Air suspensions explained: A fleet’s bottom line can benefit from trailer air suspensions
Trailer air suspensions offer fleets many benefits, including optimized fuel efficiency and tire life, superior cargo protection, improved ride characteristics and minimized wear and tear on trailer components. These advantages can be maximized with some basic knowledge concerning the ins and outs of air suspensions, along with a good understanding of maintenance practices. We asked several manufacturers of trailer air suspensions to weigh in on the subject, and their advice could save fleets a significant amount of time and money.
Alignment training hits home, improves up-time
More than 200 independent service professionals gathered earlier this year to learn more about commercial vehicle axle alignment.
MATS roundup
Missed this year’s Mid-America Trucking Show? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with major announcements from the show floor.
Reyco Granning introduces air ride slider
The DockMaster 400 (DM400) Air Ride Slider for dry freight and refrigerated trailers and trailer on flat car (TOFC) intermodal applications has been unveiled by Reyco Granning.
OTC rear suspension bushing tool cuts service time
OTC now offers a complete solution for servicing rear suspensions, its new Rear Suspension Bushing Tool. The tool removes FAS II Airliner Freightliner rear suspension bushings and handles Neway AD Series truck and tractor suspension bushings without removing the spring assembly from the vehicle.
Meritor trailer axles standard on Wabash National trailers
Wabash National has selected Meritor trailer axles as standard equipment on all its trailers. As part of the agreement, other Meritor components available on Wabash National models include air suspensions, Meritor Tire Inflation System by PSI, automatic slack adjusters and wheel-end components.
Meritor adds low-mount models to MTA trailer suspension series
Meritor has added the MTA25 low-mount and MTA30 low-mount trailer suspensions to its Meritor Trailing-Arm Air suspension series for North American trailer operators. The units are designed as part of a fully-integrated system to optimize performance and weight, and are ideal for vocational applications like single-drop flatbed, double-drop flatbed, loggers and chip hauler trailers.
Meritor receives 2012 Global Remanufacturer of the Year award
ReMaTecNews has named Meritor the 2012 Remanufacturer of the Year. According to the company, the award recognizes an organization that has served the automotive or heavy-duty truck remanufacturing sectors with distinction in fields such as innovation, technical excellence, customer service and commitment to the promotion of the qualities of remanufacturing.
Meritor WABCO adds Electronically Controlled Air Suspension
Meritor WABCO’s new ECAS is designed to improve a vehicle’s air suspension control system by electronically maintaining a set ride height between the axle and chassis as road and vehicle characteristics change. ECAS offers automatic load transfer, significantly reducing drive axle wheel spin and traction control events during periods of aggressive acceleration, the maker said.
Betts Spring launches new website
Betts Spring has launched a new interactive website, www.bettsspring.com, focused exclusively on its spring manufacturing operation. The site can be viewed in English, Spanish and French.
Peterbilt adds proprietary suspension line
Peterbilt Air Leaf and Low Air Leaf suspensions are available for single or tandem rear axle configurations and have a rated capacity of up to 40,000 lbs. The Air Trac also is available in both single and tandem drive axle configurations with maximum capacity ratings of 46,000 lbs.
Meritor adds oil-bath wheel seal to aftermarket portfolio
Meritor has added heavy-duty truck and trailer oil-bath wheel seals to its line of aftermarket wheel-end parts offerings. The maker said the seals feature a wide-seal band, multi-zone labyrinth design, low-friction bumpers, and a thick steel casing to help prevent installation damage.