Truck design has come a long way in recent decades. No longer are tipper trucks and other large vehicles the lumbering, fume-belching beasts of the road. As with all vehicles large and small, designers have had to come up with ways of making heavy goods vehicles safe on the road -- particularly towards other road users  -- and safe to operate. From tires to brakes and speed controls, we look at some of the innovations making large trucks safer than ever before.

Improvements in Aerodynamics

In the past, nearly all lorries and tipper trucks were built to a very similar design, most being a basic rectangular shape with the aerodynamics of a house brick. What this meant for other road users was that whenever a truck passed you on the road you would feel a definite push and pull of air as it moved around the truck from front to back. For drivers of small vehicles, cyclists and motorcyclists this effect could be destabilising and even dangerous as they were in effect swept one way and then the other by the trucks bow wave.

As trucks became ever larger, especially in places like Australia and the United States, a team of engineers at NASA were diverted from their work on wind resistance and drag effects on aircraft and the space shuttle to concentrate on improving truck design.

Safety Features to Protect While On the Road

There have been many accidents caused by trucks in the past with many caused by excess speed, brake failure or collisions with other vehicles to name just a few examples. This is why new safety measures have been developed to protect drivers, pedestrians and construction workers.

• To help protect passers-by, cyclists and other road users simple but effective features such as multiple reflectors on front, rear and sides, with some vehicles having a side strobe indicator system to better alert other road users to a turning HGV. Blind spot mirrors help to increase visibility to other road users at night and help to prevent accidents which can occur when for example a cyclist or pedestrian cannot normally be seen in a driver’s blind spot.
• The sheer size and weight of a large truck means that excessive uncontrolled speed can result in extreme damage to any vehicles it collides with as well as serious injury to road users. Speed limiters are now fitted as standard to trucks over 7.5 tonnes which limits them to a maximum speed of 60 mph. Certain vehicles such as military or emergency services are exempt from this requirement. Uprated tailgate and front end strengthening can help to protect a driver from more serious injury in the event of a collision either head-on or head to tail.
• Newer models are now fitted with two sets of brakes rather than just a single set with one set acting as a failsafe backup in the increasingly rare case of one set malfunctioning or failing.
• Dynamic steering with stability assist is increasingly seen on many vehicles and on heavy goods vehicles or tipper trucks it can be a life saver. It is designed to activate counter-steering and prevent a truck skidding out of control, something which used to happen too often especially in trucks with an unstable load. Camera systems can be utilised on tipper trucks to give a clear view of the load and prevent rollovers.
• Warning sensors are inescapable in modern vehicles, but most are essential for driver safety. Seat belt reminder indicators are fitted as standard in new trucks and these will sound an alarm if the seat belt is not utilised.
• For tipper trucks, one of the newest innovations is a traffic light style weight indicator. Lights on the rear of the truck tell a machine operator when the maximum payload is reached while an in-cab display informs the driver.

With all these innovations in truck design, it’s never been safer to take the wheel of these larger vehicles, and with further monies being poured into research and development, this trend is set to continue.