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Economic consequences of operating trucks of high gross vehicle mass on highways in developing countries | |
Author | Ho, Kok Leong |
Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GT-84-20 |
Subject(s) | Transportation, Automotive--Freight |
Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology |
Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
Abstract | An investigation into the economic consequence s of operating trucks of high gross vehicle masses on highways was performed using the World Bank's Highway Design and Maintenance Standards Model. Specified freight tonnages were run over the highways, with the gross vehicle mass of the trucks being incrementally increased from the current legal mass limit in 'Thailand. of 21 metric tonnes. The upper limit of gross vehicle mass was taken as 40 metric tonnes, as constrained by the computer model. Three trucks having different maximum rated gross vehicle masses were used to move freight. For each of these trucks, there was found a similar trend of increasing highway maintenance cost with gross vehicle mass. Concurrently, vehicle operating and total transportation costs exhibited a decreasing relationships with increasing gross vehicle mass. Terrain had no effect on highway maintenance cost, but affected a both vehicle operating and total transportation costs. Costs were higher on more difficult terrain. No consistent relationships were observed between. highway maintenance cost, vehicle rating cost and subgrade strength . Total transportation cost was found to be higher on a weaker subgrade , due primarily to a higher pavement construction cost. Responsiveness in maintenance policy resulted in lower highway maintenance cost, but the corresponding vehicle operating and total transportation costs were considerable higher. Within the range of the study, there was found to be economic justification for raising the legal mass limit. Trucks should be loaded up to their maximum rate gross vehicle masses to take full advantage of the benefits derivable from operating heavy vehicles on highways. |
Year | 1985 |
Type | Thesis |
School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
Academic Program/FoS | Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering (GT) |
Chairperson(s) | Jones, John Hugh |
Examination Committee(s) | Ishido, Akira ;Kanchana Kanchanasut |
Scholarship Donor(s) | DAAD, The Federal Republic of Germany |
Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1985 |