Fact Sheets
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Impacts of Heavy Farm Equipment on Rural Roads
A TERRA-initiated research study through the FHWA Transportation Pooled Fund, Effects of Implements of Husbandry “Farm Equipment” on Pavement Performance, TPF-5(148), was begun in 2008 to study pavement response under selected agriculture equipment and a typical 5-axle semi-trailer truck. Preliminary findings from the research study suggest that the pavement of a typical 7-ton rural road is not strong enough to support repeated applications of heavy loads.
Download the TERRA fact sheet on farm implements and roads (136 KB PDF)
For Further Reading links:
- Response of Iowa Pavements to a Tracked Agricultural Vehicle
(Iowa Department of Transportation, 2000) (306 KB PDF) - Scoping Study: Impact of Agricultural Equipment on Minnesota’s Low Volume Roads (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2001)
(7.1 MB PDF) - Impacts of Overweight Implements of Husbandry on Minnesota Roads and Bridges (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2005)
- “Vehicle Weight Exemption: Boon or Bust” (Minnesota Counties, September 2004)
- Effects of Off-Road Equipment on Flexible Pavements
(TRB Transportation Research Record, 2003)
- Effects of Off-Road Equipment Tires on Flexible and Granular Pavements (South Dakota Department of Transportation, 2002)
- Heavy Agricultural Loads on Pavements and Bridges
(Iowa Department of Transportation, 1999) (3.7 MB PDF)
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