E&MU: Trailer Technology... Past and Prologue

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n the industry’s quest for innovative technologies, trailers are sometimes viewed as an afterthought. This is truly unfortunate since some of the most productive technologies adopted in trucking are found in the box that carries the freight.

Improvements in durability and reduction in weight can be traced back to the late 1980s with refinements in manufacturing processes and the increased use of three-dimensional modeling and finite element analysis.

Before this, manufacturers simply did not have the tools to design lightweight, durable components. Engineers now study the effects of extreme temperatures and stresses on a component design with computer-generated modeling and make necessary changes before the part is mass produced.

Perhaps the best example of this can be found in the development of composite materials, which offer great appeal to fleets simply because of their ability to provide significant weight reductions.

For the full story, see the August/September issue of Equipment & Maintenance Update, a supplement to the Aug. 4 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.

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