Thread: Hey Ian!

I seem to remember hearing that there are a couple of states in the USA that have unusually low axle loading limits, and hence tend to sprout some of these funny axle setups.

John

Saw quite a few of these trucks when I was in Michigan and across the way in Canada, but they had nice big balloon type tyres.

BM,
The one pictured carts Nickel concentrate dry. The acid tankers are different trailers but they do use the prime movers. They were in and out of Leinster all day when I was up there. Generally they run from Leinster & Mt Keith to Leonora. Sometimes from Kambalda when the train line is down. Most belong to BIS and as you say they do run Sulphuric Acid (not Hydrochloric). They on sell some of it still. Can be used in the extraction of laterite nickel. Used to go down to Ravy, Cawse and Bulong when they could not make their own from sulphur. Some now goes to chemical companies. Sulphide nickel produces it as a by product at the smelter.

Originally Posted by BMKal

Tri-drive twin steer prime movers are not uncommon around here either.

This one is carting Hydrochloric Acid produced as a by-product from the Nickel Smelter just out of town. They used to take it up to Nifty Copper mine near Telfer, but don't know where they take it to these days.

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

ok then, riddle me this!

That's a North American spec and photo, Pedro. I won't contradict John as I don't know all the various state rules, but I do know that Oregon and some of its neighbouring states don't have maximum gross laws, only maximum axle weights. These states spawn some unusual (to us) configurations, such as seven and eight axle (semi) trailors. Most of the axles are individually retractable, so that the number of axles on the road can be tailored to suit the weight of the load.
In the picture you posted, Pedro, the wheels on top at the back, are lowered to bear some of the load when laden. Popular on cement trucks.

Originally Posted by BMKal

Tri-drive twin steer prime movers are not uncommon around here either.

This one is carting Hydrochloric Acid produced as a by-product from the Nickel Smelter just out of town. They used to take it up to Nifty Copper mine near Telfer, but don't know where they take it to these days.

Yes BM, as with most things transport, WA has taken a far more common sense stance than the rest of the country.

Hey Ian,

have a look at this

Self-driving trucks could cost as many as 7 million jobs in the US alone - ScienceAlert

i recon it will be a lot further off than the near future.

Thanks Paul, you're a bundle of joy.
I'll have to go and see what I can find about robots replacing fridges.
Seriously, will a driverless lorry know when it has a flat tyre and, be able to change it?

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Thanks Paul, you're a bundle of joy.
I'll have to go and see what I can find about robots replacing fridges.
Seriously, will a driverless lorry know when it has a flat tyre and, be able to change it?

TPM system,probably shut down the whole rig,then send in a chopper to sort it.

I recon they are way off, on public roads, won't be here in our working lifetime,although they do have them in the mines.

The real issue is when will this type of thing end,probably never,and what future do our children have? There will be no jobs left.

oh,if we had robots fixing fridges,they would probably do a better job than the current crop of tradies.