{"id":2707,"date":"2021-06-16T03:53:31","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T03:53:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=2707"},"modified":"2021-06-16T03:53:33","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T03:53:33","slug":"outfit-your-trailers-for-continued-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/outfit-your-trailers-for-continued-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Outfit Your Trailers for Continued Success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While the trailer part of the tractor trailer combination is probably the least sexy of the two, without it, freight transport simply wouldn\u2019t happen. Yet, there is so much more to a trailer than the freight that travels inside of it. In fact, trailers have become highly customized in the 21st<\/sup> century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Even for trucking companies<\/a> who do not have highly specialized trailer needs, customization options are available to help make life easier for your truck drivers. But why do you need to focus on such customizations? Well, consider the job. Anything that makes life easier for your truck drivers should be welcome, especially if it creates a safer environment, decreases maintenance needs, increases fuel savings, and provides a greater return on investment over the lifetime of your trailer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Off-Road Trailer Safety<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trucking companies have a lot of headwinds to contend with,\nfrom a truck driver shortage to frivolous lawsuits and so much more, so\nanything that improves the safety of the truck driver and fellow motorists\nshould be seriously considered. Fortunately, trailer technologies are moving in\nthis direction. Trailers can now be outfitted with safety features that can\nhelp reduce your insurance premiums and keep your truck drivers safe, reduce\ndowntime, and prevent unwanted inspections and audits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what kind of options are we talking about? Gone are the\ndays when companies had to work with the standard box trailer. Today, fleets\ncan invest in truck driver-focused options, from side doors to steps,\nhandrails, gladhands, skylights, interior lights and so much more. These are\nthe types of options that can not only make loading and unloading safer, but\nthey make you a more attractive employment option for potential recruits.\nDuring a time when recruiting qualified truck drivers is harder than ever, you\nneed whatever advantage you can get. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vocational trailers can also be outfitted for safety. For\nthese kinds of trailers your best bet is to invest in in-cab controls. Whether\nyour operation requires the use of dumps, lift axles, or tailgates, in-cab\ncontrols will make your truck drivers much happier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also consider how truck drivers enter the cab. Have you\nconsidered a front access door in the trailer so that your truck drivers don\u2019t\nhave to get out and go around to gain access to the trailer compartment? You\ncan even outfit the trailer for electrical tarp deployment or install\nintegrated stairways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-Road Trailer Safety<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While air disc brakes have been in vogue for heavy duty\ncommercial motor vehicles for quite some time, now they are catching on for\ntrailers. Sure, they are a bit pricier, especially for a trailer, but it is\nimportant to remember that you simply can\u2019t put a price on keeping your truck\ndrivers and \u2013 by default \u2013 everyone else on the road safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other on-road safety options for trailers include upgraded\nrear underride and impact guards. There is a tradeoff, however, when utilizing\nunderride and impact guards because they add extra weight, so you may see a bit\nof a hit to fuel consumption, but it far more than makes up for it when it\ncomes to increased safety for your operators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may also want to take a second look at your trailer\u2019s exterior lights. Some fleets are setting up highly customized lighting configurations, whether it be several mid-term signals or bright red flasher capable lights on the rear door. Upper rear auxiliary brake lights are also becoming a popular spec for customized trailers. Trailer OEMs have been redesigning exterior lights, making them both brighter and more visible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Motor carriers that run heavy haulers during times of low\nlight, whether at dawn, dusk, or at night, might opt to outfit their trailers\nwith strobe lights or lights on the gooseneck. This way, when the trailer is\ndetached, it is still easily visible to others on the road or in the yard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you run your trailers in harsh weather, you may also want\nto consider investing in options that prevent corrosion. As we have talked\nabout before, corrosion is your enemy. Consider investing in galvanized landing\ngear, which will prevent your metal from rusting and corroding over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spec More Efficient Trailers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you considered spec\u2019ing options that make your trailers\noperate more efficiently? When it comes to the payloads being carried around by\nyour trailers, consider options that increase your trailers\u2019 overall capacity,\nwhether through light-weighting or other means. Light-weighting is defined as\nspec\u2019ing lightweight trailer components, such as wheels, suspension, and\nwheel-end components. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you make your trailers more efficient, you increase\nfuel efficiency. Remember, safety and fuel efficiency are not mutually\nexclusive. You can still operate trailers with advanced safety technology and\noutfit them with aerodynamic devices, skirts, tails, vortex generators, and\nmore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The buzzword in trucking right now is telematics. Trucking companies<\/a> large and small are leveraging the power of technology through telematics to dramatically improve their operations. And while most fleet managers might assume that the realm of telematics is only in the cab, trailers are increasingly becoming an end point for telematics technologies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some trailer telematics technologies you can invest in today\ninclude:<\/p>\n\n\n\n