Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Massie, Blower, and Campbell (1997) indicate that trucks that operate less than 50 miles from the vehicle's home base comprise 58% of the trucking industry. However, despite being the largest segment, research involving local/short haul (L/SH) operations has been scant. In fact, little is known about the general safety issues in L/SH operations. As a precursor to the present research, Hanowski, Wierwille, Gellatly, Early, and Dingus (1998) conducted a series of focus groups in which L/SH drivers provided their perspective on safety issues, including fatigue, in their industry. As a follow-up to the Hanowski et al. work, the effort presented here consisted of an on-road field study where L/SH trucks were instrumented with data collection equipment. Two L/SH trucking companies and 42 L/SH drivers participated in this research. To the author's knowledge, this is the first in-situ data collection effort of its kind with L/SH drivers. The analyses focused on determining if fatigue is an issue in L/SH operations. Of primary interest were critical incidents (near-crashes) where drivers were judged to be at fault. The results of the analyses indicated that fatigue was present immediately prior to driver involvement in at-fault critical incidents. Though it is difficult to determine why fatigue was present, the results seem to indicate that much of the fatigue that the drivers' experienced was brought with them to the job, rather than being caused by the job. There are four basic outputs of the Phase II research: (1) a description of the L/SH drivers who participated, (2) a description of critical incidents, (3) a determination if fatigue is an issue in L/SH trucking, and (4) the validation of the fatigue factors cited in Hanowski et al. (1998) using a proposed fatigue model. These four outputs culminate in a set of pragmatic guidelines to address fatigue and other safety issues in L/SH operations. Five guidelines are proposed that are directed at: (1) driver education with regard to on-the-job drowsiness/inattention, (2) driver education with regard to sleep hygiene, (3) driver training, particularly for novice L/SH truck drivers, (4) driver screening, and (5) public monitoring of L/SH driver performance. / Ph. D.

Commercial vehicle movement within an urban area is an integral part of a region’s economic growth and has significant impact on the quality of life. Commercial traffic grows with economic activity and population growth. However, in regional models commercial traffic is not described as well as person travel. Modeling commercial vehicles is complex because of the involvement of multiple decision agents including shippers, carriers, and receivers and their interactions. The proprietary nature of truck data often limits development of behavioral econometric models that have superior predictive and policy analysis abilities. The efficient movement of goods is a very important component to urban civilization and economic development and therefore, understanding truck movement behavior is an important area of interest for transportation policy planning. The objective of this dissertation is to contribute to apply advanced choice modeling methods to analyze commercial vehicle travel behavior within an urban area. This research collects disaggregate level truck generation data from the business establishments located in a sample urban region and uses the collected data to evaluate factors that affect truck trip generation patterns using linear regression and ordered logit model structures. The results of the study show that employment size, business industrial class, truck ownership, land-use class, and land-value affect trip generation behavior. This research also analyzed three different multiple discrete-continuous (MDC) choice situations encountered by commercial vehicles on a daily basis. These choices are 1) the choice of tour chain(s) and the number of trips in each tour chain, 2) the time (s) of day choice to perform daily activities and the corresponding vehicle-miles traveled; and 3) the choice of destination location(s) among alternative destination zones and the number of stops at each destination zone. The study find that commercial vehicle characteristics, shipment characteristics, transportation network attributes, base location and intermediate stop location features affect the first two choice situations while the level of service and zonal attributes affect the destination choice behavior of commercial vehicle daily travel.

