Experts Advocate Use Of Axle Weigh Bridges To Checkmate Rapid Road Deterioration, Overloaded Truck Crashes

Weighbridge or a truck weighbridge scale, according to engineer Omoluabi Bejide of Gumpta Engineering Constructions, is an instrument used to weigh very heavy loads carried by vehicles.

This scale consists of a robust steel or concrete platform, which is mounted on a concrete surface having a weight terminal indicator, a junction box, a weighbridge controller, and some load cells/sensors.

All of these systems work together to convert the force applied by the vehicle standing on the platform into electrical signals and then into the weight of the applied load, he stressed.

He said, “Not less than 90% of Nigerian mobility needs are satisfied through the road transport, leading to the intense pressure on the highways in Nigeria and made worse by the overloading of heavy-duty trucks and vehicles on the roads, causing deterioration and eventual road collapse.

“Overloaded trucks also contribute to crashes on Nigerian roads by significantly impairing vehicle control, increasing the risk of accidents, and potentially causing damage to other vehicles and road infrastructure.

“Heavy and over-weight vehicles are widely believed to be a major cause of highway degradation, and their damaging effects make it evident that trucks are the primary cause of traffic-related highway deterioration.” Bejide said.

Commercial trucks are made for transporting goods, but there is a limit to what they can carry safely. When this weight limit is exceeded, the likelihood of accidents increases substantially, Cosmas a Logistic Manager said, adding, The excessive weight makes these vehicles more challenging to control, and maneuvers such as over-steering, sudden braking, aggressive swerving, or speeding can easily lead to an imbalance, resulting in a rollover accident.

Engr. Kayode Popoola, former Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Lagos, while speaking at a forum organised for a group of truckers and articulated vehicle owners said: “Today the Nigerian roads are subject to some of the worst form of abuses, especially by stakeholders who are supposed to spearhead the preservation, protection and elongation of their lifespan. For instance, the weight of cargoes driven on the road by operators of haulage services per trip is far above acceptable limits.

“The acceptable limit is 33 tons per loaded truck, but you will find the average truck loaded with cargoes ranging between 60 – 80 tons in transit, exerting immense pressure on the roads and overstretching it beyond acceptable limits.

“Sooner you will find the road becoming depressed leading to cracks that will be aggravated by other environmental hazards like the rain, wind and the sun. The activities of overloaded has been identified as one of the leading causes of road damage and failure which must be addressed frontally”, he stressed.

Engr. Bejide therefore advocated that governments at various levels should put measures in place with the aim at reducing the impact of overloaded trucks on Nigerian roads. They should commence installation of and strict enforcement of calibration of installed load weighbridges across the country.

“The enforcement of the axle load limits would help to prevent damage on major roads and highways, thereby prolonging the lifespan of these roads, and ultimately enable the government to utilise funds that it would ordinarily spend to fix such roads, on other projects. “

The recent Gas trucks explosions in Lagos and Abuja was attributed to loss of control of the trucks by the drivers, traceable to their overloaded states. In a statement signed by FEMD’s Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, the Head of Forecasting Response and Mitigation, Mark Nyam, explained that the accident occurred when the driver of the CNG truck lost control and collided with other vehicles, leading to the explosion.

The statement read, “A ghastly motor accident has occurred at the Karu bridge between Kugbo and Nyanya in the FCT. The accident, which occurred at about 7.14 this evening, involved a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) truck and other vehicles.

“According to the Head of Forecasting Response and Mitigation division of FEMA, Mr Mark Nyam, the accident occurred when the driver of the CNG truck lost control on the bridge there by running into other motorists and leading to an explosion.”

You will recall that President Muhammadu Buhari during his tenure signed the instrument of accession of the supplementary act relating to the harmonisation of standards and procedures for the control of dimensions, weights and axle load of heavy-duty goods transport vehicles.

To implement it then, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) was directed to ensure that the weighbridges at the ports and loading bays are fully calibrated.

