1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192 
Pressure on Brakes
Page 53
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
APPROPRIATELY, with articulated bulkers on the increase, there is news in this issue of the latest moves in the " fight " to get agreement on braking systems for artics; bulk VeliiCle operators as well as others are anxious to get outfits able to run at the higher weights.
But there is little chance of this in the immediate future, for which the tendency will be to blame manufacturers. Is it their fault? They were suddenly confronted with the need to design systems to meet requirements only known definitely less than a month before the new regulations were to come into effect, and even now the Ministry of Transport has apparently not made up its mind on the final requirements.
In the case of artics, systems needed to give the efficiencies stipulated for service, secondary and parking brakes will necessarily be complex. What hope have manufacturers of producing higher-weight vehicles within the next three or four months in the circumstances?
Until recently, little had been done in the way of designing tractive units and semi-trailers for universal interchangeability with proper matching. The position here is improving—and will certainly have to for the future; this is one of the objects of S.M.M.T. meetings lo agree braking systems. But very little practical experience has been obtained by manufacturers and research workers on the handling of artics under operating conditions. The need for this on outfits designed for the new regulations is extremely important, but presents another potential cause of delay.
Wise operators will wait patiently for the best; equally, manufacturers and the Ministry, must press their work forward speedily.