Rutting is a surface depression located within the wheel paths. Pavement uplift will occur along the sides of the rut. Rutting is started by a permanent deformation in any of the pavement’s layers or sub-base commonly caused by heavy load distress such as garbage trucks repeatedly traveling over the same area. These depressions and grooves are most commonly caused by lateral movement of the asphalt and sub-base layers due to traffic load.
Significant rutting can lead to high-severity structural failure in the pavement, sub-base, and surrounding earth-like materials. Ponding occurring within rutting areas will only increase the pavement's deterioration exponentially.