Industry Investigates Coupling Strength

In an industry and world first, the ARTSA Institute, Australian Trucking Association (ATA), Truck Industry Council (TIC) and Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) are investigating dynamic loads on the couplings on heavy high productivity freight vehicles (HPFV) and PBS combinations vehicles.

The safety of couplings project is funded by the Commonwealth Government through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative, and will fill a gap in knowledge and provide evidence to update relevant Standards and Rules.

Chair of ARTSA Institute, Martin Toomey said the current Australian Design Rules cover heavy coupling requirements but they do not provide any guidance beyond a road train GCM of just 125 tonnes. As increasingly higher productivity vehicle combinations enter the Australian heavy vehicle fleet, evidence- based guidance is required to support engineers, regulators and fleet managers, so that couplings can be safely specified, inspected and maintained.”

HVIA CEO, Todd Hacking said, “Coupling failure on high productivity vehicles has the potential to lead to death and injuries, major traffic disruption and reduced public confidence in heavy vehicle safety. It is important for regulators and industry to be confident in the relevance and integrity of the Standards that guide the safe selection of components.

TIC CEO, Dr Tony McMullan said, “Australia has always pushed truck equipment to its limits, doing what no one else does anywhere in the world. Couplings are a prime example with quad trailer Road Trains exceeding 150 tonne GCMs. This project will help define coupling safety factors and requirements for multi trailer configurations around the world.”

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the joint investigation will help accelerate the introduction of new safety technologies to support safe and securely loaded heavy vehicles.

“The NHVR is proud to support this project that will help mitigate the safety risks posed by non-compliant couplings and enhance the safety of vehicles operating under higher productivity schemes,” Mr Petroccitto said.

The project will conduct investigations of coupling dynamic forces using on road testing and follow-up laboratory testing to confirm the strength of the couplings. Couplings to be validated in the project include 5th wheel and automatic pin couplings used in heavy combination road trains including the various innovative Quad road train combination types.

Because of the complexity of the project, Wayne Baker has been appointed project manager as he has significant subject matter expertise and extensive industry experience. A working group from ARTSA-I, TIC, ATA and HVIA has been formed to provide project guidance.

The project is expected to be completed by June 2023. For further information contact Greg Rowe, Project Manager, ARTSA-i on 0407825132.

Road safety grants to support community initiatives

Road Safety Minister Paul Papalia has announced a series of grants to promote road safety initiatives through locally based programs and events during National Road Safety Week.

The Road Safety Commission and RAC have partnered to provide funding for the dedicated National Road Safety Week grant round.

Local community groups and organisations are encouraged to get behind road safety efforts and apply for funding to support community involvement in National Road Safety Week.

The grants are available in two categories:

Events - up to $5,000 available for community events or road safety initiatives carried out during National Road Safety Week; and

Legacy projects - up to $25,000 available to community groups who are activating a road safety initiative within regional communities to recognise 10 years of National Road Safety Week.

Minister Papalia said, "Road safety really begins with every individual road user. That's why we are offering these grants to fund programs and events which promote the road safety message at a grass roots level. More information on how to apply visit /communityconnect.rsc.wa.gov.au/ community-grants-portal

Boom year for Australian truck market

The Truck Industry Council has reported that sales for trucks and heavy vans totalled 41,404 units for 2021.

An increase of 6,928 vehicles, or 20.1 per cent, over COVID-affected 2020 sales, it marks something of a triumph for the Federal Government financial incentives, that were applied throughout calendar year 2021, and are recognised as having been a significant contributing factor to the market’s stellar sales performance last year.

While December 2021 sales were a new record, with 3,528 truck and van sales for the month, the overall tally for 2021 fell a mere 225 trucks short of a new Australian heavy vehicle sales record.

That sales record is still held by 2018, when 41,628 heavy vehicles were sold.

However, when the numbers are analysed in a little more detail, there are some notable differences between 2021 sales and those of 2018 according to the TIC.

The split between segments is one notable example.

In 2018, the market was very much driven by the sale of Heavy trucks.

By 2021, however, the Heavy truck sector was much weaker with sales largely driven by Light trucks and Vans last year with e-Commerce and last mile deliveries trending up.

Heavy truck sales in 2021 were almost 10 per cent lower than in 2018, as were Medium truck sales.

Conversely, Light truck and van sales were up by more than 10 per cent last year, when compared to sales from 2018.

“This shows that while sales last year were at near record levels, the growth was at the bottom end of the heavy vehicle market, not at the top end,” said the TIC in a statement.

The result, in part, derives from supply chain issues impacting Heavy truck production, but was more likely an outcome of wary businesses lacking confidence in renewing the greater value assets in their organisations.

Ongoing uncertainty surrounding the economic climate generated by government responses to COVID-19 justified this cautious approach.

After the struggles over the past two years, it was pleasing, according to Tony McMullan, TIC Chief Executive Officer, to see 2021 finish with near record sales.