Elevating lift axles: An in-depth look at axle options
When it comes to applications such as dump trucks, flatbeds and cement mixers, on front and rear discharge mixers, as well as trucks in refuse applications, tank trucks in oil and gas, and trucks in municipal applications, lift axles are a popular option. “Lift axles are very different from steer and drive suspensions. Unlike drive
Maintain trailer suspensions to last
Trailer suspension maintenance varies by suspension type and manufacturer. For that reason, fleets should establish best practices and perform routine checkups as recommended by manufacturers and fleet managers. According to Jim Rushe, product line manager at Hendrickson on-highway trailer products, the manufacturer designs its suspensions to not require periodic adjustments. “For our products, the best
Trailer suspensions built to perform
Trailer suspensions are comprised of springs, dampers, shock absorbers, axles and other components that link the trailer to its wheels allowing the driver to have complete control of the trailer. In addition, they dampen harmful inputs from the road (vibrations, bumps, noise), giving drivers a smoother ride while protecting the trailer and its cargo. However,
Fleet Engineers appoints vice president of sales and marketing
Fleet Engineers Inc. announced that Kenneth D. Griswold has joined the company as vice president of sales and marketing. According to the company, Griswold comes with a wealth of industry experience, having spent the last 20 years at SAF-Holland where he held a variety of marketing and business development positions. Most recently, Griswold served as
Western Star offers Neway ADZ suspensions
Western Star Truck Sales Inc., is now offering Neway ADZ Series heavy-duty drive axle air suspensions by SAF-Holland as an option for Western Star 4800, 4900 and 6900 truck models. The ADZ Series suspensions feature a streamlined design that has reduced weight by more than 220 lbs. per axle (compared to previous models). The new,
Spec’ing suspensions and lift axles to meeting bridge formula laws, improve durability
Enacted by Congress in 1975 to limit the weight-to-length ratio of a vehicle crossing a bridge and to provide a consistent way to determine the maximum allowable weight that any set of axles on a vehicle may carry on the Interstate highway system, the Bridge Formula has had an impact on axle and suspension design
Weighing fifth wheel options to spec a lighter-weight truck
When fleets spec lighter-weight components, it’s generally an attempt to offset increases in weight in other areas of the vehicle and/or increase their payload capacity. As a result, the savings in fuel comes in improved efficiency in the operation of the fleet—greater cargo capacity equals revenue per trip and more capacity may even mean less
Selecting lighter-weight suspensions
Selecting the correct suspension system can go a long way in both fuel efficiency and weight savings. If the correct suspension is paired with the proper powertrain, you can have gain efficiency without putting on the pounds. SAF-Holland offers the Neway suspensions. On the drive suspension side, the ADZ capacities are 46,000 and 52,000 lbs.
How reducing weight can impact your fleet
Drop a couple pounds and all of a sudden you’re more efficient and able to pull more weight. Of course, we’re talking about making trucks lighter. The idea behind spec’ing specialized, lighter-weight components is to find a balance between fuel efficiency and increased load capacity, without sacrificing the tractor’s strength. After labor costs, fuel is
Truck air suspension ride height measurement procedure tips
To check the current ride height of suspensions, SAF-Holland recommends the following steps.
