ABSTRACT One of the main issues in design of bridge pavement concerns rutting (permanent deformation). Traditional approach in rutting evaluation takes into account average seasonal temperatures. To get a better approximation, a different approach was developed. A numerical analysis (based on temperatures collected through a specific in situ survey) was carried out to evaluate rut depth in two ways, respectively considering the average seasonal temperatures (traditional approach) and the frequency distribution of the temperatures (different approach, based on the concept of temperature configuration). The comparison of the resulting ruts with the actual ruts measured in situ showed that the rutting predicted on the base of the traditional approach are meaningfully underestimated whereas the different approach, using frequency distribution of the temperatures, allows an adequate and satisfactory prediction.