Braking distance of heavy trucks
September 22, 2008
Braking distance of heavy trucks has shortened strictly in last two decades. By the research of German truck producer MAN, braking distance has shortened for about 35% in last 25 years and braking efficiency has reached personal car level.
How efficient are braking systems in modern heavy trucks evidently shows next comparison. Trucker with semi-trailer (max. 40 ton), powered by engine (430 HP), accelerates from 0km/h to 80 km/h about 45 seconds, while the braking time in the opposite direction lasts only 3 seconds. Beside that, it reaches braking power of 9000 HP, what equalize the power of 18 truckers with 500 HP, what is just an impressive result.
How has the technological improvement shortened the braking distance, we can see through the comparison of trucker models. Fully loaded MAN F90 with drum brakes from the start of the 90’s needed about 60 meters to stop from 80km/h. Next model F2000 with disk brakes only on front axle needed 45 meters to stop at the same conditions. TG-A, recent model of MAN production with disk brakes on all wheels stops in only 39 meters when maximum braking power is used.
