The welding process has been used extensively in the fabrication of manyrnstructures including ships, airplanes, buildings, bridges, vehicle bodies,rnpressure vessels, etc. It provides many advantages over other joiningrntechniques. To mention only a few, it provides better mechanical properties,rnair and water tightness and good joining efficiency.rnHowever, there are various problems such as residual stresses and shaperndistortion associated with the construction of welded structures. When arnmaterial is being welded, it experiences local heat due to the welding heatrnsource. The temperature field inside the weldment is not uniform and changesrnas the welding progresses. The welding heat cycle gives rise to a complexrnstrain field in the weld metal and in the base metal regions near the weld.rnThese strains, along with the plastic upsetting, create the residual stressesrnthat remain after the welding is completed. In addition, shrinkage andrndistortion are also produced. Residual stresses and distortion are highlyrnundesirable in welding technology. Thermal stresses during welding oftenrncause cracking.rnSome of the above weld related problems can be solved by adhering to arnpreset weld design practice and employing appropriate weld processrnprocedure in the welding tasks.rnIn our country, Ethiopia, there are limited numbers of heavy duty vehiclesrnbody builders. Those body builders extensively use welding. In those localrnbody builders there is lack of proper weld design practice in the fabrication ofrnheavy duty vehicle bodies. Moreover, there is no well developed/structuredrnwelding process procedure they have adapted except in the cases ofrninternationally undertaken projects.rnThis fact enhances the weld related problem mentioned above on the vehiclernbodies fabricated locally. In this paper case study is made on four localrnrepresentative vehicle body builders focusing on their weld design andrnWELD DESIGN OF HEAVY DUTY VEHICLE BODIESrn11rnprocesses. From the case studies the general problems related to the weldrndesign and process of the local heavy duty vehicle body builders is identified.rnEventually, general recommendation is made on weld design and process ofrnheavy duty vehicle bodies that the Ethiopian heavy duty vehicle body buildersrnare to adapt or practice.