NHTSA'S HEAVY DUTY VEHICLE BRAKE RESEARCH PROGRAM REPORT NUMBER 8 -- COMPARISON OF THE BRAKING PERFORMANCE OF A U.S. AND A EUROPEAN COMBINATION VEHICLE. INTERIM REPORT

Differences in the regulations for heavy duty vehicles built in the U.S. and in Europe as well as differences in design philosophies, the way the vehicles are used and the environments in which they are operated has resulted in differences in the vehicles themselves. This report describes tests to compare the braking performance of a "typical" U.S. and a European vehicle in a wide range of braking situations. One five axle U.S. tractor semitrailer combination and one five axle European tractor semitrailer combination were used as test vehicles. Tests were conducted with bobtail tractors (no trailer), with an empty trailer, a half loaded trailer and a fully loaded trailer. The report describes the test site, test vehicles, test procedures and the results of the tests.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  Vehicle Research and Test Center, P.O. Box 37
  East Liberty, OH  United States  43319
• Authors:
  • Flick, M A
  • RADLINSKI, R W
• Publication Date: 1988-7

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 71 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Brakes; Braking performance; Heavy duty trucks; Test procedures; Test tracks; Tractor trailer combinations; Trucks
• Geographic Terms: Europe; United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Test results; Truck brakes
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00496477
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: VRTC-87-0052, HS-807 345
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM