Title: Performance models in the logging truck transportation system design environment

Authors: Robert A. Douglas, Robert McCormack

Addresses: D.C. Campbell Chair for Highway Construction and Pavement Research, Department of Civil Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Box 4400, Fredericton, New Brunswic E3B 5A3K, Canada. ' CSIRO Division of Forestry, PO Box 4008, Queen Victoria Terrace, Canberra 2600, Australia

Abstract: The importance of the forest sector to Canada|s economic health is pointed out, and it is shown that the transportation of raw forest products to mills is a vital aspect of industrial forestry. Given that a very high proportion of that transportation is accomplished by trucks, the modelling of truck performance is examined. The national logging truck ||fleet|| is very different from its conventional counterpart: vehicles are extremely heavy, mass/power ratios are extremely variable, and traffic volumes are very low. This unique design environment must be taken into account in any modelling of logging truck performance. Three levels of modelling are identified, ranging from the Level 1 models where robotic truck behaviour is predicted, to Level 3 models where whole fleet behaviour is predicted. Attention is fastened on the Level 1 models: their general functioning is laid out, and their operation criticised. It is concluded that Level 1 modelling has developed about as far as it can, and that attention should now shift to Level 2 modelling, where the influence of the vehicle operator is brought in.

Keywords: truck drivers; fuel consumption; heavy vehicles; logging trucks; mass-power ratio; modelling; operator influence; truck performance; speed; industrial forestry; Canada; transport system design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.1994.054533

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 1994 Vol.1 No.4, pp.433 - 444

Published online: 18 Jun 2013 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article