/Poor road condition and truck vibration.jpg)
Logging truck drivers have been found to have spinal compression stress when trucks pass over severe road damage.
Research has been carried out on the effects of truck vibration resulting from poor roads. The study included a case study on logging trucks. The report included the following key results:
- There were unacceptably high levels of daily vibration for the driver.
- High levels of compression stress in the truck driver’s spine were found on very poor sections of road, settlements at bridges and culverts, and improper road-bridge joins.
- There was intense truck roll vibration and lateral buffeting.
- At sites with a high truck roll vibration indicator, there is the possibility that cargo latches may break.
- In very cold climates, corrugations can occur in thick ice during winter, which can make the ride vibration and noise worse than in summer.
- Tyre pressure control systems (TPCS) were very effective at reducing ride vibrations associated with potholes and corrugations. However, vehicle body bounce caused by larger and longer road defects were not reduced effectively by TPCS, and pavement maintenance was required to address this.
- Improperly banked horizontal curves, regardless of surface condition, were the cause of many loss-of-control crashes, including rollovers.
The report also identifies a number of recommendations to try and reduce the negative effects identified. These include an assessment of vibration levels using applicable tools and standards, improved road construction and maintenance, the use of TPCS, and the identification of problematic horizontal curves. The report was produced by the Northern Periphery of ROADEX. It can be downloaded at http://www.roadex.org/