Road train
The English term road train means something like “road train” or “train on the road” and describes a long truck combination (long vehicle) of a particularly large truck trailer . These multi-link, overlong combinations consist of a motor vehicle / tractor unit with superstructures (trailers with 3 axles + dolly with 2 axles) or tractor units in connection with several trailers and / or semi-trailers . On non-public roads, such road trains are not subject to any restrictions on the maximum vehicle length. Vehicle lengths of up to 100 meters are used in the field of bulk goods transport in open-cast mining.
Such truck combinations are used on public roads in Australia , Israel and as Long Combination Vehicle (LCV) in Canada and the USA .
In the European Union , the name EuroCombi is used instead; For Euro Combi vehicles, there are stricter restrictions on the permissible length than for road trains in other countries. In Scandinavia, roadtrains with a gross vehicle weight of up to 60 tonnes are permitted, whereas in the Netherlands it is normally 50 tonnes.
Road trains in different countries
Australia
In Australian overland transport, road trains primarily ensure the supply of remote regions. Since many areas are not connected to the railway network and the distances are very large, delivery by road train is a particularly economical transport solution. The very low traffic density allows extraordinary train lengths, even in a global comparison. Road trains are not allowed to operate in metropolitan areas. However, they also drive through larger cities on fixed routes. The roadtrains are divided into smaller transport units within the larger metropolitan areas or on routes that cannot be used by them (e.g. passes) and then travel as shorter trains on these sections.
In the case of Australian truck combinations, the length of 36.50 meters or more is referred to as a road train. From this length onwards, it is mandatory to attach the warning sign of the same name. A maximum length of 53.50 meters, a maximum vehicle weight of up to 132 tons without a towing vehicle and a maximum height of 4.60 meters are permitted. You must not exceed a maximum speed of 100 km / h in the states of Victoria and Western Australia and 90 km / h in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. The tractor of a road train must have an output of at least 370 kW (500 hp).
In the Australian states of Victoria with the state capital as well as in New South Wales, driving with more than one semi-trailer is not permitted by law; this is regulated by regional policy in most states of Australia.
A main route for road trains was the Darwin - Alice Springs route . With the opening of the railway line , the amount of goods transported on the road has decreased significantly.
North America (Canada, USA)
In Canada and the USA, road trains are also called Long Combination Vehicles (LCV). These combinations consist of a tractor unit and at least two and a maximum of three attached units. These coupled trucks have a maximum length of 38 meters and a maximum total weight of 62.5 tons.
Technical limits
In practice, a maximum of the first four axles (including the front axle in an all-wheel tractor) of a road train are driven; this limits the maximum transferable force. If the starting friction of the entire train exceeds this, starting is no longer possible, the wheels would spin. However, the practical drivability is no longer given long before. Braking is comparatively uncritical since all axles are braked and only the performance of the compressor has to meet these increased requirements.
credentials
- ↑ Transport Operations (Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 1999; Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel
- ^ Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Regulation 1995; Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel
- ↑ Guideline for Multi-combination Vehicles in Queensland; Form Number 1, Version 4, July 2001, Updated 28/11/2005; Queensland Government
