Ways to improve the technical and economic performance indicators of freight vehicle operation efficiency

The article addresses the pressing issue of enhancing the technical and economic performance indicators of the operation of freight vehicles, particularly road trains, which play a pivotal role in Ukraine’s transport system, especially in the context of international transportation. The study explores key methods for increasing the productivity of road trains by enhancing their load capacity and average travel speed, which contributes to reducing the cost of transport services. Emphasis is placed on the need to ensure a high level of vehicle operational reliability, reducing expenses on maintenance and repairs. The advantages of road trains are analyzed, including lower specific weight, reduced production costs for trailers and semi-trailers, decreased fuel and lubricant consumption, and lower capital investments in storage infrastructure. The implementation of modern diagnostic systems, such as functional and test diagnostics, is proposed to monitor the condition of mechanisms and components. This enables the timely detection of pre-failure conditions, reducing the number of malfunctions and improving operational efficiency. A comprehensive scientific approach is suggested, encompassing the improvement of organizational forms of maintenance, the use of information technologies, and modeling for managing the operational condition of road trains. It is demonstrated that progressive transportation methods, such as traction, shuttle; shuttle, and container transport, increase the productivity of road trains by 1.5–2 times compared to single vehicles. The adoption of these approaches results in a 25–30% reduction in transportation costs, as evidenced by the practices of leading countries. The article’s conclusions highlight the importance of integrating modern technologies and management strategies to achieve economic efficiency and safety in the operation of freight transport.