Analysis of Russian freight market

In connection with the launch of our new website dedicated to on-board weighing systems for trucks - www.truck-weigh.com, we would like to talk about the current situation in our country in the field of weight control.

In order to understand the conditions in which Russian truckers work, we propose to consider several distinctive features of the national transport market:

• Bad roads

• Old transport (more than 50% work more than 10 years)

• Poor and untimely maintenance

• Frequent overloads (150% of required weigh) because of fierce price competition

• Bribes on the roads

• Neglect of drivers in the process of loading and unloading, cargo safety, driving safety

• Overloaded roads

• The lack of road infrastructure (parking, hotels, cafes, etc.)

• Introduction of a toll roads for 12-ton trucks

• Expensive and Low-quality fuel

• Reduction of clients and a decrease in traffic due to sanctions and restrictions

Methods of regulation

From 1st of January 2015 in accordance with the adopted amendments to the Administrative Code for exceeding the permitted norms for axle load - fine threatens already at 5% excess (previously the limit value was 15%). Obviously, frightening amount of punishment should really change the situation in the industry and at the same time ensure the flow of funds to the budget. Now imposed penalties for overweight are:

• Driver (individual): 1.5-2 thousand Rubles (or deprivation of a driver license for 4-6 months)

• Driver (official): 10-15 thousand Rubles

• Legal entity: 250-400 thousand Rubles

In addition, the penalty for exceeding the axle load does not preclude punishment for general overload that's  why the total amount of money(thanks to the new published method of calculation - depending on the region and time of year), can simply ruin small enterprise.

Avoiding penalties for overweight

Of course, in order to avoid penalties for overloading of the axes, the vehicle should not be overloaded. It is necessary to carefully monitor and comply with approved standards when loading, but you should also remember, that the overload on the axle and the penalty depends on various factors such as the actual method of the weight control, the error of the equipment condition and tire pressure et normal conditions, the "human factor" etc. (roads, points of weight control).

Russian shipping rules (PPGAT) determine the exact figures permitted axle load, depending on the distance between the axles. So, to meet this requirements vehicle should be measured. This can be done on the basis of technical (passport) data of vehicle or by independent measurements that are usually carried out with improvised means and are not exact. A number of drivers are sure, that the load on the trailer can be conventionally assumed to be equal of 75% of the total weight of the cargo and trailer.

Keep in mind that some of the drivers, of course, deliberately goes into overdrive on the basis of material benefit and market conditions, but often they suffer from clients, for example, taking a row for the transportation from the customer who intentionally did not specify real weight, wanting to save money. In addition, the cargo may be damaged in the road.

To avoid potential problems on the road we offer the most rational way - to use  on-board weighing systems. They will give law-abiding drivers precise data on the amount of weight of the load on the vehicle at the moment of loading and unloading, as well as at the time of a dispute on the road of weight control.

Today, we are able to offer you a number of systems that can be used on any type of vehicle. Modern systems are easy to integrate with all existing types of trucks and trailers with different types of suspension and allow to measure with high accuracy (1-2.5%).

The range of modern on-board weighing systems include both simple stand-alone systems with display (only for the truck or trailer), and complex options to control weight and total train weight distribution, and print the results of the check weighing, transmit data in real time through the terminal GLONASS (GPS) monitoring at remote controller or fleet owners.

A number of European and global automakers have already begun to equip vehicles with weighing system directly from the assembly line, but several million appliances in the secondary market just need to install.

Potential consumers of weighing systems

The main consumers of on-board weighing systems now (because of the impossibility to determine accurately the weight of the load at loading) are the three main categories of vehicle that transport:

• unprocessed timber and lumber

• bulk cargo (gravel, sand, concrete block, etc.)

• industrial and domestic waste

Advantages of onboard weighing systems

The use of weighing systems, especially in conjunction with the GLONASS satellite system (or GPS) monitoring has undeniable advantages:

• Easy control the load level using manual (portable) or onboard display (monitor)

• Monitoring underlo  ad (relevant in the case of expensive cargo transportation)

• Shipping is always within the permitted limits (no penalties for overloading)

•Protection of your vehicle

• Reliable electronic system, the lack of "human factor"

• Simple installation on vehicles with any type of suspension (mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, mixed)

• Measure the weight of any cargo (liquid, bulk, oversized, etc.)

• Measurement of net (cargo in a truck), gross (total weight of the vehicle with the load), the load weight separately for each axis

• Ability to collect data about  the number of transported or shipped cargo in some period and total cost for reporting purposes and disciplining drivers

• Ability to print the results of loading on board the vehicle through a portable printer

• Save time (no need to re-weighing platform)

• Lower cost compared with stationary and seating systems

• High accuracy and working in extreme temperatures.