Truck-Mounted Pavement Temperature Sensors: What They Read and What Operators Do With It

Questions operators ask

What does the sensor measure?

Most units read infrared radiation from the surface in front of or below the truck. Check the manual for the model you have, and note its stated limits.

Why does the reading change from one stretch to another?

Bridges, shaded sections, low spots and different surfaces all behave differently. A reading on one stretch does not describe the next.

Can I trust it through snow and slush?

Treat readings with caution when the surface is covered. The sensor may read the snow rather than the pavement. Test it against a handheld thermometer or a known reference.

How does it help with plowing?

Temperature tells you whether snow is likely to bond, whether the surface is likely to be icy and how treatment is likely to behave. That influences whether to scrape first, how hard and whether to treat.

How does it connect to the edge?

A cold, dry surface and a near-freezing wet one load the edge differently. Notes of temperature alongside edge wear help you spot patterns over a season.

What should be logged?

Time, location, reading, surface condition and what the crew did next. A few lines per storm are enough.

Good habits

A sensor is only as good as its last check against a reference.

• Calibrate or compare the sensor against a handheld reference at the start of the season.
• Keep the lens clean; salt spray and dirt change readings.
• Agree on action thresholds with your supervisor and write them down.
• Do not use the reading as the only basis for a decision.

Using readings with the edge in mind

Over a season, put the temperature, the surface condition and the edge wear next to each other in your log. Patterns may show, such as faster wear at certain temperatures or on certain stretches, and those patterns can help you decide when to treat, when to scrape and when to expect an edge change.

Boundary: No sensor specifications or accuracy figures are cited; read your maker’s manual and test the unit yourself.