Determining Truck Speeds using

Rimpull and Retarder Curves

Question
How fast can a Vovlo A40D go up a 12.5% grade with a 2.5% rolling resistance
And a full 40.7 ton load (total vehicle weight 150,200 lbs)?

We use the
Rimpull curve
To determine
this

Start by Finding Your Vehicle

Weight

Most rimpull charts show the

Weight of an empty truck
And a truck loaded to full
Weight Capacity.

Otherwise start with the

Weight down here.

Determine the Total Resistance

12.5% positive grade resistance working against the truck + 2.5% positive rolling
Resistance working against the truck = 15% total resistance.

On the grade scale find the total resistance

(15% in this case)

Read Up from the Weight Line to

the Grade Line

From This Point Read Over to the

Rimpull Curve

This blue line is

The rimpull curve

Now Read Down the Maximum

Speed the Machine Power Can
Sustain

We can go 5mph with a full load

Up a 15% effective grade.

Rimpull Curves Only Work for

Effective Grades Against a Vehicle

Retarder Curves are Used for Favorable Grades

Braking a Large Truck

For large haul trucks drum or disk brakes
would heat up quickly
To control speed on downgrades large
trucks use hydraulic resistance applied to
the drive train
For very short distances one can go faster
and hold the truck back, but over longer hauls
the hydraulic resistance system would
overheat too.

How Fast can a Fully Loaded Volvo A40D

go down a 12.5% favorable grade against a
2.5% rolling resistance?

Figure the Resistance

12.5% negative or favorable grade trying to make the truck roll away + 2.5% rolling
Resistance opposing the truck movement (rolling resistance is always against you)
Give a total effective grade of -10% - minus means a favorable grade and the need
To use a retarder chart.

Take the Weight and Read Up to

the Favorable Grade Line

Now Read Over to the Retarder

Line

Yipes Which Line?

That Depends on Your Gear and

Road
If you are only going down a short
downgrade then you could be geared to
high or low range read to either high or
low range.
If it is a more sustained down grade or you
are regularly going downhill then dont
overheat the retarder use the continuous
curve.

Suppose it is a lot of downhill

You can go 18 mph.

Notes on Vehicle Travel Times

The rimpull and retarder curves represent
maximum speed the vehicle can
mechanically achieve.
You may have congested areas or sharp turns
where travel speed must be lower

We normally brake haul roads into

segments when grades or conditions
change
Each segment is assigned a speed based on
vehicle capability or another speed constraint

We Determine Vehicle Travel Time

for Each Road Segment
Equation for Travel Time

Dis tan ce in feet

Travel time min utes
(88 * MPH )

One can then add up the time for all the haulage
segment to get the travel time
Another note drivers seldom achieve maximum
allowed speed.

One can divide by a driver efficiency to get actual time

About a mile or more drive one will probably get about 90 to
95%
Divide your time by (.9 or .95)
Your travel time will rise to account for less than 100% perfect
drivers.