Before analysis, development or improvement of existing structure of drive unit or gearboxes, the load that appearing in exploitation must be known. This paper presents a method of load (torque) measurement, on the cardan shaft embedded in the freight vehicle, using strain gages. The aim of the study is to determine torque variation depending on the exploitation conditions (road surface, speed transmission, vehicle load, etc). The measurement was performed for different road characteristics (vehicle movement on flat terrain, up and down the slope). Results are presented using tables and diagrams, and percentage utilization of the power drive unit, embedded into freight vehicle, was calculated based on obtained values of torque. Obtained results have an important role for designers because they give a general insight in the load on the cardan shaft , which represent the basis for future development or redesign of power unit or gearboxes and basis for forming of specter of gear load and bearing embedded into gearbox.

Multi-material design was developed as a modern design concept for lightweight structures (Lightweight design - LW) which aims to integrate different types of materials into one structure. The main problem when joining sheets made of different, i