| dc.description.abstract | Transporting raw forest products to processing facilities is one of the highest costs of overall
timber production. Many forestry contractors and log truck owners are looking for feasible
ways to minimize forest road transportation costs. This study proposes a practical solution to
reducing forest resource transportation costs by analyzing the costs and benefits of tire
pressure control systems (TPCS) in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Data from four log-hauling
contractors in the northwestern Ontario region was collected and used to compare the benefits
of implementing TPCS compared to trucks without TPCS. Various models provided by TPC
International, TIREBOSS Inc., and FPInnovations were used to compare the costs of log hauling
with and without TPCS implemented on log trucks. The findings in this study were compared,
summarized, and presented in this thesis. When implemented on log trucks, TPCS can
substantially benefit the log truck owner and contractor. The main benefits come in the form of
cost savings, specifically reduced tire costs, increased traction, reduced fuel consumption, and
increased truck utilization. TPCS also increases truck, trailer, and tire life while lowering the
income required by the truck owner to meet their costs and profit margin. Furthermore, the
results of this study imply that TPCS can reduce the costs of log-hauling and therefore reduce
forest transportation costs. | en_US |
