Measurement and Analysis of Vibration Levels in Commercial Truck Shipments in Thailand and Its Impact on Packaged Produce

Abstract The purpose of this study was to measure and analyze the vibration levels in commercial truck shipments in Thailand. Trucks with leaf spring suspensions are the most common logistics method to move products in South East Asia. This study measured the vibration levels in two of the most commonly used truck types used to ship packaged goods as a function of road condition and vehicle speed. The data presented in this study will assist product and package designers to reduce damage in transit by using the recommended vibration test spectrums to evaluate products and packages prior to shipment. The data can also be used by test development organizations as part of lab-simulated methods to perform preshipment tests on packaged goods. The test shipments in this study consisted of packaged tangerine fruit from orchards to retailers. The results showed that an increase in truck speed resulted in an increase in vibration levels and damage to packaged fruit. The laterite (unpaved gravel surface) road condition produced the highest vibration level for a given truck and traveling speed followed by concrete highway and asphalt road conditions. Fruit damage was found to be greatest in the uppermost container for every combination of road, truck type, and traveling speed, which also corresponded to the highest vibration levels recorded. Results of damage in packaged tangerine fruit as a function of location in the payload is also presented.