What's the big idea?

Longer and heavier trucks are being developed to increase the efficiency of freight transport on increasingly congested roads in Europe. The EuroCombi truck, Volvo's European Modular System (EMS), Denby Transport's Eco-Link and Stan Robinson's roadtrain are being displayed at trade shows and their advantages are the subject of symposiums. A common misconception is that longer trucks have higher gross weights, but the operational advantage of such trucks is their higher load volume. Demonstrations of the EuroCombi truck at Münsingen, Germany, are described. Steered dollies were fitted to some demonstration vehicles to satisfy turning circle requirements. The safety credentials of the EuroCombi were emphasised: similar braking distances for the 60-tonne EuroCombi as a 40-tonne standard truck-trailer, excellent directional stability, retarders, lane-changing warning systems, proximity control and 25-metre warning plates. The economic benefits of EuroCombi included 2.2 billion fewer kilometres if they were licensed for operation only in Germany and 15% lower emissions of oxides of nitrogen and particulates. A study in the Netherlands trialled up to 300 longer and heavier vehicle combinations (LHV). The study concluded that the potential number of LHV in the Netherlands was 6000-12000, replacing 8000-16000 conventional truck combinations, and that LHVs did not have a higher safety risk than conventional combinations. (A)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00203122
• Authors:
  • BLAKEMORE, T
• Publication Date: 2006-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 22-24
• Serial:
  • TRANSPORT ENGINEER
  • Publisher: Institute of Road Transport Engineeers
  • ISSN: 0020-3122

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freight transportation; Traffic congestion; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Long haul
• Geographic Terms: Germany; Netherlands
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Motor Carriers; Vehicles and Equipment; I10: Economics and Administration; I90: Vehicles; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01043451
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 6 2007 9:59AM