iii

AN INVESTIGATION ON VEHICLE OVERLOADING IN

MUAR – MELAKA ROAD

HAZLINA BINTI MARWAN

A project report submitted in fulfillment of the

requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Engineering (Civil)

Faculty of Civil Engineering

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

June 2013
 iiiv

DEDICATION

To My dear Parents ( Sutiah Binti Siraj and Marwan Bn Arshad )

For their endless support

My Supportive Husband ( Md Khair Bin Rathaman )

For motivating and believing in me

My Lovely Daughters ( Nur Alya Nafisah and Nur Hasya Maisara)

and My Son ( Muhammad Khalief )
For their everlasting encouragement in my education

My Friends

This project paper is dedicated to them

 viiv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

“ In the name of God, the most gracious, the most compassionate”

I wish to express my deep gratitude to my supervisor, Prof Dr Mohd Rosli

Bin Hainin for his valuable time, supervision and encouragement throughout the
course of this study. Special thanks dedicated to Panel members who gave very
constructive comments and suggestions in guiding the study on the right track
during the first and second presentation ( Prof. Hasanan Bin Md Nor and Dr
Haryati Binti Yaacob).

I would also like to acknowledge the staff of Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan

(JPJ) Jalan Kesang Muar especially En Hafiz for the in cooperation and assistance
in providing the data of vehicles overloading. My sincere appreciation goes to all
Selia Senggara staffs especially En Halim and En Kamil for their constant support
during my study. No words can express my gratitude to my family for all they
have given me through my entire life especially in and academic fulfillment and
advancement career.
 viiv

ABSTRACT

Vehicle overloading is considered as one of the most substantial concerns

in road transport due to a possible road surface damage. The ability of a pavement
structure in carrying out its function reduces in line with the increase of traffic
load, especially if there are overloaded heavy vehicle passing through the road.
This paper investigates the overloading of vehicles in the Muar-Melaka roads. The
main objective of this paper is to examine the percentage of overloading based on
types of vehicles and their equivalence factor (EF). Data were collected from fixed
weighbridge station by considering gross vehicle weight, maximum permissible
gross vehicle and axle load for the period of two years. The result showed that
heavy vehicle with 2 axles is the most overloaded vehicle with 74.3%. Besides
that, 29% of all heavy vehicles weighted are between 1% to 25% overloading.
Equivalence Factor (EF) for this case study area is equal to 3.14. Thus, it is can be
noted that EF of this road are still in standard design.
 viii
vi

ABSTRAK

Kenderaan lebih muatan dianggap sebagai salah satu pekara yang perlu
diambil berat dalam sistem pengangkutan jalan raya kerana pekara ini boleh
menyebabkan kerosakan pada permukaan jalan. Kebolehupayaan struktur turapan
akan berkurangan selaras dengan peningkatan beban trafik, terutamanya jika
terdapat terlalu banyak kenderaan berat lebih muatan melalui jalan raya tersebut.
Kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengkaji kenderaan lebih muatan di jalan Muar-
Melaka. Objektif utama kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji peratusan lebih muatan
berdasarkan kepada jenis kenderaan dan juga “equivalence factor” (EF) bagi jalan
tersebut. Data yang dikumpul dari stesen jambatan timbang (jenis tetap) dengan
mempertimbangkan berat kasar kenderaan, berat kasar maksimum kenderaan yang
dibenarkan dan beban gandar adalah bagi tempoh dua tahun. Hasil dapatan kajian
menunjukkan bahawa kenderaan berat dengan 2 gandar adalah penyumbang
terbesar kenderaan lebih muatan di kawasan kajian ini dengan 74.3%.. Selain
daripada itu,, 29% kenderaan lebih muatan yang ditimbang mempunyai muatan
lebih 1% hingga 25%. “Equivalence Factor” (EF) bagi kawasan ini kajian kes
adalah bersamaan dengan 3.14 dan ini menunjukkan bahawa EF bagi jalan ini ini
masih sama dengan standard rekabentuk yang sediada.
 ix

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

DECLARATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv
ABSTRACT v
ABSTRAK vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
LIST OF TABLES x
LIST OF FIGURES xi
LIST OF APPENDICES xiii

1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Problem Statement 2
1.3 Objectives of this Study 3
1.4 Scope of the Study 3
1.5 Study Area 4

