MAINE DOT USES DIESEL POWER

ALTHOUGH PAVING THE WAY FOR EVENTUAL DIESELIZATION OF THE FLEET OF HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT WAS STARTED IN 1935, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TRANSITION FROM GASOLINE TO DIESEL POWER INVOLVED THE DEPARTMENT'S LARGE FLEET OF DUMP TRUCKS EACH OF WHICH IS EQUIPPED FOR WINTER SERVICE INCLUDING SNOW REMOVAL AND ICE CONTROL. TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY UNITS POWERED BY DOMESTIC ENGINES AND SMALLER CLASS VEHICLES HAVE BEEN USED. SIX YEARS OF TEST, EVALUATION AND COMPARISON HAVE PROVED THAT THE DIESEL IS COMPLETELY ADAPTABLE FOR PATROL DUTY AT A SUBSTANTIAL DECREASE IN FINAL OPERATING COST. FINAL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS REVEALED A TOTAL ENGINE OPERATING AND REPAIR COST AVERAGE PER ENGINE HOUR OF $0.5677 FOR THE DIESEL, COMPARED WITH $1.0411 FOR THE GASOLINE UNITS. INCREASINGLY RIGID ECOLOGY STANDARDS PROMPT UTILIZING DIESEL POWER UNTIL A SUPERIOR, CHEAPER SOURCE OF POWER IS READILY AVAILABLE. ALTHOUGH IMPROVEMENTS IN PERFORMANCE, DEPENDABILITY AND LONGER ENGINE LIFE ARE IMPORTANT, SAVINGS IN FUEL COST IS SEEN TO BE THE PRIMARY JUSTIFICATION FOR DIESELIZATION.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
• Authors:
  • Vigue, R F
• Publication Date: 1972-11

Media Info

• Features: Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 66-9
• Serial:
  • Public Works
  • Volume: 103
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: Hanley Wood
  • ISSN: 0033-3840
  • Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cold weather; Construction equipment; Costs; Diesel fuels; Diesel trucks; Dump trucks; Evaluation; Maintenance equipment; Operations; Performance; Service life
• Uncontrolled Terms: Patrol
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Design; Finance; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00219501
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Synopsis
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 11 1974 12:00AM