

The center of gravity provides a reference point on the truck from which other calculations can be measured. It is at this point that the truck is balanced-horizontally, longitudinally, and laterally. Starting in the Middle One way to begin an analysis of truck weight distribution is to locate the center of gravity-the point about which all of the mass of the vehicle is evenly distributed. The length of the truck body that will be installed (BL) is another important dimension. These include the distance from the axle to the end of the frame (AF), bumper to axle (BA), bumper to back of cab (BBC), cab to axle (CA), cab to body (CB), cab to the end of the frame (CE), frame height (FH), overall length (OAL), and wheelbase (WB).


Most of the chassis data involves dimensions. Although the computer performs the calculations based on the engineering formulas Toner has entered, the accuracy of the results depends on the data entered for the chassis, body, and equipment. The spreadsheets, which run on Microsoft Excel, are available from the NTEA office in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The people who do not like overweight trucks include the truck customer whose vehicle does not perform long enough or well enough because of excessive weight on one or more axles, those who enforce state weight laws, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Ī lot of people do not like math, so Toner developed an easy way to calculate weight distribution-with a computer spreadsheet that does the math based on values that are entered. Richard Toner, president of Toner Associates and the NTEA's first staff engineer, had something to offer both groups by explaining an easy "weigh" to calculate truck weight distribution.

Some people do not like overweight trucks.
