Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/403645
FACT FILE 31 miles En Trave Till – ETT – is Swedish and stands for One More Pile. Adding one more pile of timber increases efficiency and makes transport more environmentally sound at the same time. The research project started in 2007 and will continue until 2016. The objective is to influence Swedish legislation so that the current maximum limit, a total weight of 66 tons, is increased to 82 tons. The long-term goal is to get 99-ton trucks approved. ETT is a partnership between Volvo Trucks, Skogforsk (forest research), the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Transport Agency, Skogsnäringen (forest industry), Parator (trailers), and other representatives in the automotive industry. TH E PROJ ECT TH E AR EA TH E TR UCK A Volvo FH16 from 2013 with a 16-liter 750 bhp engine. It transports timber from Överkalix to the Munksund sawmill in Piteå. This vehicle reduces carbon emissions by 20 percent and, at the same time, the cost is 20 percent lower compared with a standard timber truck. The truck, the only one of its kind, carries a load of 72 tons instead of 46 tons – i.e. 50 percent more timber. The total weight of the truck when fully laden is 99 tons and 98 feet long. S W E D E N Piteå F I N L A N D Överkalix G u l f o f B o t h n i a A r c t i c C i r c l e For inexperienced drivers with poor tires, it's no fun. I o"en see foreign trucks that have got stuck on hills. Just last week, a foreign vehicle combination drove into the ditch, trailer and all," he says. He has found himself in the ditch on a couple of occasions during his 24 years as a timber truck driver. e last one was more than ten years ago. Roger points to the shoulder he injured in the accident and say it still aches a little. "In icy conditions you need to be able to judge when to stop and when to continue driving," explains Roger. The first time he drove the ETT truck, he was surprised by how smooth and flexible it was, despite its length. As the trailer comprises a dolly, link and trailer, it is difficult to reverse, but otherwise Roger does not think that the extra weight makes that much difference while driving. "e braking system is so good on this truck that the braking distance isn't longer than that of a standard 66-ton truck," he says. He winds down the window and spits out his moist snuff (Swedish 'snus'). Behind the tops of the pine trees, the March sunshine flashes past. Roger is wearing sunglasses over his normal glasses to protect his eyes from the light, which is strengthened by reflections from the snow. "Between Överkalix and Piteå, there's a real difference in climate, road conditions and weather conditions. It can be great in Över- kalix but slippery between Luleå and Piteå," says Roger. Even though it takes just two hours to travel between Överkalix and Piteå, the temperature in the winter can vary from minus twenty- two degrees Fahrenheit inland to just a few degrees below freezing at the coast. is creates demands not only on the driver but also on the truck, which has to be able to deal with these large temperature variations. At the sawmill in Munksund, the debarked logs travel on conveyor belts between the piles of timber. Unloading takes no time at all and, just over 30 minutes later, Roger is once again on his way to Överkalix. Before the day comes to an end, he will have completed another transport assignment. It will then be time to return to his home and family. Roger has four children, and today he is going to collect his youngest son from nursery school. "I like covering the same route. My friends think I'm a bit mad; they wonder if I won't go crazy! I tell them that you can't sit and think about driving the same route. e advantage is that I get home to my family in time and can sleep in my own bed every night." Q D R I V E R ' S D I G ES T #3/2014 21