Evaluation of Large Truck Parameter Requirements For Crash Testing

Research is needed to examine test-vehicle physical properties, vehicle pre-test preparation, and relevant evaluation criteria for Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) Test Levels 4, 5, and 6, considering the current large-vehicle fleet and contemporary freight operations. Research needs include: Reviewing and updating the physical properties of single-unit trucks (Test Level 4), tractor-vans (Test Level 5), and tractor-tank vehicles (Test Level 6), including vehicle dimensions, mass, center-of-mass height, and other critical features, to better reflect the current large-vehicle fleet. The research should also review MASH documentation requirements for large test vehicles. Determining whether MASH test-vehicle pre-test preparation for large vehicles reflects critical and contemporary operating practices. For example, this may include determining whether rigidly anchored or translatable ballast freight distributions contribute to more severe impact conditions or vehicle instability following impact. Assessing MASH evaluation criteria, including rollover potential, occupant risk, and effects on adjacent traffic flow, in relation to the system’s intended purpose and primary function. For example, a barrier designed primarily to capture an impacting vehicle and prevent secondary collisions with roadside obstacles may be considered successful if it effectively contains and redirects the vehicle. However, research is needed to explore whether there is value in refining the evaluation criteria to include a “preferred” performance designation for systems that also minimize occupant risk, limit occupant compartment damage, and improve vehicle stability by reducing rollover potential for large vehicles. Potential research tasks include: Review existing physical characteristics of large vehicles in the current vehicle fleet; Review existing crash tests, including: identifying causes of testing failures and determining whether failures are associated with particular vehicle design features.Identify issues with existing acceptance criteria; Analyze large-vehicle crashes to determine the consequences of modifying acceptance criteria; Identify potential modifications to crash test procedures.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=6069
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $400,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 22-70

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Turner, Anne-Marie

• Start Date: 20261001
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash tests; Test procedures; Test vehicles; Trucks
• Identifier Terms: AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01992188
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 22-70
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jun 9 2026 3:16PM