01 Cover Corp - Great Dane Trailers

01 Cover Corp 11/4/13 3:53 PM Page 1
V15 • 3
Reefer Door Spec's that
Guarantee Success
Johnson Teams Up for the Best
Expedited Delivery Solution
Handling Extremes
Champion Trailers are Trusted to Haul Explosives Through Ice Roads
02 Letter_Calendar 10/31/13 10:31 AM Page 2
Great Dane Event
Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies Event
November
November 3-6
International Dairy Show (IDFA)
Chicago, IL
Commitment to Quality and a
Focus on Innovation
November 4-7
International Association of Ice Cream Distributors
and Vendors Annual Convention (IAICDV)
Las Vegas, NV
Dear Customer,
November 13-15
Expo Transporte
Guadalajara, Mexico
Great Dane has always, and will continue to be, the premium product in the
industry. We hold ourselves to this historic standard through our commitment to
quality and our focus on innovation.
Our culture of quality translates to a lower total cost-of-ownership for fleets and
owner-operators. Great Dane’s premium components and manufacturing processes
set the bar for delivering value.
In this issue of Evolving Trailer Technology, you’ll learn how our patented
ThermoGuard lining actually helps reefers to resist weight gain over the life of the
trailer. ThermoGuard reduces operational costs by reducing cooling unit run-time,
helps to maintain the trailer’s thermal capacity as the trailer ages and has several
other moisture resistant advantages outlined in the article.
We also discuss how our customer is utilizing Great Dane’s corrosion-resistant
components to protect against roads salts on icy terrain as they haul explosives to
truckers in Canada.
Visit our website
www.greatdanetrailers.com
Or connect with us online
facebook.com/greatdanetrailers
Next, learn how Great Dane’s Freedom Flatbed’s unique spread axle spec allows
our customer to easily complete city deliveries that otherwise would be challenging.
Delivering solutions with customer support backed by an extensive network of
distribution, parts and service centers, Great Dane produces products you can
count on today and down the road.
@_greatdane
linkedin.com/company/great-dane-trailers
Regards,
Questions or Comments?
Email us: ett@greatdanetrailers.com
Or write to:
Evolving Trailer Technology
Great Dane Trailers
P.O. Box 67
Savannah, GA 31402
2
V15 • 3
Brandie M. Fuller
Vice President, Marketing
Great Dane
V I5 • 3
03 Contents 11/4/13 3:55 PM Page 3
4
Great Dane Spotlight
• AdvantEDGE Keeps Customer On Track Reliable, Professional and On Time
• Tony's Tech Tip
5
Truck Body Spotlight
6
Case Study – Chapman Trucking
8
Inside Track
10
Inside Track
11
Inside Track
12
Case Study – Fleenor Brothers
Enterprises
• Johnson Teams Up for the Best Expedited
Delivery Solution
• Handling Heavy Loads with Ease
• Reefer Door Spec's that Guarantee Success
• Building Your Next Trailer in 3D
• Keeping the Weight Off
• Handle with Care – Champion Trailers are
Trusted to Haul Explosives Through Ice Roads
• Bringing Up the Rear
14 Vendor View
• Protecting the "Bottom" Line –
Prolam WAXIN 100
• Automatic Axle Lift Perfect for Varying Loads SAF–Holland SAF CBX40
15
Did You Know
• Trailer Brakes: Air Disc vs. Drum
Evolving Trailer Technology is published by
Great Dane.
Evolving Trailer Technology
3
4 AdvantEdge Testomonial 11/1/13 12:02 PM Page 4
GREAT DANE SPOTLIGHT
Reliable,
Professional
and On Time
Great Dane’s AdvantEDGE service support
keeps Stage Call fleet on track
S
tage Call Corporation provides transportation for a diverse list of entertainment productions ranging from concerts to corporate events, from multiple
truck tours with leapfrogging systems, to the most intimate of single truck
endeavors. In each instance, Stage Call has provided the most professional
and reliable service available because “the show must go on.” Whether it’s
handling a partial load across North America or a 100-truck tour, Stage Call
confidently answers the challenge—and that’s where the added support of
Great Dane’s AdvantEDGE program fits in.
