Abstract

This study evaluated the typical daily whole-body vibration exposure to which tank truck drivers are exposed on specific routes and with the tank empty or full. Three models of tank-truck were measured, two of which equipped with primary pneumatic suspensions, the remaining equipped with a mechanical suspension. Measurements were taken using two models of pneumatic-suspension seats for each of the trucks.

With the exception of one truck equipped with a different type of motor, the exposures were generally below the limit for fatigue-induced diminished capacity for a 8 hour workday (ISO standard 2631/1). The best truck-seat combination identified during this study allows a daily exposure of 12 hours before reaching the exposure limit.