Guide provides instructions on improving performance and stability of truck and dog combinations.
Transport operators now have access to revised and updated technical advice on truck and dog combinations.
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has published the updated version of its advisory procedure, which provides step-by-step instructions and formulas on overall performance, dynamic stability and safety.
ATA CEO Chris Melham says vehicle stability is a key safety issue for all trucking operators, but little guidance is available for optimising truck and dog combinations.
“Under the Australian Design Rules, the truck and towed dog trailer are assessed as two separate vehicles, which may then be put together into a truck and dog combination,” he says.
“While completely legal, this means that operators may not receive guidance on how they can optimise the safety and stability of these combinations.
Melham says the formulas in the guide cover five different common truck and dog combinations between 42.5 and 50 tonne gross combination mass.
“In general, the formulas promote longer wheelbases for both the truck and trailer, reducing coupling offset, and lowering the combination’s centre of gravity,” he says.
The advisory is one of a number of free guides the ATA has released and can be accessed here.