Subjective Truck Ride Evaluation by a Qualitative Scale 690098
A new qualitative ride comfort scale was used by professional heavy truck driven to report differences, which were found to be statistically reliable, in overall ride quality of 18 heavy trucks. Each truck was evaluated at each of three speeds by both the driver and a rider. The effects of speed and evaluator position on ride evaluation also produced differences that were found to be reliable.
In addition to overall ride evaluation, four components of motion were rated on a two-point scale as either “objectionable” or “not objectionable.” Although the structures of the overall ride and of the motion components scales were different from each other, we found a statistically reliable correlation between the two, suggesting that a common subjective criterion had been applied by professional truck drivers in evaluating both overall ride and component motions.
