00457708

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...ate-of-the-art/3/3-005.pdf

Analysis of studies conducted by various agencies during the past few years has indicated that there are areas in which regulations could be improved and coordinated to improve the safety of the transportation of hazardous materials--particularly gasoline, which is transported in large volumes throughout the country. An improvement in transportation safety has obvious benefits to the general public. It is believed that this improvement can be achieved by adjusting weight distribution to promote better ride of the tractor in a typical tractor-semitrailer combination and to reduce the wear and tear that the vehicle causes on the highway system. Improvement in the safety of transporting gasoline would come in two areas. The dynamic stability of the tractor-semitrailer combination would be improved by (a) changing the wheel loadings of the unit to move the center of gravity of the semitrailer rearward; and (b) using the latest suspension technology to reduce the height of the center of gravity by almost 1 ft. These features are interrelated and would improve the dynamic stability of the total vehicle. There have been complaints about driver fatigue caused by rough ride of tractors that have the 12000-lb front axle capacity that is necessary to achieve the current 80000-lb gross weight limitation. This proposal would limit the front axle weight to 10000 lb and thus would allow use of front axles with better ride characteristics. To test these theories, two prototype vehicles have been built and placed in operation with various customers. To date the response of the operators has been positive.

This paper appeared in TRB State-of-the-Art Report 3, Recent Advances in Hazardous Materials Transportation Research: An International Exchange. Papers presented at the conference held in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, 10-13 November 1985. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

p. 39-43

1986

State-of-the-Art Report

0-309-03973-8

Digital/other

Figures (4) ; References (6)

Container tanks; Gasoline; Hazardous materials; Improvements; Motor vehicles; Riding qualities; Stability (Mechanics); Tractor trailer combinations; Vehicle safety; Weight

Weight distribution

Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

TRIS, TRB

Aug 31 1986 12:00AM

• ACCIDENTAL RELEASE FROM RADIOACTIVE WASTE PACKAGES
• AUTOMAN: AN INFORMATION SYSTEM
• CODE OF PRACTICE FOR WAREHOUSE AND TERMINAL FACILITIES STORING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
• DEVELOPING A PLAN FOR R&D IN DANGEROUS GOODS TRANSPORT
• DEVELOPMENT OF A UNIVERSAL EMERGENCY ACTION GUIDE SYSTEM TO ENHANCE RESPONSE EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY
• ESTABLISHING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRUCK ROUTES FOR SHIPMENTS THROUGH THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA
• FHWA REPORT: PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF HIGHWAY TUNNEL FIRES
• FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR INITIAL BEHAVIOR IN HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENTS
• GENERATING HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RISK PROFILES ON RAILROAD ROUTES
• HAZARD ANALYSIS FOR A LIQUID PROPANE PIPELINE
• HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY THROUGH RESEARCH: THE SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
• HOW TO DETERMINE THE DANGEROUS PROPERTIES OF SUBSTANCES
• INTEGRATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EMERGENCY PLANNING INTO THE SMALL-TOWN PLANNING PROCESS
• KEY FOR MIXED LOADINGS OF DANGEROUS GOODS
• RECENT ADVANCES IN HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH: AN INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE. PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE HELD IN LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA, NOVEMBER 10-13, 1985
• RISK ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT MODES FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
• RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES THROUGH ROAD TUNNELS
• ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF PUBLIC CONCERNS ABOUT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION
• ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION SAFETY
• SAFETY OF FLAWED SEAMLESS GAS CYLINDERS
• SELECTION OF PREFERRED HIGHWAY ROUTES FOR THE SHIPMENT OF SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL BETWEEN SURRY AND NORTH ANNA POWER STATIONS IN VIRGINIA
• STOWING OF PACKAGES CONTAINING RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS ON CONVEYANCES
• STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION SAFETY
• TANKER ACCIDENT RATES AND EXPECTED CONSEQUENCES IN U.S. PORTS AND HIGH SEAS REGIONS
• TEST MACHINE FOR MEASURING HEAT TRANSFER
• USE OF RISK ANALYSIS IN ENHANCING THE SAFETY OF TRANSPORTING HAZARDOUS LIQUEFIED GASES