Modular AB-triples: Australia’s next generation of very high productivity freight vehicles

The National Transport Commission (NTC) and ARRB have the common aim to improve Australia’s productivity, in particular through the efficient movement of road freight. In May 2012, a national modular B-triple policy developed by the NTC (and contributed to by ARRB) was approved allowing modular B-triples to operate on the Type 1 road train network. The policy allows greater access for B-triples as well as more flexibility and potentially more productivity which is good news for operators. The B-triple policy also provided the stepping stone for the introduction of an even higher productivity vehicle on this network; the modular AB-triple. The AB-triple is intended to operate on parts of the Type 1 road train network under a national class 2 notice under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). A modular AB-triple is a standard semi-trailer towing a standard converter dolly and a standard B-double trailer set and is formed from existing B-double equipment. Before allowing AB-triples access to the road network, it was necessary to understand the on-road safety performance of the AB-triple configuration. To quantify the performance of the vehicle, ARRB has conducted an assessment of a set of modular AB-triples (up to 42.5 metres long) and compared them to the performance of reference road trains and modular B-triples. This assessment was conducted using the Performance Based Standards (PBS) framework and computer simulation. The assessed combinations covered a range of variations in longitudinal dimensions (fifteen variants) and six common freight types for each dimensional variant. Additionally, an infrastructure assessment was performed focusing on the road train bridge formula and a SAR/ESA analysis. A mass-based and volume-based productivity analysis was completed. The critical road characteristics regarding network access on the Type 1 road train network were identified.

• Record URL:
  http://arrbknowledge.com
• Authors:
  • Bucko, A
  • Germanchev, A
  • Arredondo, J
• Conference:
  • ARRB Conference, 26th, 2014, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
• Publication Date: 2014-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 14p
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: 8.3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freight transportation; Heavy vehicles; Tractor trailer combinations; Types of roads by network; Vehicle design; Vehicle size; Vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Road networks
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ATRI Terms: B triple; Freight transport; Road network; Vehicle design; Vehicle dimension
• ITRD Terms: 9011: Design (overall design); 1112: Freight transport; 1236: Lorry
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01548078
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 17 2014 10:55AM