Initiative to introduce a performance-based standards (PBS) approach for heavy vehicle design and operations in South Africa

Abstract

The introduction of PBS for heavy vehicles in South Africa was first identified in the National Overload Control Strategy as a potential concession of a proposed Self-regulation initiative. In August 2004 a PBS committee was established to investigate PBS and the following initial tasks were identified: 1) develop a PBS strategy; 2) review the status of PBS in other countries; and, 3) initiate pilot projects to demonstrate the potential benefits of PBS. Two concept designs (a truck / trailer and a B-double) were initially developed and considered. The truck / trailer concept vehicle was selected, and after a number of iterations a satisfactory vehicle design was achieved. At a total mass of sixty-seven and a half (67.5) ton and length of twenty-seven (27) meter the new combination satisfies the PBS performance standards considered and delivers a payload increase of fifteen (15) percent. By contrast, the baseline vehicle with lower payload capacity was not able to satisfy several PBS performance requirements