Overloaded heavy goods vehicles are a major source of damage to road infrastructure, particularly in developing countries. In Pakistan, the National Highways Authority (NHA) is using high-speed weigh-in-motion systems and weighing stations for overloading detection and prevention. Central Weighting has supplied 14 systems, including Supaweigh axle weighbridges and Cheklode (a portable truck weighing system). Early results suggest that overloading is eight times more frequent than that in Europe. The need to educate drivers and operators as to the damage done by overloaded trucks is emphasised. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), new developments require millions of tonnes of rock and sand to be moved and overloading is an everyday occurrence. Lorries that are over twice the maximum European permitted gross weights are common. Conventional platform weighbridges cannot cope with vehicles of such weights and new dynamic axle weighing technology is being introduced. The lack of weight controls is a significant barrier to the development of road infrastructure in developing countries. The problems of implementation and enforcement are discussed.
Samenvatting