TRUCK SPEED LIMITS: CRISIS FOR AMERICA

THIS COMPREHENSIVE REPORT COVERS VITAL ASPECTS OF FEDERAL HIGH SPEED REGULATIONS FOR TRUCKING. IT INCLUDES TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS AS WELL AS A DISCUSSION OF THE IMMEDIATE AND LONG-RANGE OUTLOOK FOR TRUCKING'S FUEL PROBLEMS. THE QUESTION OF EQUAL SPEED LIMITS FOR TRUCKS AND PASSENGER CARS, IS CONSIDERED. THE PLEA IS MADE FOR TRUCKS TO MOVE AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 50 MPH WHEN ROAD CONDITIONS PERMIT. THE ESTIMATE THAT 50 MPH LIMIT ON LINE-HAUL DIESEL POWERED TRUCKS WOULD SAVE 5 PERCENT OF HIGHWAY USED DIESEL FUEL, IS QUESTIONED. SPEED LIMITS OPERATIVE AT SPECIFIC TIMES OF THE DAY ARE PROPOSED. THE CONSEQUENCES OF LOW-SPEED TRUCKING ARE REVIEWED AND DETAILS ARE GIVEN OF MECHANICAL AND EQUIPMENT APPROACHES. IT IS CONCLUDED FROM COMPUTER STUDIES THAT MOST TRUCKS, INCLUDING THOSE BUILT AFTER THE 60S CAN SAVE APPROXIMATELY 15 PERCENT ON FUEL AT 55 MPH. FUEL ECONOMIES RESULTING FROM CUTTING SPEEDS FROM 70 TO 50-55 ARE NOT MUCH AFFECTED BY HEAVIER LOADS. TESTS WERE CONDUCTED WITH A TYPICAL INTERNATIONAL LINE HAUL TRACTOR. TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS ARE DISCUSSED. A FINAL ALTERNATIVE TO MEETING A REDUCED SPEED LIMIT WITH A VEHICLE GEARED FOR HIGH CRUISING SPEEDS IS A CHANGE IN THE REAR AXLE GEARS. THIS, HOWEVER, CAN BE COSTLY AND SUCH GEARS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY. THE BEST MEANS OF ACHIEVING SIGNIFICANT SAVING IN THE USE OF HIGHWAY FUEL IS IN INCREASING THE ALLOWABLE SIZES AND WEIGHTS OF TRUCKS AND COMBINATIONS. ACTION IN THIS AREA BY THE SEVERAL STATES MAY LEAD TO PERMANENT LEGISLATION. THE SPECIAL CASE OF TURNPIKE DOUBLES IS DISCUSSED, AND THE QUESTION OF MORE EQUIPMENT AND DRIVERS, AND CHANGES IN SCHEDULES ARE CONSIDERED. THE ELIMINATION OF DEADHEAD MILES AND INDIRECT ROUTES ARE SEEN AS TWO KEY AREAS OF ECONOMIES. THE EFFECTS OF SPEED REDUCTIONS AND THE FUEL CRISIS ON TRUCKING SERVICE ARE OUTLINED, AND THE ROLE OF PIGGYBACK AS AN ALTERNATIVE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION IS REVIEWED.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/23150828
• Publication Date: 1974-1

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 53-84
• Serial:
  • Fleet Owner
  • Volume: 69
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Primedia Business Magazines & Media, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 1070-194X
  • Serial URL: http://www.fleetowner.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axles; Diesel trucks; Economic factors; Economics; Equipment; Laws; Line haul; Load limits; Mechanics; Operations; Piggyback transportation; Speed limits; Toll roads; Transmissions; Truck drivers; Trucking; Trucks
• Old TRIS Terms: Economic considerations; Line haul transport; Truck laws & regulations
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Freight Transportation; Highways; Law; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00226842
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 15 1974 12:00AM