When it comes to truck mounted attenuators in UAE, every contractor should be aware of a few things.If you’re a contractor looking for truck mounted attenuators in UAE, there are some things you should know.
A truck mounted attenuator is not a choice, when workers are working in a lane close to live traffic, whether on a lane closure contract on Sheikh Zayed Road or a utility repair on Emirates Road or a night shift resurfacing contract in Abu Dhabi. Under UAE road authority regulations, it is a mandatory safety requirement, and it is a prerequisite for approval of work permit in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The only logical, cost effective choice for contractors and project teams that do not have TMA vehicles for their own operation is rental, for owners of TMA vehicles are the exception. There are now a number of TMA rental companies in the UAE that are supplying a network of MASH-certified shadow vehicles on flexible daily, weekly and monthly rental periods — all fully equipped with arrow boards, beacons and GPS tracking and ready when and where you need them.
This guide teaches everything that a procurement team, site engineer and project managers should know before hiring a truck mounted attenuator anywhere in the UAE.
A truck mounted attenuator (TMA) or shadow vehicle, crash cushion truck, or attenuator truck is a large vehicle with an energy absorbing attenuator at the back of the truck. The attenuator unit is mounted to a host vehicle (usually a 10-20 tonne truck) to provide a sacrificial buffer between the live traffic and road workers working in front of them.
The attenuator cartridges are made of aluminium honeycomb or designed steel tube assemblies that collapse in a controlled manner if an stray vehicle hits the back of a TMA when travelling at high speed. This event absorbs and dissipates the kinetic energy, greatly minimizing the deceleration forces on the host vehicle driver, and preventing the shadow truck from being thrown forward into the work crew.
In real terms, a properly set-up TMA can be the difference between having a distracted or impaired motorist and having workers working on the road that the driver is traveling on.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the mandatory installation of a MASH TL-3 certified truck mounted attenuator, as part of an approved Traffic Management Plan (TMP), for all contractors operating in live traffic lanes on roads where road signage indicates 80 km/h and above speeds. A certified shadow vehicle should be on site prior to the work permit window. If they don’t comply, the permit is denied, the project is shut down on site and fines are imposed according to Dubai road safety.
The TMA units deployed on the roads of Dubai should also follow specific requirements set by the RTA such as the required reflective chevron patterns, LED arrow boards that must be operational, high-visibility beacon systems which are set to RTA specifications and must be MASH TL-3 certified.
Highway TMA (MASH TL-3)
Standard specifications for hire on UAE motorways, expressways and high speed arterial roads.
Compact TMA (MASH TL-2 or TL-3 Metro): 2.
In high traffic, low speed city road and urban construction applications.
3. Mobile / Moving TMA (Shadow Vehicle Configuration)
Installed when the work crew is moving and is moving slowly, e.g., along the road during line marking, crack sealing, road cleaning or rolling pavement repair operations.
5. Bicycle Safety (Barrier Riding)
Installed to defend a fixed work site or excavation.
The cost of a truck mounted attenuator hire in Dubai is determined by renting time, TMA model, and with or without a person operating the unit.
Rental Term | Typical Rate Range (AED) | Notes |
Daily | 1,500-2,500 | Short notice hire, includes operator |
Weekly hire | 8,000-15,000 | |
Monthly hire | 22,000-35,000 | Standard project hire |
6-12 months | Long term contract – negotiable | Significant discount vs daily rate |
The factors that have an impact on the cost of TMA in the UAE are:
