A fleet investing in new equipment—truck or trailer—must attain the maximum life from that unit. Fleets of all sizes operate with their own specifications and reasons for those specs, yet another reliable spec’ing source is Lynn Reinbolt, the executive leading Road Systems Inc. (RSI), a reconditioner, rebuilder and remanufacturer of dry van trailers for a number of motor carriers including Con-way Freight and Con-way Truckload.
“Fleets can help themselves by spec’ing for longevity,” said Reinbolt. “It really comes down to initial costs versus the longevity of the construction process and life of materials. It’s a constant battle justifying the money up-front. Be willing to pay more and the unit will definitely last longer and pay dividends. This can assure a higher trade-in or sale value when ready to release the unit.”
The RSI team witnesses first-hand what works and what doesn’t when spec’ing trailers. Here are five areas, including Reinbolt’s insights, in which fleet managers may maximize trailer investment:
1. Flooring. “It’s the number one wear item. We use only premium ‘composite’ floors (high content white oak), supplied by Havco or Rockland Flooring. They’re tough, durable and withstand so much weather and other elements.” Other good choices in trailer flooring include maple or mixed hardwoods.
2. Upper coupler. “The wear and tear on the coupler is obvious so we improved the design by adding thickness to the bottom plate to strengthen it to last 20 years.” Other tips: Consider different grades of kingpins and priming the interior of the upper coupler to prevent rust.
3. Doors. “They can always be an issue. We need a stronger, longer-lasting door; most of the damage comes from poor freight-loading practices.” Other pointers: The number of quality door hinges can make a difference; gaskets seal out moisture to make possible a double seal; and door hardware (hinges, lock-rods, fasteners) should be of the best quality.
4. Axle and wheel-end parts. “These parts (brakes, slack adjusters, bearings, seals, brake chambers) absolutely must be durable and of the highest quality.” Notably, RSI prefers aluminum hubs and over-spec’s the size of bearings to add life to a reconditioned unit. RSI operates a multi-step remanufacturing axle-
suspension-brake operation.
5. Parts susceptible to corrosion. “On all the steel parts, we’re always looking for ways to improve the coating and the bottom of the trailer to resist the chemicals (acids and salts) placed on the highways.” Reinbolt cites stainless steel frames as a life extender. Another suggestion is to use a self-healing undercoat. “We’re always looking for ways to improve the coating and the bottom of the trailer to resist the chemicals (acids and salts) placed on the highways.” Another suggestion is to use a self-healing undercoat.
Owned by Con-way Inc. and operated as an independent business servicing other major truck fleets, RSI was one of the first independent operations to refurbish commercial trailers. The refurbishment process recycles 100% of the trailer that needs reconditioning.
“Our management/production teams have developed a proven process to convert used trailers into like-new, high-quality conditioned trailers that will provide more service,” said Reinbolt. In Searcy, Ar., RSI’s three buildings (200,000 sq. ft). and 150 employees are divided into teams to tear-down, recondition, rebuild and remanufacture. With proven processes and assembly-line procedures, the teams remove worn-out equipment, refurbish the frame and build it up, returning it to like-new condition.
Since its 1977 origin, the RSI operation has processed 108,000 trailers—62,000 new, 30,000 refurbished, and almost 17,000 reconditioned units to various fleets’ specifications. These units are re-marketed at 20%-40% lower than the cost of a comparable new unit.
Reinbolt envisions a fleet “properly specifying a trailer to endure 20 years, and then it comes here to our operation, we refurbish it like-new for possibly another 20 years. That’s a 40 year life—now we’re talking smart use of equipment.”
It seems obvious that adding value and years of trailer life is simply the right thing to do.
