GOODS VEHICLES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Goods vehicles which operate in developing countries are generally manufactured in the industrialised parts of the world, and they are designed mainly for road conditions which exist in their country of origin. Heavy vehicles are designed to have axle loadings from 10 to 13 tonnes. The paper demonstrates the effects of loading on road pavement life. If goods were carried in vehicles which have lower axle loads, more goods could be carried during the lifetime of that pavement, and pavements would last longer. To developing countries, lower axle loadings would offer savings in road expenditure, reduce maintenance costs and allow the benefits of road development to be enjoyed over a longer time. (Author/TRRL)