Motor transport: volume and carrying capacity of a wagon

In the field of modern cargo transportation, motor transport is one of the most accessible and convenient ways of cargo delivery. The term "wagon" comes from the old German name of a large cart for the transport of various kinds of things. In the modern sense it is a covered cargo trailer, a semi-trailer or a road-train for transportation of lots of goods, which are classified by volume and carrying capacity. Lifting capacity of a wagon depends on several characteristics, such as design, number of axles, dimensions.

Trailers and semitrailers

The trailer is a non-self-propelled vehicle intended for transportation by a self-propelled vehicle (a tractor truck). They are divided into three classes: trailers with the number of axles from 1 to 6, semi-trailers without a front axle and trailers-dissolutions for long cargoes. Based on the destination, there are several types of trailers and semitrailers: covered, open, side, platforms, refrigerators, dump trucks, low loaders,

In general, the design of all trailer vehicles consists of a body frame, a suspension, a braking system and a coupling device. The trailer is attached to the towing vehicle of the tractor vehicle by means of a horizontal lever (drawbar) of various shapes. Semitrailers are transported by special vehicles equipped with towing towing mechanisms (saddles). Hence the name of vehicles - a tractor truck. When a trailer or semi-trailer is connected to a tractor vehicle, the whole structure is called a road train (wagon).

Main types of trucks and trailers

The volume and carrying capacity of a wagon depends on the brand and destination:

• Semitrailer. The most common type. Suitable for transporting most types of cargo. Depending on the design of the body allows you to carry out loading and unloading from the top, side and back. Useful volume from 60 to 92 m ³ . Carrying capacity of the truck is 20 tons, but depending on the tractor, the frame design and the number of axles can be 25 tons or more.
• Refrigerator. Semi-trailer for transportation of perishable goods, for which a temperature regime is required. Equipped with an installation capable of maintaining a stable temperature in the range of +25 ⁰ C to -25 ⁰ C. In connection with the additional fuel consumption necessary for the operation of the refrigeration system, the operation of the semi-trailer-refrigerator is more expensive by 10-25% compared to other types of trucks. The internal cargo volume is from 60 to 92 m ³ . Carrying capacity of a truck-refrigerator is 12-22 tons.
• A trailer with trailer (trailers) is a frame truck with one or more trailers. The useful volume of such a truck-coupling can be from 60 to 160 m ³ . Couplings are not suitable for the transportation of long cargo, the advantage is convenient loading and unloading. Maximum load-carrying capacity of a wagon-coupling is up to 25 tons, but for the most common cubature trailer-trains 115-120 m ³ this value does not exceed 18 tons due to design features.
• Platforms for heavy and oversized cargo, construction and special equipment. Carrying capacity of a wagon 40 tons and above. Some types of platforms can withstand a weight of 200 tons.

Tilt semitrailer

Eurotents, eurofuries - tilted semi-trailers, the most practical type of motor vehicles for the transport of goods. The main advantage is the universal body structure. If necessary, the canopy, frame, bead can be removed, which allows loading / unloading from above, from the side using cranes and special lifting mechanisms. In a roentgenized form and with the skeleton removed, it can be used as an open platform. The height of the board is 30-50 cm. The dimensions and shapes of the eurofury are standardized for the loading of pallets (pallets with cargo) in two rows in width. The useful volume, depending on the height of the frame, reaches 92 m ³ . Cargo transportation by Eurofuries, in many respects due to its versatility, is the most popular service of freight forwarders. Carrying capacity of a wagon up to 25 tons.

Isotherms and Refrigerators

Are intended for transportation of food stuffs, pharmacological production, other cargoes demanding maintenance of the certain temperature mode, thermal insulation from an environment. Isotherms and refrigerators can be semi-trailers, trailers and single frame cars. The carrying capacity of a wagon depends on the construction of the trailer (semitrailer), namely its own mass, and can reach 25 tons.

Isothermal semi-trailers do not have their own refrigeration unit, but due to thermal insulation they are able to maintain the temperature inside the cargo compartment for a long time. Refrigerated wagons besides thermal insulation are equipped with their own autonomous cooling system. In fact, refrigerators are mobile refrigerators (freezers). Suitable for transportation of deep-frozen products.

Furas of large capacity

The maximum carrying capacity of a wagon of large capacity is lower than that of a standard eurofury, but at the same time the useful volume is much higher.

This type includes:

• Autotrains-couplers in volume from 110 to 125 m ³ .
• MEGA road trains are semi-trailers with flat floors and high heights (3.0-3.1 m).
• Semitrailer large volume Jumbo. The capacity is increased due to the L-shaped floor. Due to this, the entire distance of the cargo compartment after the trailer is located lower on the wheels of reduced diameter. Volume: 96-125 m ³ , lifting capacity up to 20 tons.

Limitations on the dimensions and mass of road trains in the world

The largest permissible length and mass of road trains are allowed in the Nordic countries (Finland and Sweden were the first). The permissible parameters are up to 60 tons of curb weight (road train + cargo) and up to 25.25 m in length, while the volume reaches 160 m ³ . In these countries, truck trains are used, which include a tractor truck, a standard semi-trailer and an additional 2-axle trailer.

The maximum permissible curb weight of the 6-axle road train in the CIS countries is 38 tonnes, in the EU countries - 44 tonnes. The length of the semitrailer in North American countries should not be more than 16.15 m, width - 2.6. Similar width restrictions apply in Europe, but the permissible length is not more than 13.6 m.