Learn more about trailer suspensions - Fleet Factors - Brief Article

Concrete Producer, The, Jan, 2004

According to the folks at Hendrickson International, a Woodridge, Ill.-based manufacturer of trucking components, almost 2/3 of all trailers bought last year in the United States were equipped from the factory with an air ride suspension. While most of these were in the dry van segment of the trucking industry, managers of severe duty vocational fleets also seem to be opting for these suspensions.

For many, opting for air-ride suspension is based on historical cost benchmarking. Fleet managers are beginning to discover that trailers equipped with air ride suspensions often experience less maintenance costs, decreased tire costs, and potentially higher resale values.

To help fleet managers learn more about air ride suspensions, engineers from Hendrickson's Trailer Suspension System have recently released an updated edition of Understanding Air Ride. The 40-page publication provides fleet managers with an important overview' of air ride technology, roll stability, and brake efficiency, along with 12 other useful topics.

All fleet managers also will definitely benefit from the section on specifications. The authors provide eight key tips that managers should consider when deciding to purchase any new trailer suspension.

To get Understanding Air Ride, phone the Hendrickson trailer division at 866-743-3247, or download the publication front their Web site at www.hendrickson-intl.com.