It’s that time of year again, the first significant snow fall has created havoc on Ontario roads and already the local new stations have begun complaining about snow and ice blowing off the roofs of trailers. It’s an age-old problem and one without a simple solution – at least not one that I’m aware of.
Due to the nature of the trucking industry, it’s nearly impossible to prevent snow and ice from accumulating on the roofs of trailers. Short of parking indoors every night – and we all know that’s not a realistic option for most truckers – what’s a guy to do?
The Workers Compensation Board doesn’t want drivers climbing up onto their trailers to clear the roof of snow and ice. That’s a recipe for a workplace accident if there ever was one.
Some companies have developed snow removal programs. Our on-road editor, Harry Rudolfs, tells me Purolator hires a crew that shows up with ropes, ladder and shovels and clears off the trailers before they hit the road. But in Purolator’s case, most of its trailers report to the terminal on a daily basis. That’s not the case for most long-haul fleets.
Apparently, there are some scales in Nova Scotia that installed snow removal devices last year. I’m told they work like a giant scraper to clear trailer roofs. A neat idea, but I’ve yet to see them in person so I couldn’t tell you how effective they are. I’d love to hear from anyone who has used these systems. Do they perform as-advertised?
If you a vehicle owner or in any way related to the transport industry, then you must be familiar with the term of trailers and also its usage. Depending upon the usage and requirement, you can choose from various types of trailers, such as open-air trailers or enclosed trailers.
If you a vehicle owner or in any way related to the transport industry, then you must be familiar with the term of trailers and also its usage. Depending upon the usage and requirement, you can choose from various types of trailers, such as open-air trailers or enclosed trailers.
Open Trailers are also known as car haulers as they are used to transport cars from one place to another location. Apart from it, they can also be utilized to haul farm tractors, ATVs, motorcycles, lawn equipments and materials that have to be dumped. On the other hand, concessions, general cargo, miscellaneous equipments, ATVs, cars, motorcycles and snowmobiles are hauled by using enclosed trailers.
Enclosed haulers are in a way better than open haulers as they provide protection against hazards, such as UV light damage, theft, vandalism, bad weather and other security and road hazards.
While you are planning to purchase a trailer, always consider the requirement of the specific size of the trailer. The maximum tongue weight and load carrying capacity of the tow vehicle are the other factors that should be considered. Do not forget to verify your trailer’s weight once it is fully loaded with what you have actually decided to haul. So, it is better to determine the weight of items you are planning to tow.
Weight is a great determiner to know how many axles will be required for your trailer. Apart from weight and size of the expected load, purpose, turning radius and budget of the load are some other aspects that should be analyzed before making the purchase of the trailer.
A single axle trailer is used for loads varying from light to moderate loads whereas tandem axle trailer is good for heavy loads. Travel trailers and utility trailers are available in multiple and single axle varieties that permit tow vehicles of different sizes. For more information on car haulers, equipment trailer, and dump trailers, you can simply log on to Trailers for sale. You can have a look at various trailers and haulers available with us.
A gooseneck trailer is another important variety that is mainly employed for equipments and heavy loads towing as it has a tighter turning radius and improved stability.
Utility trailers are of great use for both home owners and contactors as well. These multipurpose utility trailers are available in varied sizes so as to cater to your specific requirements like for lifting lawn mowers, vehicles, golf carts as well as ideal for hauling small equipment too. Car haulers are used for specific purpose of hauling your vehicles, including personal car or racing car. Apart from car haulers, another variety is equipment trailer which are used to transfer skid loaders, excavators, and small tractors. Dump trailers are used for small purposes at homes as well as for commercial purposes. These types of dump trailers are available in various types of models, sizes and weights.
Established in 1977, TexasBraggTrailers.com offers the finest varieties of car haulers, dump trailers, gooseneck trailer, equipment trailer and utility trailers. Our experts pay a lot of emphasis on design, quality and other minute specifications so as to ensure you the quality trailers and haulers.
Truck and trailer makers are offering 2007 models certified by the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program. The EPA says the trucks can save owners $11,000 annually while reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and air pollutants.
Freightliner, International, Kenworth, Mack, Peterbilt and Volvo are participating in the program. SmartWay-designated models include the International ProStar and Volvo VN and, in 2008, the Freightliner Century Class S/T and Columbia.
SmartWay-approved equipment can reduce fuel consumption 10 to 20 percent by reducing wind resistance, the EPA says. Each Smartway truck can save 2,000 to 4,000 gallons of diesel per year – or $5,680 to $11,360, at current retail prices.
SmartWay trucks or engines have:
Integrated cab-high roof fairings.
Tractor-mounted side fairing gap reducers.
Tractor fuel-tank side fairings.
Aerodynamic bumpers and mirrors.
Reduced-idling options such as auxiliary power units, generator sets, direct fired heaters, battery-powered HVAC systems and automatic engine start/stop systems.
Options for low-rolling resistance tires, singles or duals.SmartWay trailers have:
Side skirts.
Weight-saving technologies.
Gap reducers on the front or trailer tails, either extenders or boat tails.
Options for low-rolling resistance tires, singles or duals.Any company may buy SmartWay tractors and Trailers, but only registered SmartWay Transport Partners may display the SmartWay logo. Existing trailers also can be upgraded with the SmartWay attachments.
The EPA says it will set more ambitious performance targets for Smartway tractor-trailers in the future and is developing guidelines for recognizing other vehicles such as delivery vans – in which hybrid technology can dramatically improve fuel efficiency.
The SmartWay Transport Partnership is a program developed by EPA and the freight industry to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution and to promote cleaner, more efficient ground freight transportation.
Carriers in the SmartWay Transport Partnership include Barr-Nunn Transportation, Con-Way Freight, J.B. Hunt and YRC Worldwide. Shipper partners include Lowe’s and Home Depot. Shipper-carrier partners include Bridgestone Firestone North America and Tyson Foods.
For more information, call (734) 214-4767 or visit www.epa.gov/smartway.
A dump truck with its trailer bed in the raised position crashed into the North Fork of the Lewis River bridge on southbound Interstate 5, then was struck by a tractor-trailer early Thursday morning.
According to the Washington State Patrol, a 1996 Kenworth dump truck driven by David Olson, 43, of Woodland left the yard of Groat Brothers Transportation in Woodland around 2:30 a.m. with the trailer’s bed upright.
The raised bed snagged some power lines in Woodland. Olson continued, entering the southbound lane of I-5 from Woodland. About a mile down the freeway, the trailer hit a metal support beam of the North Fork bridge. That caused the dump container to come off the trailer frame, blocking the right lane. Olson stopped a short distance away, also blocking the right lane.
Soon after, a 2005 Volvo tractor-trailer owned by Swift Transportation and driven by Timothy Price, 21, of Bend, Ore., collided with the dump container lying on the freeway. The dump container flew into the air, then embedded in the Swift trailer. The Swift rig then jackknifed, blocking the center and left lanes.
Price had a bump on his head. Olson was not hurt but was cited for second-degree negligent driving. Department of Transportation officials inspected the bridge, which has overhead supports, and found damage to three metal beams. An inspection found the bridge to be structurally sound, but the damage will need to be repaired in the future.
The right lane of the freeway was closed for a short time until the trucks were removed. The center and left lanes were blocked for more than two hours but were cleared in time for the morning commute, the Washington State Patrol report said.
Dave Andrew with Cowlitz County PUD said a power pole was damaged but did not lead to any outages.