2 LITERATURE REVIEW 5
2.1 Introduction 5
2.2 Previous Study 6
 xviii

2.3 Vehicles Classification 8

2.4 Gross Vehicle Weight 10
2.5 Axle and Tire Configuration 11
2.6 Axle Load 12
2.6.1 Axle Load Limit 13
2.7 Load Equivalence Factor 15
2.7.1 Fourth Power Rule 17
2.7.2 Deficiencies of the AASHTO Load 18
Equivalency Factor
2.8 Weight data 20
2.9 Weighbridge 21
2.9.1 Fixed/Permanent Weighbridge 22
2.9.2 Weight In Motion 24
2.10 Impact of Overloading on Pavement 25
2.10.1 Load spreading to a pavement 27
2.10.2 Effects of Increased Legal Load Limit 28

3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 29
3.1 Introduction 29
3.2 Operational Framework 30
3.3 Preparation Stage 31
3.4 Data Collection 31
3.4.1 Weighing Bridge Station 31
3.4.2 Vehicles Classification 32
3.4.3 Parameter for Vehicles Overloading 34
Measurement
3.4.4 Weighing Procedure 34
3.5 Data Analysis 37
3.6 Evaluation 38
 xi
ix

4 ANALYSIS 39
4.1 Introduction 39
4.2 Overloaded Vehicles Analysis 40

4.2.1 Overloaded Weight by Types of 40

Vehicles
4.2.2 Overloading Vehicles by Percentage 42
Of Overloaded Weight
4.2.3 Pattern of Overloaded Weight by 45
Month
4.3 Determination of Equivalence Factor (EF) 54
4.3.1 Calculating EF for each Axle 54
4.3.2 Calculating the Average od EF 56
Per Vehicle

5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 59

5.1 Introduction 59
5.2 Conclusion 60
5.3 Recommendation for The Future Research 60

REFERENCES 62
APPENDICES 65
 x
xii

LIST OF TABLE

TABLE NO TITLE PAGE

2.1 Maximum Permissible Gross Vehicle Weight 10

2.2 Maximum axle load for Malaysia 13
2.3 Load Limits and Regional Characteristics 14
2.4 Axle Load Limit In Various Country 15
2.5 OIML Approved Types of Weighing Systems 21
4.1 Calculation of LEF for all vehicles 56
4.2 Guide for Load Equivalence factor without Axle 57
Load Study
4.3 Percentage of selected commercial vehicles 57
4.4 Comparison of EF 58
 xiii
xi

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE NO TITLE
PAGE

1.1 Study Area 4

2.1 Standard Vehicles Classification Chart 9
2.2 Tire Axle Combinations 11
2.3 Deflection Basin Under A .Loaded Wheel 13
2.4 One Overloaded Axle Causes Damage Equivalent To 16
Approximately

2.5 Sources of errors at the weighing place, uneven 21

place of weighing

2.6 Sources Of Errors At The Weighing Place; 22

Weighing Site Gradients

2.7 Permanent weighbridges 23

2.8 WIM weighbridges 25
2.9 Impact of overloading on pavement performance 26
(Legal Load Limit)

2.10 Impact of overloading on pavement performance 26

(Overloading)

2.11 A typical load spreading in a road pavement. 27

3.1 Flow chart of the Study 30
3.2 JPJ Weighing Bridge Station 32
3.3 Heavy vehicle category listing (source JPJ Muar) 33
3.4 Permanent weighbridge to accommodate heavy 35
Vehicles
 xiv
xii

3.5 Truck will categorize as overloaded vehicles if it 35

weight over the Maximum Permissible Gross
Vehicle Weight

3.6 Weighing the front axle 36

3.7 Weighing the rear axle 36
3.8 Gross vehicle weight and weight per axle will display 37
in this screen after the weighing process finish

4.1 Distribution By Types of Vehicles in the year of 2012 42

4.2 Distribution By Types of Vehicles in the year of 2011 42
4.3 Number of overloaded vehicles with 1% -25% 44
overloading

4.4 Number of overloaded vehicles with 26% -50% 44

overloading

4.5 Number of overloaded vehicles with 51% -75% 45

overloading

4.6 Number of overloaded vehicles with 76% -100% 45

overloading

4.7 Number of overloaded vehicles with above 100% 46

overloading

4.8 Percentage of Overloaded Vehicles in the year of 2012 49

4.9 Percentage of Overloaded Vehicles in the year of 2012 50

4.10 Percentage of Overloaded Vehicles in the year of 2011 53
4.11 Percentage of Overloaded Vehicles in the year of 2011 54
4.12 Calculation of EF for all vehicles 57
 xiii
xv

LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX TITLE PAGE

Table 1 Axle Load Calculation for 2 Axle Heavy Vehicle 65

Table 2 Axle Load Calculation for 3 Axle Heavy Vehicle 73
Table 3 Axle Load Calculation for 4 Axle Heavy Vehicle 74
Table 4 Axle Load Calculation for 6 Axle Heavy Vehicle 75
 1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Roads represent the largest asset value of a transport infrastructure in most

countries. They are one of society’s most essential components. Without them, it
would be very difficult to travel from one place to another in a time saving and
convenience way. Therefore, every country should have an excellent road system
and in order to fulfill this function, roads must be properly designed and possesses
durability. However, there are roads built on weaker subgrade material resulting
in poor performance and cause losses in both serviceability and economy.
Although different factors such as material, environment and design consideration
may be able to cause the pavement deterioration, the most important contributing
factor is traffic loading especially contributed by heavy good vehicles.( Chatti et
al. 2004)

An overloading is defined as a load that exceeds the legal truck limit.

