Make Way for 9 Axle Logging Trucks
Prince George, B.C. – In the wake of the mountain pine beetle epidemic, forest companies are travelling farther than before to harvest merchantable timber. To make that more economical, nine axle trailers are being introduced.
The extra six axles can increase the gross vehicle weight by 16% to up to 71 tonnes. It means trucks will make fewer trips to and from a mill.
Because the load limit is increased, special reviews will need to be done on those public roads on which the trucks plan to travel to ensure they can stand up to that kind of pressure. An initial trucking route that has been approved is in the Vanderhoof-Fort St. James area. The approved route provides access to the Fraser Lake, Plateau and Isle Pierre sawmills. There are four nine axle trailers being used on that route, and have been cleared to operate on the forest service roads in that area by the Ministry of Forests Operations engineers.
The Province estimates as many as 800 nine axle trailers could be incorporated into logging operations in B.C. That could translate into savings of up to $40 million dollars in transportation costs for the forestry sector.
Comments
Just another way to screw the poor trucker out of more money. Let them put the cost of upgrading to these new trailers and paying on a little more on rates. As they said save the big companys money.
A new trailer yesterday is worth 50 cents a lb today. But Canfor believes everyone has the right to go broke.
I remember when the tri-axle tractors and trailers made the scene and there was a huge uproar about how they would damage the roads now it’s not uncommon to see 4,5 and six axle trailers on the roads so it’s not a big stretch to see 9 axles and more on a he roads in the near future not only in forestry but freight and long hauls supply vs demand will influence how fast it will happen
I also recall when 8 axles came in around 1987, then turnpikes, Rocky Mountain doubles, Triple trailer combinations etc. The biggest concern for me is how long it will take one of these 71 tonne units to stop at 120 kmh.
There are NO 4, 5 or 6 axle trailers on our roads. The most that a trailer can have is 3 axles.
Read the article again, they’re talking about 9 axle TRUCKS. That includes truck and trailers. The configuration will be – 1 steering axle & 3 drive axles on the truck, two trailers with 3 axles each.
Oops, that makes 10. Should only be one trailer with 3.
“The most that a trailer can have is 3 axles”
Really, 3 axles? Obviously you have not seen any large buildings, equipment, compressors, etc being shipped to gas plants or the oilsdands, I have seen trailers with 20 axles. Just go to Mammoet’s website if you don’t believe me.
Tons of trucks on the road with more than 3 axles they go through town all the time even seen some with 4 steering wheels even had a couple push pulls go through town last year
Yeah, I’ve seen some of them with mega-axles, 80 or 90 wheels for packing extra-heavy loads. But those require special permits and regulations and aren’t regular haul trucks like I’m talking about. We’re talking about log haulers.
“New 9-axle log truck for BC” picture:
ht tps://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAQkAAAAJDNkMmU3ZmMxLTc1MzYtNGVlNC1hODkwLWRmNTRjYzM1YWJiYw.jpg
“New 9-axle log truck for BC” picture: try this again using tiny url:
ht tps://tinyurl.com/z5tfsvp
Roads are battered and huge ruts made in some places due to heavy loads, what is going to happen now? Bad enough that road contract companies skimp on the road base now, that won’t change.
9 axles means one extra axle, not six.
Most of the easy logging is done now, those hills they are logging on now is just plain scary. Now you get to skate down them with 71
I know when the third axle was added to the tractor, steering became an issue. Stopping has always been an issue and it is getting worse. Added weight just means the roads will need far more attention. Probably the next step will be to allow another trailer.
Does that mean with the 4 axles on a tri-drive truck combined with the 9 axle trailer they have a total of 11 axles?
Just how long would this be? A nice surprise if you pull out to pass…
This change to our law will enable big companies to make more profits. This one seems to directly cost taxpayers and have an impact on the safety on our roads. I hope the cost isn’t too high.
