Methods and systems for counting vehicle wheels and axles. A strip material can be embedded in a roadway to produce a slightly raised surface. The strip can be angled at a relatively large angle, (e.g., 78 degrees) with respect to the direction of travel. The number of wheels per axle and the number of axles per vehicle can be counted as the vehicle rolls over the strip and the wheels contact the strip at different times. A signal emitted from a detection mechanism(s) associated with the strip material can be transmitted to a signal processing unit to determine the number of wheels and axle with respect to the vehicle. The vehicle wheel and axle counts can be determined by the number and grouping of signals from the detection mechanism. Such an approach provides a reliable, direct measure of the wheel and axle counts for toll charge or classification purposes.