Why are freight Customers requesting newer trailers?

I don't know about all companies, or all trailers...but my husband just got hurt because his company does not maintain their trailers...the rubber seal around the doors was ripped off (reefer) and so water leaked in from the rain and turned into inches of ice, and doors frozen shut...it was up to him to get those doors open....will save you the details, but I could see where customers would start putting stipulations....however, in my opinion it comes down to how the company maintains them, being it a fleet or one guy....it should be your reputation that follows you...

Anybody else late cause the guy before you didn't change a trailer tire, or a broken light, broken reefer unit....blah blah blah....

PS that trailer that my husband had that day had been in the shop, and just not fixed...go figure.

 

Are the newer trailers lighter? Haul more freight? Just wannabe curiousity...

 

I'm betting that it is just a matter of what kind of condition the newer vs older trailers are likely to be in. As has already been posted, older trailers do tend to leak more. They also are more likely to be torn up inside which could pose a hazard to the freight. And their older floorboards may be rotted out, creating a hazard for the forklifts & lumpers.

I have fallen through a floor with a fork lift. While it can make life interesting for a bit, it really can be a waste of time, and could be hazardous.

If it is a matter of size or weight, I believe they will be more likely to specify what size or weight they require, rather than just age of the trailer.

 

Picked up a brand new trailer this spring, FIRST day out. a Log truck backed into the side of it. Now it looks like the older trailers. LOL

 

Every time a shipper requested a 10year or younger trailer on me it was becuase they didnt want that 8000 pound roll of paper falling through the floor.

 

The shippers that I have run into this issue with most are paper company's.
1. leaking trailers
2. Weak floors.

I have seen trailers with both these issues, BUT it really depends on maintance, as others here have said.
On the 3 year old truck fleet comment.
The oldest truck in my fleet is 3 years old, average age is 1 year. That is with 2400 trucks.
Lots of our trucks in International dealers lol. Nobody but company's seem to want stripped but well maintained International 9400's, and I cannot blame them.
Who wants a truck with no comforts, no storage etc as an OO.

 

I run (6) Columbia's which are"nearly" fleet spec'd
They have 80" bunks tweaked 630L Detroit's w/ 15's
We all come out here to "WORK",we all find "comfort" at H O M E
after our 3 week turn.

Ive long since been done with the "Large Units",comfort "cost" money
were about "making" money

 

Dang, Tater, we're pretty much the exact opposite of y'all. I don't want to wait three weeks to get a little "comfort" on.