Stage Call was among the first customers of the AdvantEDGE program.
Debuting in September of 2010, AdvantEDGE provides additional aftermarket
services to Great Dane’s fleet customers. For Stage Call, which travels 48 states
& Canada (and occasionally Alaska), the idea of consistent pricing for parts &
labor, as well as the usual Great Dane service, in any major (and many minor)
metropolitan areas was a very attractive benefit for the fleet.
So what are the advantages of the program? According to Kris Almquist,
Maintenance Manager, for Stage Call, “We can be anywhere in North
America (and usually are!) and be a few miles from help in the form of a Great
Dane branch or dealer. In addition, with the time-sensitive nature of our business and the unique features of our trailers (interior lighting, for example, which
is crucial), having an expert a short distance away is critical to Stage Call.”
Almquist adds, “It’s all about service, service, service.”
Tony’s
Tech Tip
Auto Slack Adjusters:
When an automatic slack
adjuster is out of adjustment, it means there is a
problem with the auto
slack itself, other foundation brake components or
improper installation.
Manually adjusting the
auto slack can cause
internal damage. If you
experience problems with
your braking system, get
the trailer to a qualified
shop as soon as possible
for a proper diagnosis.
Tony Neven
Great Dane Aftermarket
Service Manager
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5 JRTB News 11/4/13 4:21 PM Page 5
TRUCK BODY SPOTLIGHT
Handling
Temperature
Critical Loads
Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies and Stoops Specialty
Trucks team up for the best expedited delivery solution
Refrigerated Truck Bodies recently teamed up with Stoops Specialty Trucks
F ohnson
to design a new Blizzard truck body for the expeditor market. This particular
Blizzard, which was showcased at the 2013 Expedite Expo, was spec’d for fleets
whose goal is the quick delivery of temperature-sensitive freight. According to Jeff Jones,
Sales Manager at Stoops Specialty Trucks, “Expediter fleets, which are responsible for
delivering freight in units that are capable of maintaining and verifying consistent
temperature every mile of the way, can do so with confidence with an extremely thermal
efficient Blizzard truck body.”
Expedited service fleets often employ specially trained drivers to deliver sensitive loads
on time, and they rely on specialty equipment for the safe transport of the most sensitive
shipments. In addition, expediter services usually offer a full range of temperature-control
options. These are easily handled by the Blizzard, which ensures consistent temperature
for every delivery; the Blizzard units maintain a set-point within +/- 3 degrees F.
The Blizzard product line is the most thermally efficient temperature controlled truck
body available on the market. Its construction method and materials are unique and
create a highly durable outer skin and interior liner that contain a structural foam core
capable of delivering thermal performance up to 30% greater than competitors, as
shown in recent testing.
Also, Johnson has the ability to engineer and produce highly customized product features such as specialized flooring, cargo restraint systems and body/chassis stabilizers
while maintaining the highest of quality and performance. The Blizzard is perfect for all
applications that require a tightly monitored and narrow window for temperature
controlled product(s).
Features & Benefits
Fiberglass Exterior—is the first barrier to heat
on a Johnson truck body. Fiberglass does not act
as a conductor, but is a deterrent for heat infiltration into the body, and the exterior skin is completely seamless, which eliminates moisture
intrusion to the foam and makes installing
graphics a breeze.
Thermal Break Design—roof & wall panels—
are constructed with a thermal break pultrusion, it
prevents heat transfer from the exterior skin to the
inside of the body.
High Pressure Foaming Process— is the
same process that Great Dane uses in its trailer
manufacturing process, which results in an
extremely durable, void free panel.
