‘Mega trucks’ a growing trend

[kscarbel2]

Jason Cannon, Overdrive  /  July 31, 2017

Despite significant legislative hurdles around much of the globe, a new report from Frost & Sullivan suggests “mega trucks” – generally defined as a vehicle measuring a minimum of about 100 feet long and weighing upwards of 160,000 pounds – could nearly double in population by 2025.

Australia leads the current use of mega trucks in terms of penetration rates and are allowed nationwide in the Scandinavian region. Their limited use is allowed in Germany and Spain, and trials have occurred for mega trucks in France and the United Kingdom, but have been rejected.

Citing a strong mandate and support infrastructure, the report says North America is expected to accommodate more mega trucks. It notes, however, overcoming legislative hurdles and negative public opinion will be critical in promoting mega truck usage.

“Digital transformation and autonomous trucking will play an important role in expediting the adoption of mega trucks through better connectivity and safety features. With bigger engines and higher payload capacities, mega trucks are expected to incorporate more value features, especially in developing markets,” says Frost & Sullivan Mobility Research Analyst Marshall Martin. “Mega trucks in the future will be built on common platforms for similar markets such as China, India, and South America.”

The report, Global Mega Trucks Market, Forecast to 2025, says global sales penetration of mega trucks is expected to increase from 3.4 percent to 5.7 percent for total heavy duty truck sales from 2016 to 2025, depending on lawmakers in specific regions laying down regulations that take into account the impact on infrastructure, environment, society and other modes of transport. The study examines trends, drivers, opportunities, challenges, and technology developments impacting the global mega truck market through 2025.

“A proliferation of mega trucks, where on average two mega trucks would replace three normal-sized trucks, would have a negative impact on the sales of trucks, thereby affecting OEM revenues,” Martin says. “These companies should look toward creating alternate sources of revenue through investing in or acquiring companies present in the safety, lightweighting, telematics, and mobile-based freight aggregation fields.”

[TeamsterGrrrl]

Was reading some of the papers presented at the International Forum for Road Transport Technology's last conference, and interest and acceptance of larger trucks is grower everywhere... but the U.S.. Seems that while the rest of the world is boosting truck productivity, the U.S. is trapped in a rut of 80,000 weight limits and 53 foot trailers that are dwarfed by our international competitors.

[HeavyGunner]

Not all of the US, I'm about 105' long, gvw'd for 133k. 

Edited August 2, 2017 by HeavyGunner

[Jamaican Bulldog]

2 hours ago, HeavyGunner said:

Not all of the US, I'm about 105' long, gvw'd for 133k. 

Yes it seems the laws vary by region depending on infrastructure and density. I am in the NYC area and someone told me doubles are not allowed to come through here but can travel on the interstates outside the boroughs.

[HeavyGunner]

Yes I agree. There are lots of weight length laws depending where you are, how the highways or freeways were built and how densely populated an area it is. Road trains wouldn't work very well in manhattan.