GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS

Pilot Axle Load Survey on N-5

(Peshawar to Karachi)

June 2017
 GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
National Transport Research Center

Pilot Axle Load Survey on N-5

(Peshawar to Karachi)

Prepared By:

School of Civil & Environmental Engineering (SCEE)

NUST

June 2017
 Pilot Traffic Count Survey o
on N
N-5
5 @ Five
ve Locations
ocat o s
(Peshawar to Karachi)

FORWARD

The National Highway Authority of Pakistan is spending a huge amount annually to develop

Road Infrastructure for the benefit of people. The road network, comprising of about 13000

kilometers, worth billions of Rupees. This Road Infrastructure needs to be properly utilized

and maintained. In Pakistan, like other countries, road traffic is growing rapidly in volume

and in size and weight of the vehicles using the roads. As a consequence, highway engineers,

concerned with designing new roads or the strengthening of existing roads, require reliable

information about the distribution of axle loads for existing traffic as well as information

on national axle load trends.

This pilot study is an outcome of efforts by National Transport Research Center (NTRC) to

update traffic related database to assist decision makers and planners in making informed

decisions. Importance of traffic data cannot be denied. Accurate traffic information is

essential for transportation planning, road pavement design and maintenance. Whereas

traffic volumes, traffic composition is important for planning and geometric road design,

vehicle loading characteristics are important for road pavement design and maintenance.

The only effective way to compare the damaging effect of traffic on given roads is to measure

the complete spectrum of axle loads Hence, Axle Load Surveys and Analysis is essential to

assist in planning and the design phases of roads. The axle load surveys, also give

information on the overloading by the transporters, and hence assist NHA in deciding on

appropriate measures.

The primary objective of this pilot study was to collect the axle load data and analyze the

loading pattern on N-5. These results are especially useful, because overloading of trucks is

common in almost all countries, including Pakistan.

PREPARED BY: SCEE, NUST II

 Pilot Traffic Count Survey on N-5
5 @ Five Locations
(Peshawar to Karachi)

PREFACE

Determining axle load (weight-per-axle) is an important consideration in designing roads.

Surveys are normally conducted to get reliable information on the distribution of axle loads

on existing traffic and, if possible, on national axle load trends. This information is required

so that accurate forecasts can be made of the axle loads that a road will have to carry over

its design life.

National Transport Research Center (NTRC) is in the process of updating traffic related

data. This pilot study is also a step to achieve the same objective. In this study axle load

data has been collected at five selected weighing stations on N-5 from Peshawar to Karachi.

Data was collected for 24 hours for Seven days on both directions. Collected data was

calibrated and validated for its authenticity and reliability.

This pilot study is an effort to establish the baseline data for axle load spectrum. This study

can be further extended to other Highways by using the same methodology and framework.

PREPARED BY: SCEE, NUST III

 Pilot Traffic Count Survey on N-5
5 @ Five Locations
(Peshawar to Karachi)

Table of Content
Forward ................................................................................................................................. II

Preface ................................................................................................................................. III

List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... VII

List of Tables ......................................................................................................................... X

1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 11

1.1 Background .......................................................................................................... 11

1.2 Weighing Stations on National Highway ........................................................... 13
1.3 Scope of Project .................................................................................................. 14
1.4 Organization of Report ....................................................................................... 15

2 Project Methodology & Study Locations ...................................................................... 16

2.1 Project Methodology .......................................................................................... 16

2.2 Study Locations ...................................................................................................17
2.3 Duration of Axle Load Data Collection .............................................................. 18
2.4 Equipment Used ................................................................................................. 19
2.5 Survey Team .......................................................................................................20
2.6 Vehicle Classification and Permissible Gross Vehicle Weight ...........................20

3 AXLE LOAD Study ........................................................................................................ 22

3.1 Location 1 (Mulla Mansoor Weighing Station @ N-5) ...................................... 22

3.1.1 Description ......................................................................................................... 22

3.1.2 Basic Statistics ................................................................................................... 23

3.1.3 Truck Type Distribution .................................................................................... 23

3.1.4 Loading on Each Axle ........................................................................................ 25

3.1.5 Load distribution on each Axle .......................................................................... 26

3.1.6 Tyre Pressure ..................................................................................................... 29

3.1.7 Over Loading ...................................................................................................... 29

PREPARED BY: SCEE, NUST IV

 Pilot Traffic Count Survey on N-5
5 @ Five Locations
(Peshawar to Karachi)

3.2 Location 2 (Sangjani Weighing Station @ N-5)................................................. 34

3.2.1 Description ......................................................................................................... 34

3.2.2 Basic Statistics ................................................................................................... 34

3.2.3 Truck Type Distribution .................................................................................... 35

3.2.4 Loading on Each Axle ........................................................................................ 37

3.2.5 Load distribution on each Axle ..........................................................................38

3.2.6 Tyre Pressure .................................................................................................... 40

3.2.7 Over Loading ...................................................................................................... 41

3.3 Location 3 ( Eminabad Weigh Station @ N-5) ..................................................46

3.3.1 Description ......................................................................................................... 46

3.3.2 Basic Statistics ................................................................................................... 46

3.3.3 Truck Type Distribution .................................................................................... 47

3.3.4 Loading on Each Axle ........................................................................................ 49

3.3.5 Load distribution on each Axle ..........................................................................50

3.3.6 Tyre Pressure ..................................................................................................... 52

3.3.7 Over Loading ...................................................................................................... 53

3.4 Location 4 (Rohri/Sukkur @ N-5) ..................................................................... 58

3.4.1 Description ......................................................................................................... 58

3.4.2 Basic Statistics ................................................................................................... 59

3.4.3 Truck Type Distribution .................................................................................... 59

3.4.4 Loading on Each Axle ........................................................................................ 61

3.4.5 Load distribution on each Axle .......................................................................... 62

3.4.6 Tyre Pressure ..................................................................................................... 64

3.4.7 Over Loading ...................................................................................................... 65

3.5 Location 5 (Pipri Weighing Station @N-5 ......................................................... 70

PREPARED BY: SCEE, NUST V