Is There a Great Future in Plastic Trailers?
Dustin Hoffman’s character, Ben Braddock, listens as Mr. McGuire (Walter Brooke) advises him to seek a future in “plastics.” Photo: Tom Berg, from “The Graduate” (Embassy Pictures, 1967), via YouTube.com.
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Dustin Hoffman’s character, Ben Braddock, listens as Mr. McGuire (Walter Brooke) advises him to seek a future in “plastics.” Photo: Tom Berg, from “The Graduate” (Embassy Pictures, 1967), via YouTube.com.
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In that oft-cited scene from the 1967 movie classic, “The Graduate,” Mr. McGuire (actor Walter Brooke) tells young Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) what he should do for a career. “Just one word,” Mr. McGuire says in a hushed tone. “Plastics. There’s a great future in plastics.” There was, and still is.
Plastics have replaced steel, aluminum and other metals in many consumer products and industrial applications. And plastics might constitute the future of trailers. Some are already used in Europe, and Wabash National is ready to build them here.
Four fleets have committed to join a launch program for company’s Cold Chain series refrigerated van trailer. It’s made of molded structural composites, and Wabash showed a prototype at the TMC Expo in Nashville early last year.
Werner Enterprises, K&B Transportation, Combined Transport, and Leonard’s Express will acquire some MSC trailers for testing, Wabash has announced. Three dealers — Regional International, TEC Equipment and Wick’s Truck Trailers — will help bring the plastic trailers to market.
The reefer van is made out of a proprietary molded structural composite “with thermal technology” (MSCT), which improves thermal performance by up to 25%, said Brent Yeagy, president and chief operating officer, in a statement. It’s up to 20% lighter and has improved puncture and damage resistance.
Also, its MSC floor system promises ratings of up to 24,000 pounds, which is 50% stronger than a standard aluminum floor. And it has no crossmembers.
“Refrigerated carriers see the superior performance benefits in our new molded structural composite technology,” he said. “Many carriers have been very interested in participating in the launch program so they can better understand the value …Read the rest of this story