Farouk Salim, the then director-general of SON said during the official commencement of the calibration exercise of the APM Terminals’ weighbridges in Apapa ports that the agency would carry out the directive in line with international best practices.

“The calibration will be effected on weighbridges to ascertain the axle load for heavy duty vehicles and food transporting vehicles that convey both wet and dry products across the country,” he noted.

According to him, the Federal Government aims to preserve the roads from constant damage by overweight trucks, as well as give Nigerians the right quality products.

Salim disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approvals on roads construction and management gave credence to the calibration services to ensure that Nigerian roads are preserved and maintained for long-term uses.

“An example of the implementation process being carried out in other Africa countries is to support the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA). SON is to ensure that these weighbridges give accurate measurements to the users,” he added.

THE Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE at a forum in Minna also called for the re-introduction of the weigh balance bridges and implementation of maximum Axle load on highways across Nigeria.The engineers stated that this is the only panacea to the deteriorating state of the roads across Nigeria.

Sunday Kolo of the Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Minna, in his lecture titled ‘Total quality control in the conception, construction and maintenance of roads in a developing economy’, said that the reintroduction of weighing machine at major strategic locations will monitor load capacity.

He blamed the bad state of roads across the country on lack of monitoring and insisted vehicles with high capacities should not be allowed on some roads.

“A well designed, well-constructed road will fail if the issue of Axle Law is not infused. There is a need to reintroduce weight balance and weigh bridges on the Nigerian roads.

This will go a long way to maintain the road and maintain its long life,” he argued.

The engineers then called on the government to design and construct roads to all applicable standards stressing that agencies should be allowed to carry out their functions without interference,” he said.

Engr. Ejiofor, Madu, an NSE Apapa Branch, said, “it is very important that we control axle loading on our roads because one of the major effects of these vehicles is that they destroy our roads. Our roads are designed to take 40-ton-vehicles but today we have 80 tons, 60 tonnes, 70 tonnes plying our roads.

“Controlling axle loading on our roads was weakened since the dismantling of the toll plaza because the toll plazas on most of these dual carriage roads provided an opportunity to bring every vehicle to a stop.

“You could better administer the trucks because they had their lane and in the truck lane, we had embedded these weighing bridges on those lanes so there was no escaping it.

“In the whole of West Africa, the menace of axle loading is worse in Nigeria; so we should be committed to tackling that,” he said.

He said that the Country should be working closely with the Federal Road Safety Commission and security agencies in order to enforce compliance.

Government should go ahead to engage major manufacturing companies and heavy road users such as cement manufacturers, steel billet companies, and asphalt companies so that overloading could be tackled from the source.

Meanwhile Engineer Bejide gave the following as the negative impacts of overloaded trucks while in motion;

Reduced Control and Maneuverability:

Overloaded vehicles become harder to control, especially during braking or sharp turns, increasing the risk of skidding, losing control, and colliding with other vehicles or roadside obstacles.

Increased Braking Distance:

Overloaded trucks require a longer distance to stop, making it difficult to avoid accidents, especially in situations with sudden braking or unexpected obstacles.

Brake Overheating and Failure:

The increased weight and friction from overloading can cause brakes to overheat and fail, leading to accidents.

Increased Risk of Rollover:

Overloaded trucks are more susceptible to rollovers, especially on curves or uneven road surfaces.

Damage to Road Infrastructure:

Overloaded trucks exert excessive pressure on road surfaces, leading to premature pavement damage, potholes, and other road hazards that can cause accidents.

Reduced Visibility:

The height and size of overloaded trucks can obstruct the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of collisions, especially at intersections or when overtaking.

Cargo Shifting and Falling:

Overloaded trucks can experience cargo shifting or falling, leading to accidents or injuries for other road users.

Fatigue:

Drivers of overloaded vehicles may experience fatigue due to the increased strain of driving a heavy vehicle, leading to accidents.

News & Image Source