![next generation high productivity freight vehicle[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/next%20generation%20high%20productivity%20freight%20vehicle%5B1%5D.jpg)
"G'day Brian," says AtkIPete Lynch in that chirpy 'she'll be right' Aussie way of his. "I've been out working recently, a bit late in life to start I suppose but I don't seem to have much lot of choice these days. Anyhow here are a few lorries I saw out on the road. The first one is a 'Super B Double' or the 'Next Generation High Productivity Freight Vehicle' to use the latest jargon. Try saying that after 14 odd hours at the wheel! Anyhow it can carry two 40" containers around 80 ton all up."
![volvo container semi[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/volvo%20container%20semi%5B1%5D.jpg)
"Then I saw a 'slightly older' container shifter still hard at work!" And click through here for more...
![kenworth tipper[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/kenworth%20tipper%5B1%5D.jpg)
"Now here's a neat-looking Kenworth and below a little Volvo with a few 'extra horsepower...' Cheers Pete,"
![Big horsepower Volvo[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/Big%20horsepower%20Volvo%5B1%5D.jpg)
Think that's the first 4-axle trailer I've seen amidships on a B-double (only in Oz you say). Here in Central Canada we're used to seeing a lift axle mid-way down both semi-trailers. (Martin, am I right?)
Anyroadup, I'd like to hear if tire scrub is a serious issue with these big rigs.
This particular unit only runs around the port area and might have a fixed quad setup. I imagine tyre life is limited but they would be able to avoid tight turns. We used to have spread tri axles here that were murder on tyres and chewed up the road surface in hot weather.
A wider trial of the " Super B Doubles" has just been announced and the specs for this will be stricter, eg steering axles on the tri and quad, ABS brakes, satellite tracking etc.
Froggy,
Tyre scrub is not an issue on that quad axle A-Trailer - that entire axle set pivots on a central point. Techincally speaking, the axles on the A-Trailer are made by a company in Shepparton, Victoria, Australia called Trackaxle - http://www.trackaxle.com.au is their site and it is jam-packed with info on them...
Here is a little video of the 40/40 Super B-Double in action - on a Ottawa Commando dock truck:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br47HscyyDU
Joe
Very interesting stuff Joe and many thanks for the link. Froggy, I think the outfits you are referring to are those employed primarily by Canadian operators crossing into Michigan where, as we all know, it's a case of the more axles the better!
Hi Martin,
I have to agree with ya there - but I know of a quad axle sideload container trailer and I am waiting to get a decent side-on photo of the whole truck before I can send it to Brian to be posted here!
The TrackAxle set-up is quite unique as it can be used in forward and reverse motion - the controller for reverse steer is either located in the cabin near the driver or used by a "chase" car/truck which has a second person dedicated to the trailer axle steering!
Joe