spring ride dry van

They're probably getting tired of paying load claims caused by these nice smooth roads we get to run on these days. I use air ride and wouldn't have anything else. That said, I talked to the owner of a logistics company that uses spring ride exclusively. Shippers don't care for the most part as long as the freight doesn't get damaged.

 

I've never heard of a shipper not loading a spring ride trailer because it's spring ride, as far as translucent roofs a shipper would prefer to load those, more light in trailer. If companies are selling them it's because they are old. I don't think that I ever saw a mega-carrier with a air ride trailer, but there always a first......

 

Yuppo, no problema. Brokers asked for plate wall trailer, never whether springs vs air. Would not accept wood or metal-walled trailers frequently. More room, less likely to get into wall material with forklift.

Older trailers did fine, less parts to replace, maintain.

 

Was rejected once or twice due to a spring ride trailer, had the graphics shop print a couple of stickers that said "Air Ride Equipped", put them on the side of the trailer and problem solved. It is literally only an issue once or twice a year, but the stickers pretty much took care of that for the time that trailer was used.

 

Unless it's changed, some electronics companies won't load spring ride. Maybe that's changed. Some 0/0's would cheat and put "Air Ride Equipped" decals on a spring ride trailer.

 

Fiber glass roofs have a shortened life span as the years of souther summer sun crystallizes the fiberglass and they tend to crack easier. And smaller holes in a metal (aluminum) roof are much easier to see and detect in the daytime then those on a translucent roof.

A few shippers move product (or implement poor palletizing practices) that can not deal with a lot excessive shock that spring trailers will impart on the cargo that an air ride won't. Do a multi pickup/stop floor load of boxed freight and you'll see why. Air ride does not guarantee no problems with freight "movement" but they're certainly better then spring rides, especially on bad roads and bad bridge approaches that can literally bounce the trailer tires of a stiff spring ride trailer and a light load.

 

Was talking to an 0/0 that was in the market for an air ride dry van. He looked at one with the "Air Ride Equipped" decals at a used trailer lot. When he inspected it he discovered it was spring ride and had never been air ride.

 

I move maybe 75 new van trailers from manufacturer to customer every year. Maybe 4 or 5 of them will be spring ride. Mostly for companies who haul bullet proof product, rolls of paper as an example. They take a hit on the trade but don't care. Useless on the open market, but there are so few of them that secondary customers who use them can be found. As far as a customer not loading one, it is all determined by the product.
Translucent roofs are getting to be a real rarity, certain specialty carriers use them if their drivers are in the trailer and need to see on tailgate deliveries. They have a specific life, you really take a chance by not replacing them every 8-10 years max.