Continental unveils on board weighing system for commercial vehicles

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Technology company Continental has developed an On Board Weighing System (OBWS) that records and displays the weight of commercial vehicles, including trailers and semi-trailers.

Continental say the system is quick and easy to use before the start of any trip. The new technology will also make it easier to comply with EU Directive 2015/719, which comes into effect next May. The directive requires EU Member States to measure the gross vehicle weight of commercial vehicles more frequently.

In order to plan accordingly and prevent sanctions, drivers and fleet operators must know the load condition of a vehicle before starting a trip. So far, this has been almost impossible and poses particular challenges for vehicles whose semitrailer is usually provided by the forwarder.

Constant load overview

In order to meet the new requirements, most EU countries are relying primarily on a comprehensive, stationary solution. However, Continental argue that the On Board Weighing System offers added value that goes beyond the regulatory stipulations.

“Even if the load is measured by sensors in the road in the future, the integrated solution will remain interesting for forwarding agents, fleet managers and drivers,” says Marc Leinemann, who is a technical project manager at Continental and involved in the development of the On Board Weighing System.

Even before a truck drives off, fleet operators and drivers can check whether the weight of the vehicle is within a safe range. Systems that only determine the vehicle weight after the start of the trip do not offer this advantage.

If the weight can be determined before a trip, vehicles can also be loaded more efficiently and safely. This reduces empty runs and makes preventive maintenance possible. In addition, it can serve as a basis for new business models, for example with load-dependent transport tariffs.

The On Board Weighing System records and displays the weight of commercial vehicles before embarking on each trip and enables further functions. The data is displayed via an app on the driver’s smartphone, on a display in the driver’s cab or in the fleet manager’s office.

Sensors measure the axle loads

However, the requirements of fleets vary, as there are mixed fleets consisting of vehicles with different suspensions. With that in mind, the experts at Continental have developed various OBW solutions that take the respective customer requirements into consideration.

For example, for chassis with air suspension, the system constantly determines the load condition of all individual axles. Continental also has tailor-made solutions for chassis with steel suspension.

The sensor for vehicles with air suspension uses ultrasound to measure the height and pressure of air springs, which in determines the axle’s load condition. On the same basis, a height sensor has been developed for shock absorbers for vehicles without air suspension. The suspension travel of the shock absorber provides information on the load condition of the respective axle.

The strain sensor from Continental is also suitable for both steel and air-sprung axles. It measures the strain of the axle body and thus enables the load to be calculated. The sum of the axle loads results in the vehicle weight including the load.

A complete system from a single source

In all four cases, the data gathered is collected, forwarded and evaluated, and the results are finally displayed via the app on the driver’s smartphone or on a display in the driver’s cab.

Fleet managers can also retrieve the data and optimize the utilization of their fleets. Continental offers all products and services as a complete system from a single source – from the air spring to the sensor through to data processing and software applications.

EU Directive 2015/719: why was it introduced

Vehicle weight measurement is intended to protect infrastructure and reduce the impact on the environment. Overloaded trucks not only pose an increased traffic risk, but also wear out roads and bridges. This results in maintenance costs and endangers safety on the roads due to the damage caused. At the same time, regular vehicle measurements are intended to ensure fairer competition by requiring all forwarding agents to comply with the prescribed maximum loads.

Photo credits @ Continental

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