When I was hauling new trailers, of all kinds, the overwhelming majority of them were air ride.
Vans were the highest percentage, probably 80%+
But even stuff like tankers, which will not make any difference to the freight, or flatbeds were mostly air ride.
Air ride costs a premium, to buy and maintain, although I don't know how much compared to a spring ride trailer.
But there has to a sound engineering reason for it. I am not an engineer, but IMHO it has to do with the total amount of shock/vibration transmitted not only to the trailer but through the pin to the tractor. I knew in 1 mile when I had a spring ride trailer behind me because of the difference in ride. At least empty or lightly loaded. Fully loaded, made almost no difference.
Management personnel who spec trailers are the cheapest SOB's in the business. To this day only about 40% of dry vans have skirts because the bean counters have determined they cost more to maintain than they save in fuel. But the same group of people will pay the air ride premium.
Spring ride for general freight?
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by 86scotty, Jul 2, 2025.
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singlescrewshaker, Hammer166, Oxbow and 2 others Thank this.
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I need a cheap solution until the right trailer comes along. Renting one for this fee seems like a no brainer at least to try temporarily. My old trailer is toast with a bad floor and bent I-beams as of the other day.
I invoiced my 1015th load last week. I have never, not once, been asked whether my trailer was air ride. Most brokers, if anything, just want to know the age of the trailer. Only occasionally do I even get asked anything about it and that's usually age or wall type/e-track.singlescrewshaker, Oxbow, D.Tibbitt and 2 others Thank this. -
Schneider runs a lot of spring suspension trailers. So it must really not matter that much.
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singlescrewshaker, 86scotty, Oxbow and 2 others Thank this.
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You know where their head is at.singlescrewshaker, Hammer166, 86scotty and 2 others Thank this. -
singlescrewshaker, Sons Hero, 86scotty and 4 others Thank this.
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singlescrewshaker, Sons Hero, 86scotty and 3 others Thank this.
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The last time I saw a Reyco spring break was 20-plus years ago at my first tractor-trailer job.
singlescrewshaker, Oxbow and D.Tibbitt Thank this. -
the last employer i worked at when i retired, all trailers were air ride, as well as air ride rear suspension tractors.
we hauled electronics, and electronic components for a supply warehouse...
other jobs i had, companies had a mix of suspensions.
i really liked the air ride trailers, pull the red knob, and the trailer bags deflated and the trailer lowered and parked itself on the subframe, making for no "bouncy-bouncy", when the fork lift drivers entered or exited. -
Studebaker Hawk Thanks this.
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