Greetings forum members

Your thoughts please

New Zealand transport legislation typically requires an axle set to "load share" so that no tyre carries a mass more than 10% greater than the mass it would carry if the load were equally divided across the axle set. For example, maximum mass on triaxle set = 18 t, therefore no axle within the set can carry more than 6.6t. Technically, this requirement should apply across the operating range of the axle set. 

In addition to the load share requirement, NZ Mass Limit tables prescribe maximum individual axle weights. For example, the mass limit on a twin tyred axle in a triaxle set = 6.6t.    

It is becoming apparent that NZ axle sets are not very effective at load sharing until approaching maximum set weight. For example, a partially laden triaxle set may have a spread of 4t, 2.5t, 2.5t,. When, in theory, the 9 tonne should have been spread 3 tonne each;  or with no axle carrying more than 3.3       

I seek your comment, in particular with regard to safety and infrastructure issues, on dismissing the load share requirement and relying instead, on maximum individual axle weights, 

PLEASE NOTE: this message should not be interpreted in any way as a change to government policy.  

Many thanks
Dom 

Dom Kalasih
Senior Engineer Safer Roads
National Office Policy Division
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