Evolving Trailer Technology
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6-7 Chapman Case Study 11/1/13 11:31 AM Page 6
CASE STUDY
Handling
Heavy Loads
with Ease
Chapman Trucking’s business easily turns
the corner with custom spec’d Freedom LT
hapman Trucking, Inc. relies on Great Dane flatbeds to
haul its heavy loads and works closely with its Great Dane
dealership to specify trailers to handle those loads—which
include steel and pre-cast concrete. A Maine-based commercial
transportation and warehousing company, it began with one
tractor and trailer and owner-driver, Edward Chapman.
Over the years the company has expanded to include
transportation needs with regular and specialized vans and
flatbeds, long and short haul and local delivery, among other
transportation services.
C
Recently, the company added ten new Great Dane Freedom LT
combination steel and aluminum flatbed trailers. Because some
deliveries are made in the Boston Metro area, the new trailers
were specified with closed tandem sliders, (instead of its usual
spread axle spec') to allow for shortening the wheelbase to
accommodate tight turns in the city.
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6-7 Chapman Case Study 11/1/13 11:31 AM Page 7
Exceptionally
Strong
According to Ed Chapman, “The tandem sliders give us the
flexibility we need for city deliveries because we can slide the
axles forward for easier maneuvering around corners, which
in turn helps protect our tires. We rely on our Atlantic Great
Dane dealership staff for support, including supplying us with
the parts we need to do our in-house servicing.”
Great Dane’s Freedom LT
flatbed trailers, which are
designed from the road up, are
built light and tough to go the
distance with extreme structural
integrity, yet provide exceptional
lightweight for a high performance solution strong enough for
heavy-duty hauling needs. This
trailer's steel-aluminum combo
design offers a competitive
weight and price with a long
list of valuable options.
Hauling heavy loads with a lighter, more agile trailer
provides the best flatbed solution for Chapman Trucking.
Evolving Trailer Technology
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8-9 Inside Track Customization 11/1/13 2:44 PM Page 8
INSIDE TRACK
Reefer Door
Spec’s that
Guarantee
Success
Great Dane’s sales and engineering
staff work closely with food service
providers to meet their special needs
orth America’s food service companies have special needs, which
N
include customized placement of trailer side doors, steps, grab han-
dles, platforms, walk ramps and other devices to allow easy access to different
temperature compartments of typical multi-temp refrigerated trailers. Great
Dane’s trailer designs meet the demands and its sales and engineering staff help customers spec’ the right options.
Great Dane’s ability to accommodate customer’s requirements for side door placement is second to none in
the industry. Great Dane’s unique ability to properly reinforce side doors means they can be located in
high stress areas of the trailer to meet the delivery requirements of customers.
The side doors and doorframes are built to handle high stress areas of trailers. As an example, trailer sidewalls and doorframes may include partial or full shrouding (reinforcement) and are engineered for functionality and durability that prevents corner cracking and misalignment over the trailer service life—and
shrouds are internally located to reinforce the doorframe posts and header. Side door locations are also
reinforced with stainless steel or aluminum along the exterior of the bottom rail at the corners—and the bottom rail is supported with stainless steel or aluminum reinforcing that extends 24-in. fore and aft of the door
opening. In most cases customers who use side doors also specify a roll-up rear door and rear frame, which is a
different design and construction.
All aluminum construction, including the internal doorframe and door framing itself, is fabricated from high strength, lightweight aluminum extrusions. With the Great Dane low-profile blade lock design there are no protruding rear door type
hinges or external lock rods, so side doors, hinges and locks are protected from damage while still maintaining 180º door
opening. Unlike competitors’ trailers with surface mounted lock rods that provide only two or three points of contact, the
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8-9 Inside Track Customization 11/1/13 2:44 PM Page 9
blade lock design exerts pressure the full height of the door’s dual compression seals to guard against cold air escaping.
Similar door construction process is also used for Great Dane’s swing type
rear door designs. All of the aluminum door framing is “internal,” allowing
for a smooth, flat exterior sheet. This enhances the customer’s ability to
install graphics without have to adjust for external braces either horizontally
or vertically on the rear door.