The picture showed 9 axles total. 4 on tractor 3 in the middle and 2 on the end. The highway out west already has some deep ruts in it from chip and logging trucks, now they will be worse, just to make the sawmills more money. Try driving a small car on these ruts when snow covered or raining….it is a good ride, hang on tight!
Try riding a motorcycle along those ruts.
The bigger you are the harder you fall.
Safety vs. Production will always be a battle.
Pressure on the road from an extra axle shouldn’t make much difference. The weight per axle remains unchanged. No change in braking effectiveness either, the extra axle will be equipped with brakes that will handle all the increased weight.
Providing the brakes are set and maintained properly.
That applies equally to all air-braked trucks.
the problem arises from the drive tires, they have to tourque that much harder which goes a long ways to enhancing the rutting.
Adding more axles does not increase the pressure per tire if the load is balanced correctly. Same as wide tires on your vehicle causes less ruts because the pressure per square inch is less. Adding an extra axle will not add more ruts. Pretty much all logging trucks now have scales on them so they are getting good at balancing the load and eliminating overloading.
Seem to be a lot of posters that don’t understand this formula.
Cheers
Try the formula of increased kinetic energy due to a heavier load. Increased load = increased kinetic energy, which would be transferred to the other vehicle in the event of an accident. This change is not without increased risk.
drive tire tourque enhanced causing more rutting.
I guess, need to revisit a lot of the logging bridges.
Guess we’re gonna have to take a drive out Bobtail and see how the roads holding up.
Very confusing story and a mix of very confusing comments. What is it 250, 9 axle logging trucks or 9 axle trailers? What do you mean 6 extra axles?
Better re-write this story.
“This change is not without increased risk.” To an already High Risk job.
I’m with Spidey on this one.
This is a link to a news source that has a picture of the logging trucks accident scene this morning near Fort St. James. Notice the number of logging trucks in the lineup? Now add to this some 71 tonne 9-axle logging trucks fully loaded!
ht tp://www.myprincegeorgenow.com/42425/highway-27-closed-near-fort-st-james-emergency-crews-deal-car-flames/
I think it’s getting too crazy!!!
It was one of these new, 9 axle units that hit the stopped logging truck. We won’t know until the investigation is over whether the size of the unit played a factor. Tragic that a man lost his life.
Those trucks are all empty, and if loaded, the 9 axle trucks won’t take up any more room than the 8 axle trucks that are currently hauling there.
I saw that crash on CKPG news. Horrific!
This would be the trailer
Decrease in allowable cut, decrease in beetle kill timber, decrease in the number of mills (due to upcoming mill closures) increase in number of logs per truck load, equals. Loss of jobs in Northern Interior.
I think the truck loggers need to stick together and tell the mills to go get stuffed on this one. Who is going pay for changing the rigging on these trucks and trailers all the time? No need to make it more unsafe for drivers.
Bigger and heavier loads coming down the highway, straddling the centre line, full speed ahead well over the speed limit!
Get ready for your sphincters to tighten up even more when you see these new bigger and heavier loads coming at you! Yikes!
I wouldn’t drive one around here. I know my limit. 71 tons is doable in good conditions, but we don’t always have good conditions. The kenetic energy of a longer heavier load will make pulling hills much harder, which will be a huge safety concern. The more one can carry, rather than pull, makes a massive difference on pulling a tough ice covered hill. Just adding 8kg at the tail end is enough to drag any truck to a stop.
I don’t believe they will handle Isle Pierre hill. Who ever approved this knows nothing about pulling loads up hills like that. Maybe it would work in the prairies, but just stupid to approve that in these parts.
They already do haul that heavy and more on off-highway roads, and they have some steep uphill pulls on them.
I would just like to add that there has already been 3 forestry related deaths in the first 6 weeks of this year here in BC. The forestry council and mills along with employers should be reducing the risk not increasing it. Almost keeping up with homicides!
The province says it could save up to 40 million dollars. They are not saying what it will cost the log haulers in extra repairs and fuel to haul excessive heavy loads up a steep incline.
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