Muldoon submits longer trailer test data ahead of DfT report19 November 2010

A 15.65m-long trailer in Northern Ireland is performing beyond expectations in on-road evaluations, according to Muldoon Transport Systems.

The engineering company has developed the only longer semi-trailer in the UK that has a Vehicle Special Order (VSO) for testing on public roads, as part of a project supported by Invest NI.

Now, 18 months into the two-year VSO, company owner Gerald Muldoon says that data from the trials has been passed to the DfT (Department for Transport), which is compiling a report into longer semi-trailers, due for publication by the end of the year.

The trailer features a positive rear-steer system, developed by Muldoon and used by a number of operators, such as Wincanton.

Its so-called Sidewinder steering setup enables the criteria for legal turning circles to be met and also allows proper load distribution within a standard overhang.

The first two axles of the trailer are fitted together and mounted well forward from the rear of the trailer.

When cornering, the point at which the trailer turns is the centre of the bogie; the distance from the kingpin to the bogie being 8,125mm – slightly less than kingpin to bogie centre in a standard 13.6m tri-axle.

The third axle is mounted 3,555mm behind the centre line of the tandem, meaning the longer trailer can easily stay within the same turning circle radius as a standard 13.5m trailer with non-steering axles, despite being 2.05m longer.

"My thinking was that a haulage company wouldn't want to pay for more than one steering axle on a trailer," reveals Muldoon, who also confirms that DHL has registered an interest in adopting the technology for some of its fleet.

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Muldoon Transport Systems Ltd

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