Utility Trailer Advances Schmitz Cargobull Partnership
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NEW ORLEANS — Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. recently advanced its partnership with refrigeration unit specialist Schmitz Cargobull.
City of Industry, Calif.-based Utility Trailer, which initially announced a joint venture with the German company in September, said the JV’s transport refrigeration units would now be available across North America exclusively on its 3000R reefer trailer.
At the Technology & Maintenance Council’s Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition, Utility Trailer Chief of Sales Mark Glasgow said 3000Rs with 625 hybrid monotemperature and 655MT hybrid multitemperature TRUs would have a five-year warranty across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
“The positive response since unveiling CBNA TRUs last September has been overwhelming. Our dealers and their customers have eagerly awaited the opportunity to get their hands on these latest and greatest TRU offerings,” Glasgow noted in a statement.
The TRUs cut fuel consumption by up to 20%, reducing and, in some circumstances, eliminating emissions while maximizing cooling efficiencies, according to Cargobull North America.
We're at #TMCAnnual24 in New Orleans at Booth 1245 Come by for our Press Conference at 1:30pm CST (11:30am PST/2:30pm EST). Or watch the livestream here.https://t.co/Ri8U4BYUj1 — Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company, LLC (@UTMCorporate) March 5, 2024
CBNA’s next step is hybrid and then fully electric 625 and 655 models, said Andrew Bennett, company vice president.
First off will be hybrid models, said the scion of the founding family at Utility. The JV is just starting to roll them out to dealer networks, added Director of Sales Operations Gareth Macklam.
The hybrid models come with e-axles. Using diesel in the trailer for the e-axle easily outweighs the climate impact of running the tractor’s diesel engine when it comes to fuel, Bennett said.
Utility Trailer Vice President Andrew Bennett talked to members of the media March 5 during TMC 2024 in New Orleans. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)
Battery packs are too expensive for an e-axle, Macklam said. Trailer manufacturers may look again at battery packs for e-axles as progress is made over the next decade, he added.
In the meantime, the company is using data to try to persuade California to let Utility and its peers introduce trailers that use diesel for the e-axles, Macklam said.
Customers, meanwhile, also can link the TRUs up to Utility’s TrailerConnect portal to aid operational efficiencies, the company said.
“The industry awards and attention our new TRUs have already received tell us the market is ready for and excitedly anticipates this groundbreaking technology,” Bennett said in a statement.
Also at TMC 2024, Utility announced CBNA aftermarket parts are now available exclusively through Aurora Parts, which has in excess of 700 dealers.
Utility Trailer has six U.S. manufacturing facilities.
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