CHAPTER 5 HIGHWAY TRANSPORTABILITY GUIDANCE

TM 55-2350-262-14 CHAPTER 5 HIGHWAY TRANSPORTABILITY GUIDANCE Section I. GENERAL 5-1. Scope CAUTION This chapter provides highway transportability Vehicle must not exceed 3 miles per hour guidance for the movement of the M9 ACE vehi- (mph) during loading or unloading. cle. It covers technical and physical characteristics and safety considerations and prescribes the mate- 5-3. General rial and guidance required to prepare, load, tie down, and unload the vehicle. The M9 ACE is considered self-deliverable only 5-2. Safety under appropriate tactical situations. The M9 ACE vehicle has a maximum operating range Besides the safety precautions contained in chap- of 230 miles (370 km) and a maximum speed ter 3, movement is subject to all safety laws, rules, of 30 mph (48 km per hour). Even with rub- and regulations applicable to commercial carriers. ber tracks, the M9 ACE must have a special Overseas, such movements are governed by the permit for its movement over public high- theater regulations. ways. Section Il. TRANSPORT BY SEMITRAILER 5-4. Transport of the M9 ACE by Semitrailer When loaded on a semitrailer, the M9 ACE can be transported over highways; however, movement over public highways in CONUS and overseas should be made only when other transport modes cannot be used. Normally, highway shipments are made with the vehicle loaded on a military or commercial low-bed semitrailer of adequate capac- ity. In CONUS and overseas, a special permit is required because the vehicle, when loaded on a semitrailer, exceeds the length, width, and weight limitations. The M9 ACE must be reduced to its lowest shipment configuration before shipment. 5-5. Transport of the M9 ACE on the M870 Semitrailer Towed by the M920 Truck Tractor a. General. The combined length of the tractor and semitrailer exceeds the generally accepted CONUS and overseas unrestricted length of 55 feet. The width and weight of the vehicle and semitrailer combination exceed the legal limits for CONUS and overseas. The legal limits for CONUS are established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The legal limits for overseas are given in the Limits of Motor Vehicle Sizes and Weights, published by International and Road Federation, Geneva, Switzerland. b. MTMC Assistance. Assistance in obtaining approvals for highway movement of the loaded transport system can be obtained from Director, Military Traffic Management Command, Transpor- tation Engineering Agency, ATTN: MTTE-SA, 720 Thimble Shoals Blvd. PO Box 6276, Newport News, VA 23606-0276, when highway movement can be certified as essential for national defense and no other mode can be used. c. Materials. The bill of materials for blocking and tiedown of the M9 ACE on the M870 semi- trailer is shown in table 5-1. d. Loading. (1) The vehicle may be driven onto the semi- trailer if a ramp is available or backed onto the semitrailer if the gooseneck of the semitrailer is extended. However, should physical facilities and/ or equipment preclude these loading methods, the vehicle may be lifted onto the semitrailer by a crane of sufficient capacity. Lifting procedures and precautions are provided in paragraph 6-4b. The handbrake must be set and the transmission placed in park. CAUTION Since the track width is 106 inches and the trailer width is 96 inches, about 5 inches of the treads will project beyond the sides of the trailer. Care must be taken to ensure an equal amount of tread overhang occurs on both sides. 5-1