Four ways to optimize your fleet of trailers

By |  November 8, 2022
On the road and in the yard, similarity between trailers increases ease of use and operator comfort. Photo: Talbert Manufacturing

On the road and in the yard, similarity between trailers increases ease of use and operator comfort. Photo: Talbert Manufacturing

Standardization only works long term if the trailer lasts. Therefore, it’s important to partner with an OEM that uses premier parts and components that can stand up to challenging conditions.

Look for a manufacturing partner that uses materials like heavy-duty T-1, 100,000-psi minimum-yield steel. This material allows the most capacity with the smallest impact on trailer weight for extreme durability and longevity.

Apitong flooring is another high-quality component to look for. This tightly woven and incredibly dense South Asian wood is less susceptible to chipping and cracking. Investing in higher-quality materials and components can extend the life of a trailer, significantly enhancing ROI.

Quality components also play a significant role in overall safety, leading back to longevity. Safety ratings illustrate how well equipped the trailer is to deal with extra stress that comes from things on the road like bumps, chuckholes and railroad tracks.

These stressors can cause a trailer to experience a momentary magnification of payload. In general, trailers can expect an average magnification of payload ratio of 1.8 to 1. Safety ratings range from no margin up to a 2.5-to-1 ratio – an industry high.

Heavy-haul trailers built with lower-quality materials offer a lower safety rating, are more prone to premature damage and require more maintenance. They simply can’t provide long-term dependability – a key consideration for standardization – and operators end up with less working time and a lower return over the life of the trailer.

On the other hand, trailers designed with extra margin in the safety rating will experience less stress, wear and damage, resulting in reduced maintenance costs over time.

Customer service

To ensure long-term standardization success, operators should look past the trailer and consider the brand itself – specifically its commitment to customer service. There’s no point in planning 10 years down the road if getting service or support for the here and now is impossible.

In addition to dependable, high-quality trailers, look for a manufacturer with a knowledgeable and expansive dealer network. Matching an operation’s unique needs to the right trailer requires answering a lot of questions, but it’s the only way to find long-term success. Having someone who can ask the right questions ensures the trailer will meet needs now and in the future.

Final thoughts

Standardization should be part of every fleet owner’s playbook. It provides a number of benefits that boost efficiency and increase profits. Even if an operation starts out small, nobody plans on staying small.

And while picking up trailers sporadically based on need is an option, a fleet of mixed manufacturers will never provide the flexibility or ease of use that comes with standardization. Working with a manufacturer that offers a range of safe, durable trailers – from 60-ton lowboys to 10-ton tag-a-longs – can result in unlimited growth potential.

Finding a manufacturing partner is about more than picking a favorite team – it’s about the long-term benefits standardization can provide.

Troy Geisler is vice president of sales and marketing at Talbert Manufacturing.


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