Yes / Braking-induced forced vibration, known as brake judder in road vehicles, causes dissatisfaction to drivers and passengers and also damage and possible early failure in components and systems. In this paper, the transmission of judder vibration from the point of generation (the brake friction pair) through the vehicle structure to the driver is investigated for the particular case of a heavy commercial vehicle. The investigation uses a computer simulation multi-body dynamic model based on the automatic dynamic analysis of mechanical systems software to identify any characteristics of the vehicle suspension design that might influence the vibration transmission from the wheel to the driver. The model uses a simplified rigid chassis and cab to lump the chassis parameters, so that the investigation can focus on the front axle/suspension design, which is a beam axle leaf spring arrangement, and the rear axle/suspension assembly, which is a tandem axle bogie design. Results from the modelling indicate that brake judder vibration is transmitted to the chassis of the vehicle through a leaf spring `wind-up¿ mode and a `walking¿ mode associated with the rear tandem axle. Of particular interest is the longitudinal vibration transmitted through the chassis, since this creates a direct vibration transmission path to the cab and driver. The simulation results were compared with the previously published experimental work on the same design of commercial vehicle, and agreement between the predicted and the measured vibration characteristics and frequencies was found. It is concluded that the rear suspension design parameters could affect the transmission of brake judder vibration to the cab and driver and that a tandem rear axle offers some design opportunity to control the transmission of brake judder vibrations from the wheel to the cab and driver. Given that brake judder has so far defied all attempts to eliminate completely from vehicle brake systems, this is potentially an important opportunity.

Yes / This paper presents a multi-degrees-of-freedom non-linear multibody dynamic model of a three-axle heavy commercial vehicle tractor unit, comprising a subchassis, front and rear leaf spring suspensions, steering system, and ten wheels/tyres, with a semi-trailer comprising two axles and eight wheels/tyres. The investigation is mainly concerned with the rollover stability of the articulated vehicle. The models incorporate all sources of compliance, stiffness, and damping, all with non-linear characteristics, and are constructed and simulated using automatic dynamic analysis of mechanical systems formulation. A constant radius turn test and a single lane change test (according to the ISO Standard) are simulated. The constant radius turn test shows the understeer behaviour of the vehicle, and the single lane change manoeuvre was conducted to show the transient behaviour of the vehicle. Non-stable roll and yaw behaviour of the vehicle is predicted at test speeds .90 km/h. Rollover stability of the vehicle is also investigated using a constant radius turn test with increasing speed. The articulated laden vehicle model predicted increased understeer behaviour, due to higher load acting on the wheels of the middle and rear axles of the tractor and the influence of the semi-trailer, as shown by the reduced yaw rate and the steering angle variation during the constant radius turn. The rollover test predicted a critical lateral acceleration value where complete rollover occurs. Unstable behaviour of the articulated vehicle is also predicted in the single lane change manoeuvre.

Abstract “Customer Satisfaction” has many dimensions. The purpose of this research is to explore these dimensions briefly (using the Service Value Chain concept) and to determine the fundamental drivers of success in customer satisfaction from the perspective of a service organisation. Employees proved to be the pivotal element influencing the outcome of customer satisfaction, as they influence organisational behaviour, customer experience and business profitability. The outcome of the research also promotes the idea that organisations need to become customer - orientated, which requires organisational cultures to change. “Nuclei Drivers of Success in Customer Satisfaction” 3 Two noteworthy results were obtained from this research, which is viewed by the author as a significant contribution to the Service Value Chain. The two specific findings are the empirical evidence in the results of the relationship between Staff Defection and Customer Satisfaction and the relationship between Customer Satisfaction and Organisation Profitability.

Abstract “Customer Satisfaction” has many dimensions. The purpose of this research is to explore these dimensions briefly (using the Service Value Chain concept) and to determine the fundamental drivers of success in customer satisfaction from the perspective of a service organisation. Employees proved to be the pivotal element influencing the outcome of customer satisfaction, as they influence organisational behaviour, customer experience and business profitability. The outcome of the research also promotes the idea that organisations need to become customer - orientated, which requires organisational cultures to change. “Nuclei Drivers of Success in Customer Satisfaction” 3 Two noteworthy results were obtained from this research, which is viewed by the author as a significant contribution to the Service Value Chain. The two specific findings are the empirical evidence in the results of the relationship between Staff Defection and Customer Satisfaction and the relationship between Customer Satisfaction and Organisation Profitability.

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This diploma thesis solves the design of a light delivery vehicle. The work is focused on an innovative approach in the field of last-mile delivery. The resulting product solves the technical shortcomings of today's vehicles and its design reflects its purpose, overall concept and electric drive.