Trac Intermodal to Use Radial Tires on Chassis in Alabama

Trac Intermodal is changing the tires on its chassis in Mobile, Alabama, from bias ply to radial tires, which the company said will improve the performance and reliability for truck drivers.

Work on the project began in December and will be completed by the end of March, according to a Trac statement.

Roadability, or the ability of the tires on a chassis to handle highway conditions, heavy loads and weather, has been a source of consternation among draymen because of the possible damage to the truck and cargo inside, particularly at the busy ports in Southern California and at New York-New Jersey.

Trac said that radial tires offer better performance, improved fuel economy, greater durability and reduced off-the-road downtime.

“Our radial conversion program in Mobile provides our customers with high quality equipment to best fit their needs and fulfills the frequent long hauls and demanding operating conditions in this region,” said Keith Lovetro, Trac Intermodal CEO. “We consistently evaluate the equipment across our entire chassis fleet and make the necessary refinements and upgrades to satisfy the specialized, market-by-market needs of our customers.”

Trac Intermodal operates 182,000 marine chassis around the country and most of the tires on these chassis are bias ply, which a company spokesman called standard among marine fleets at major ports. The Port of Mobile will be the first to have marine chassis equipped with radial tires. Trac said it plans to add 6,000 refurbished marine chassis to their fleet per year.