The Effect of Load and Tractor Size on Tractor Trailer Fuel Consumption

The South African sugar industry moves 74% of the annual crop by road transport. As fuel prices continue to rise there is therefore a need to investigate the effects of load size and tractor size on the fuel consumption and the productivity of transport units. Tests have been carried out to evaluate the effects of these parameters for the tractor sizes most common in the sugar industry. Results indicated that fuel consumption could decrease at the rate of 1,08 l / t per 100 km per ton of increase in payload for 50 kW tractors, and fuel consumption could increase at the rate of 0,17 l / t per 100 km for each kilowatt increase in tractor size.