Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining, by a controller onboard the vehicle, a lateral plan for the operating vehicle along a route; obtaining, by the controller, pitch data pertaining to the lateral plan; and determining, by the controller, a longitudinal plan for operating the vehicle along the route based on the pitch data and the lateral plan, wherein the pitch data influences a planned rate of longitudinal movement of the vehicle at one or more points along the lateral plan. In this regard, the planned vehicle velocity or acceleration at a point in the future may be constrained by pitch data corresponding to the expected vehicle location at that point in the future.