There's been a tremendous amount of discussion regarding the millennial generation and their impact on the trucking industry – both good and bad – for a long while now, if for no other reas
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...Read the rest of this storySchneider National, the largest privately held trucking company in the U.S. by revenue, announced it intends to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) of common stock in 2017, subject to satisfactory market conditions.
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...Read the rest of this storyBumper's skid-resistant top surface allows firm planting of a driver's foot, and end cap would stop a sideways slip as he climbs up. Handle next to door gives him a positive grip. Photo:Tom Berg
">Bumper's skid-resistant top surface allows firm planting of a driver's foot, and end cap would stop a sideways slip as he climbs up. Handle next to door gives him a positive grip. Photo:Tom Berg
">Slips and falls constitute a major cause of injuries and worker's compensation claims for drivers, and while that usually applies to trucks and tractors, it also includes trailers. Many trailers are bought with no clear way to climb aboard, so drivers do the best they can.
That's changing, however. Many vans and other types of trailers and truck bodies today have hardware meant to ease entry and exit, also called ingress and egress. Wabash National, for instance, says about 40% of its trailers are ordered with steps or handles.
Walk down a row of parked vans and you'll see many rear bumpers/underride guards with skid-resistant patterns on the upward-facing surfaces of the horizontal member. Some even have extra steps built into the bumper structure. Often you'll find handles that drivers and loaders can grab for stability while climbing up from the ground; if not, drivers learn to grasp door hinges or some other feature on the walls.
Trailer and body builders offer many options. Utility Trailer Manufacturing last year in its Utilitechniques series noted that these include side door steps, ladders, platforms and enhanced dock bumpers. “Additionally, grab handles at various locations are often included for added safety. Utility recommends that you add an optional grab handle at any location where the trailer will be accessed.”
“We use the three-point principle” in equipping trailers with steps and handles, says Scott Bartlein, fleet manager for Barry Fleet Services in the Milwaukee area. That means three of a person's four limbs are always in contact with the vehicle while the fourth limb is moving. Well-designed hardware gives the person's hands and feet convenient ...Read the rest of this story
Photo: Stoughton Parts Sales
">Photo: Stoughton Parts Sales
">Stoughton Parts Sales, a division of Stoughton Trailers, broke ground on a new 15,000 square-foot warehouse expansion of its facility in Stoughton, Wis.
The warehouse expansion will nearly double the existing space and it will be completed by February 2017. The additional space will allow the company to stock more products to meet customer needs and help Stoughton solidify its commitment to service and support.
Stoughton Parts Sales is a full-line parts distribution center that provides trailer parts and accessories along with safety products and shop supplies to the aftermarket trailer repair industry.
“This additional warehouse space will support a key element of our growth strategy: expanding our portfolio of parts and accessories,” said Stephen Terrill, Stoughton Parts sales general manager. “The expanded portfolio will position Stoughton Parts Sales to be a leading solutions provider of semi-trailer parts and accessories across North America.”
Related: Stoughton Trailers Names New VP of Purchasing
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