Road Trains Picture Index.
Transport in the Northern Territory is
a unique method, where the prime movers pull two or three trailers
behind them. The axle configuration is mostly a three axle set
up or as we call it a "tri axle" setup.
The two axle set up is know as Bogey. The tri-axle configuration
has twelve tires (6 on each side) that is legal to carry up to
twenty tonnes of freight. Each trailer is coupled to the next
trailer by what is called a dolly. A dolly is mostly a bogy axle
setup (two axles) with the trend now heading to the more
popular tri-axle configuration. The dolly's themselves have their
own turntable making them a self tracking unit.
The maximum length of a three trailer is
a mammoth 53.5 metres long with a maximum height of 4.5
metres. A fully loaded tri-axle road train with triple trailers
can carry a mammoth 115.5 tonnes of freight.
Trucks in Australia come in different forms ranging from a normal
semi trailer, to a double (road train with two trailers),
a "b" double (which has a different sized trailer and
a different hook up set up) then you have the triples (three trailer
configuration), which is the biggest of them all and the longest.
The makes and models of trucks vary from the different brands
such as Kenworth, Western Star and Mack the most popular prime
movers. The trailors vary with refrigerated units, tankers, general
freight containers and flat top trailers with many more made to
order depending on the freight to be moved.
To drive a road train you first need to obtain a special licence
class "MC" (Multi-combination)