According to Mohammadi et al.(1992), overload vehicles are expected to
contribute more dramatically to the accumulative damage and the damage ratio is
384 442 to when comparing an 80 000 pound (36 288 kg) heavily loaded truck on
five axles with a 2000 pound (908 kg) compact size passenger car. This is
 2

especially true when these heavier loads happen frequently. The increase in the
overload occurrences was found to cause a noticeable increase in damage done to
pavements. Since the greater percentage of goods transported by road is
increasing, it is expected that heavy vehicles will remain a common sight on our
roads in the foreseeable future. Careful attention should therefore be given in
minimizing the use of heavy vehicles in order to prevent damage of road structure
caused by them.

1.2 Problem Statement

Malaysia’s road is divided into three main categories namely toll

expressway (1,700km), federal roads (17,500km) and state roads (61,100km) and
the life spans are between 10 to 15 years (Zakaria and Hassan, 2005).
Nevertheless, the damages of the pavements occur earlier than expected. One of
the recent issues related to road transportation in Malaysia is the behaviour of
overloading vehicles especially the increasing number of trucks. This resulted to
damages of roads especially in industrial areas because of the over capacity loads
that is not aligned with the specified design lifespan of the road structure.

On the other hand, heavy vehicle also contributed to deterioration of the

road. There were 19.3 million registered vehicles in the Malaysian roads, and the
government spent RM5 billion between 2001 and 2010 to keep sustaining all the
Federal roads. This value can be reduced if overloading of vehicles is prevented.
So far, little documented research has been carried out pertaining to on axle load in
relation to road damages. The need for one is inevitable due to increasing number
of extensive development in Malaysia.

Overloaded vehicles could put road user’s lives at risk. These vehicles are
difficult to steer, less stable and they require a longer stopping distance; which
make them very dangerous especially in sharp curves and steep slopes. Besides,
overloading can also cause several detrimental impacts on the reliability of
 3

pavement structure. It does not only reduce the lifespan of the pavement itself but
also could cause bad road destruction that could lead to accidents. In addition,
data from Malaysia Institute of Road Safety Research showed that 25% of fatal
accidents involved heavy vehicles.

1.3 Objectives of this Study

The aim of this study is to evaluate the overloading vehicles at Muar –

Melaka roads. The objectives were to:
i. determine the percentage of overloading vehicles.
ii. determine an average equivalency factor (EF) of the road.

1.4 Scope of the Study

In this study, the research scope and limitation are as follow:

i. This study focuses on overloading situation in Muar-Melaka road

segment, that is the two-way four lane divided (4/2 D) flexible
pavement.

ii. The overloading data were collected in 2011 and 2012

iii. The calculation of equivalence factor (EF) is based on TRRL Road

Note 40.
 4

1.5 Study Area

The location of this study is in Muar - Melaka road segment, which

consists of Johor Baharu – Muar - Melaka federal road specifically located in
Jalan Kesang, Muar District as shown in Figure 1.1. The length of this road
section is approximately 46 km. Muar-Malacca road segment is a flexible
structure that consists of asphalt surface constructed on stabilized base and sub
base course.

