Truck dimensions

Standards regulate safety

Did you know that Section 22 of the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) also regulates the vehicle dimensions for trucks? The dimensions for loading height, width and length are precisely defined here. For example, a truck without a trailer may be a maximum of 12 m long, with a trailer 18.75 m. The length of an articulated truck is 16.50 m, the width 2.55 m. The maximum width for refrigerated vehicles is 2.60 m. The standard for the maximum height of trucks is 4 m. Such legal regulations are primarily intended to ensure safe driving on German roads. For example, to prevent trucks from getting stuck in tunnels or under bridges. The dimensions are also intended to ensure safe distances in the normal flow of traffic. This applies to the whole of Europe. Exceptions for certain vehicle types must be applied for. Incidentally, anyone who violates the provisions of the StVO can be fined. Every vehicle manufacturer or supplier will therefore check the dimensions of the components and systems they represent and install very carefully.

Voluntary

Vehicle manufacturers or suppliers will also check the content of a standard in detail. In contrast to a legal regulation, however, the application of a standard is voluntary. A standard is a document that specifies requirements for products, services or processes. The properties are clearly described. All users who use a standard will use it in the same way. In this way, production can be rationalized and quality maintained at a high level. Standards only become binding when they become the content of contracts or when the legislator makes compliance with them mandatory.

Truck dimensions

More than just a sheet of paper

One of the best-known examples of standards is certainly the DIN format. Everyone knows DIN A4 (21 x 29.7 cm). Among other things, the standard ensures that paper fits into every printer, copier or stapler. A4 is the most commonly used paper format in Europe and Japan. It is therefore a fixed size that you can rely on. In the USA, on the other hand, US Letter is the preferred standardized size (21.59 x 27.94 cm).

It doesn't work without standardization

There is hardly an area of business and society that can do without standardization. Norms ensure standards, save time and costs and are a solid, calculable basis for economic success for every type and size of company. Common norms and standards are particularly important in logistics.

Many advantages

The challenges facing logistics are constantly growing. On the one hand, companies have to prove their competitiveness on a daily basis. On the other hand, challenges such as the debate on climate change must not be ignored. Added to this is the increasing cost pressure due to high transportation costs, such as fuel, tolls, environmental protection and much more. Intelligent solutions are therefore required, including the standardization of products, processes and procedures.

Making faster progress with standards

Market leaders, such as Edscha TS in the field of tarpaulin top systems, also rely on standards that are used worldwide when developing new or improved tops. This ensures the use of new technologies based on proven platforms. In this way, certain areas can be rationalized and quality significantly improved. It should not be forgotten that standards can also lead to new ideas and establish new solutions on the market more quickly. However, some vehicle manufacturers still rely on individual solutions.

Better market access

Acceptance and targeted demand on the market are the main guarantors of economic success. Norms and standards that are applied to Edscha TS tarpaulin cover systems, for example, also ensure faster production. The customer can therefore dispose of the canopies more quickly and use them immediately. The customer also knows that the proven quality is right and the technology is state of the art.

Standards need time

Standards also always indicate a high level of reliability of the information provided. The publication of a standard therefore generally takes a certain amount of time. This is because before a standard is declared a standard, working groups, specialists, lawyers, associations and many other "people" deal with the topic. The leading role is no longer played by the German DIN - The German Institute for Standardization, based in Berlin, but by its European successor CEN. CEN brings together all disciplines, experts and institutions that decide on norms and standards: Industry, politics, associations, research, politics. The institute pools European interests and incorporates them into international norms and standards.

Standards in the future

It is clear that standards are an integral part of economic success worldwide. Better still, the discussion about social and technological developments is constantly being pursued at a high level.

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