Policy & Planning
Lateral Protective Device Best Practice Specification
About This DocumentThis document is intended to be used by (1) public or private medium/heavy-duty truck fleets considering adding lateral protective devices (LPDs), also known as side guards; (2) jurisdictions or customers that require LPDs through policy or procurement; (3) manufacturers...
Truck Lateral Protective Device Technical Overview
About This DocumentThis technical overview provides safety and operational considerations for truck lateral protective devices. Truck lateral protective devices are devices designed to keep vulnerable road users (VRUs)—pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists—from being run over by a large...
Effects of Side Skirts and Wheel Covers on Heavy Trailers
About This DocumentNational Research Council Canada Prepared for: Transport Canada Road Safety 275 Stater Sl Ottawa, ON
Prepared by: Jeff Patten, P. Eng. Chelsey Laionde, EIT William Mayda, P. Eng. Gordon Poole, P. Eng.
Technical Report April 5, 2012
Truck Lateral Protective Device (LPD) Resources
Note: the term "side guard" is used colloquially throughout this webpage and related materials, but refers to "lateral protective devices" and not to "underride" guards.
Truck lateral protective devices are vehicle-based safety devices designed to keep pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists from being run over by a large truck’s rear wheels in a side-impact collision.
The U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s 2020 Reports
The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Volpe Center published nearly 60 reports and conference papers in 2020 spanning a breadth of transportation topics that advance U.S. DOT’s priorities: safety, infrastructure, innovation, and accountability.
These reports are housed in the National Transportation Library and are listed below by topic areas. Select the linked report titles to preview and download copies of the U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s 2020 transportation resources.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Collection: Capabilities and Experience
This list of publications reflects the U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s activities related to the topic of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including our capabilities and experience.The Imperative and Opportunity to Invest in Resilient Infrastructure
Learn more about the U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s recent Straight from the Source event with Dr. Stephen Flynn, founding director of the Global Resilience Institute and a professor of political science and of civil and environmental engineering at Northeastern University.Unconventional Aircraft (UA) Noise Research
The U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s Acoustics Unconventional Aircraft (UA) Noise Research Team, with support from the FAA’s Office of Environment and Energy (AEE), was created to focus on issues relating to the noise and community acceptance of UAs as they begin to enter into the National Airspace System.The Importance of Highways to U.S. Agriculture Infographic
About This DocumentAgricultural products are the single largest category of freight transported on U.S. highways by volume. The Volpe Center collaborated with the U.S. DOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to study the economic impacts...