AUSTRALIAN ROAD-TRAINS

Australian road trains make for an interesting long-truck configuration that could provide a clue or two to how truck platooning could work or not work.

- Will Shiers

“Emus explode in a colourful cloud of feathers,” explains the driver of a 53.5 m road-train when asked about what caused the bloody mess on the front of his bonneted Mack. But of course, emus aren’t the main reason why every heavy truck in Australia is fitted with a bull-bar (aka roo-bar). There are considerably more kangaroos than people Down Under, and they have a nasty habit of hopping out in front of trucks. Hit a big one at 100kph, and it will do some serious damage. Even with a bull-bar in place it’s still likely that the initial impact will destroy a headlamp assembly, and then there’s a good chance that the carcass will rip out airlines and fuel pipes as it tumbles under the truck. Of course, no driver wants to intentionally kill an animal, but when running at 50 m and 120-tonnes, sudden swerves and emergency stops just aren’t viable options. There are however ways of reducing the chances of bending a bull-bar, and especially when it involves a 52 m Volvo FH16 road train while travelling into the outback.

Platooning