspects, technical implementation, enforcement, interoperability.
Frequently Asked Questions: Comprehensive Language Preview of the German Toll Collect System
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of the German Toll Collect system. It serves as a preview, including the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The information is intended for academic use, facilitating the analysis of themes in a structured and professional manner.
What topics are covered in the document?
The document covers a wide range of topics related to the Toll Collect system, including its historical context, technical implementation, legal aspects, economic impacts, and enforcement mechanisms. Specific areas explored are the history and development of road tolling in Germany, the technical infrastructure and processes of Toll Collect, the legal framework and regulatory challenges, the economic impacts and financial considerations, and enforcement strategies for ensuring compliance.
What are the key chapters and their summaries?
The document is structured into several key chapters: Introduction: Introduces the Toll Collect system and its significance. Road Tolls: Explores the broader context of road tolling globally. Truck Toll in Germany: Focuses on the German truck toll system, its implementation, legal, and economic aspects. Technical System/Implementation: Details the technical aspects, including the OBU, GPS, GSM, and DSRC systems. Ways of Enforcement: Examines strategies for ensuring compliance with the toll system. Conclusion and thoughts for the future: (Summary not explicitly provided in the preview).
What are the key objectives and themes of the study?
The main objectives are to provide a comprehensive overview of the Toll Collect system, exploring its historical context, technical implementation, economic, and legal aspects. Key themes include the history and development of road tolling in Germany; the technical infrastructure and processes; the legal framework and challenges; economic impacts and financial considerations; and enforcement mechanisms.
What technical aspects of the Toll Collect system are discussed?
The technical implementation is detailed, including the automatic log-on process using On-Board Units (OBUs), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) systems. Manual log-on procedures and cancellation methods are also explained.
What are the legal and economic aspects covered?
The document analyzes the legal framework governing the Toll Collect system, including judicial aspects and regulations. It also examines the economic aspects, such as the financial performance and sustainability of Toll Collect GmbH, and considers the economic impacts of the system.
What are the keywords associated with this study?
Key words include: Toll Collect, road tolling, truck toll, Germany, GPS, GSM, DSRC, OBU, electronic toll collection, legal aspects, economic aspects, technical implementation, enforcement, and interoperability.
For what purpose is this information intended?
This information is intended solely for academic use, supporting structured and professional analysis of the themes related to the German Toll Collect system.
- Quote paper
- Sebastian Wagner (Author), 2007, Technical System and Implementation of Toll Collect, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/112822