Figure 1.1 : Study Area

 62

REFERENCES

AASHTO,(1993). AASHTO guide for Design of Pavement Structures, American

Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington,
D.C.
Alavi, Sirous H, Kevin A. Senn.(1999). Development of New Pavement Design
Equivalent Single Axle Load (ESAL), Final Report. FHWA-AZ99-455.
Nichols Consulting Engineers.
Chatti,K , Salama H.K, and Mohtar El C. (2004). Effect of Heavy Trucks with
Large Axle Groups on Asphalt Pavement Damage, International
Symposium on Heavy Vehicle Weights And Dimensions,Johannesburg,
South Africa
CSIR, Roads and Transport Technology,(1997). The Damaging Effects of
Overloaded Heavy Vehicles on Roads (Pad27 - revised), Department of
Transport, Republic of South Africa, 1997CSIR
Dodoo, N. A. & Thorpe, N. (2005). New Approach for Allocating Pavement
Damage between Heavy Good Vehicles for Road-user Charging. School of
Civil Engineering and Geosciences, University of Newcastle Tyne, pp.
419-430.
Eason, K. & Greene, D. (2008), Potential Impact of 97,000-Gvw on Logging
Costs. Retrieved from Agricultural Transportation Efficiency Coalition
website: http://ag-haul.org/resources/ multimedia/PDF/ AgTEC-
GVWstatement.pdf.
Federal Highway Administration Guide to LTPP Traffic Data Collection and
Processing (2001).FHWA, Washington, D.C.
Hallenbeck, M. and Weinblatt, H.(2004). Equipment for Collecting Traffic Load
Data, NHCRP REPORT 509, Washington, D.C.
 63

Highway Planning Division, (2012). Road Traffic Volume Malaysia (RTVM) 2011
Ministry of Works Malaysia
Huang, Wen, Li Xu-hong, Ju Peng & He Jie (2005). Site Survey and Analysis of
Highway Trucks Overloading Status Quo in Anhui., Journal of Eastern
Asia Society for Transportation Studies 6:14.
Ioannides, A. M. and Khazanovich L. (1993). Load Equivalency Concepts: A
Mechanistic Reappraisal, Transportation Research Record 1388,
Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.
Jarvis, S. (2008). Increase Truck Weight Limits For Agricultural Transportation
from 80,000 to 97,000 Pounds. Retrieved from Agricultural Transportation
Efficiency Coalition website: http://ag-haul.org/resources/
multimedia/PDF/ AgTEC-GVWstatement.pdf.
Johnsson, Richard (2004). The Cost of Relying on the wrong Power-road wear and
the importance of the Fourth Power Rule, Transport Policy 11:9
JICA Study Team, (2011). Study for the Harmonization of Vehicle Overload
Control in the East African Community, Final Report The East African
Trade and Transport Facilitation Project (EATTFP)
Matthews, J. A. & Baumeister, K. L. (1976). Damage to Pavement due to Axle
Load. Technical Report Document Page, California Department of
Transportation, Sacramento, California 95807.
Mohd Hizam bin Harun (2011). The new JKR manual on pavement design, Final
Report, JKR 20601-LK-0156-KP-05.
Mohammadi, J. and Shah, N. (1992). Statistical Evaluation of Truck Overloads.
Journal of Transportation Engineering., 118(5), 651–665.
Mulyono, A.T, Parikesit D, Antameng M, and Rahim R (2010). Analysis of Loss
Cost of Road Pavement Distress due to Overloading Freight
Transportation, Journal of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation
Studies, vol. 8.
Osama, Mahmoud Yassenn,, Mohamed Ahmed Hafez, Intan Rohani Endut,
Bahardin Bin Baharom, and Md Yunus Ab Wahab (2012). Axle
Overloading At The Southern Part Of The North-South Expressway In
Malaysia, IEEE Business, Engineering & Industrial Applications
Colloquium (BEIAC).
 64

Osama, Mahmoud Yassenn, Mohamed Ahmed Hafez, Intan Rohani Endut,

Bahardin Bin Baharom, and Md Yunus Ab Wahab (2011). Overloading At
The Northern Part Of The Malaysian Expressway, IEEE Colloquium on
Humanities, Science and Engineering Research (CHUSER).
Rahim (2000). Analysis of Road Damage Due to Overloading on the Causeway in
Eastern. Sumatra .Riau Province. Thesis-S2, Master System and
Transportation Engineering, Gajahmada University (UGM), Yogyakarta
Road Note 40 (2004). A Guide To Axle Load Surveys & Traffic Counts For
Determining Traffic Loading On Pavement, Transportation and Road
Research Laboratory(TRRL) ISSN 0951-8797
Road Department of Botswana (2000). Guideline For Axle Load Surveys. Ministry
of Works, Transport & Communication Botswana. ISBN 99912 - 0 - 358 -
3
Salem, H.M.A, (2008). Effect Of Excess Axle Weights On Pavement Life, Emirates
Journal for Engineering Research, 13 (1).
Sulisty, B.S. and Handayani, C. (2002). The effect of heavy vehicle’s overloading
to the pavement damage/service life, Thesis, Department of Civil
Engineering University of Diponegoro Semarang, Indonesia.
Warsak, Kanok-Nukulchai, , (2005). Heavy weight Champion of the Road,
http://www.thaiengineering.com/viewnew.php?id=231
Zakaria, S. & Hasan, M. Z. (2005). Data Collection Strategies in Malaysia, Public
Work Department Malaysia