Evolving Trailer Technology
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10 Inside Track CATIA 11/5/13 8:14 AM Page 10
INSIDE TRACK
Building
Your Next Trailer in
How 3-D modeling creates a virtual view
for Great Dane customers
U
sing the latest state-of-the-art
technology, Great Dane has
enhanced the quoting process
and is able to provide a basic,
dimensional view of customers’
trailers at the time the quote is
delivered and/or when the order
is placed. With sophisticated
CATIA 3-D modeling software,
Great Dane engineers use a
parametric driven model to adjust
the model based on the customer’s specifications, and then
deliver the drawing showing
basic dimensions such as overall
height, width, upper coupler
height, king pin location, etc.
back to the customer. In addition,
the drawings provide "white space"
dimensions for decal layouts.
Customer Satisfaction
Great Dane knows that customers like to
see products (picture representation) at the
point of purchase. Customers are now
able to visualize not only what they are
buying/receiving a quote, but also note
the decal dimensions and other details,
which helps them plan for the next phase
of getting the new trailer integrated into
the fleet.
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11 Inside Track Thermo 11/5/13 9:03 AM Page 11
INSIDE TRACK
Outside Heat
Metal Barrier
Water Vapor
Keeping the
Weight Off
Refrigerated Trailers with ThermoGuard are
built to resist moisture
A
s refrigerated trailers age they tend to absorb moisture into the
foam insulation, causing hundreds, if not thousands of pounds of
weight gain over the life of the trailer. This can be a result of several
conditions. A common scenario includes water intrusion due to damage
to the sub-floor on the underside of the trailer, perhaps from road debris
or a tire blowout, which exposes the foam to the outside environment.
Another moisture path into insulating foam can be from washing the
interior of the trailer or it may come from normal interior condensation
through the liner—that’s right—through the liner. Traditional fiberglass
(FRP) or even the newer thermoplastic liners allow moisture to permeate
the liner. However, ThermoGuard includes an exclusive metallic barrier
imbedded within the composite layers of its construction. This barrier
not only reduces the effects of “out-gassing,” but also helps seal the laminate to block moisture passing through the liner.
Moisture Resistant Advantages
ThermoGuard’s ability to reduce out-gassing as well as reduce intrusion of moisture into the insulation has a number of advantages
for Great Dane Customers.
•
•
•
•
Helps maintain the trailer’s thermal capacity as the trailer ages.
Reduces operational costs by helping reduce cooling unit run-time and maintenance, and saves cooling unit fuel.
Extends the useful life of the trailer, increasing the trailer’s productivity and improving resale value.
Resists weight gain over the life of the trailer resulting from moisture permeation through the lining.
Evolving Trailer Technology
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12_13 Fleenor Brothers 11/5/13 9:18 AM Page 12
CASE STUDY
Great Dane Champion trailers easily tackle the toughest jobs
leenor Brothers Enterprises, Ltd., a family-owned business headquartered in Carthage, MO, runs its rigs across the
U.S., into Alaska—and through the Yukon and Northwest Territories of Canada—where paved roads turn to “ice
roads.” The routes are long—team drivers can be out for three weeks to six months—and the cargo is sensitive (explosives). For those reasons, the fleet chooses to run Great Dane Champion trailers and to work with its Great Dane branch
staff to spec’ the best trailers for the job.
F
Fleenor Brothers' units travel on snow covered and icy roads which are treated with corrosive road salts, its trailers have
added protection with Great Dane's standard rear frame, EnduroGuard. EnduroGuard is corrosion-resistant and has
superior appearance over other coating types. In addition, since the rigs also travel through California, where they must
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12_13 Fleenor Brothers 11/5/13 9:18 AM Page 13
Galvanneal
Stainless Steel
Galvanized
(Hinge Butts)
Carbon Steel
Bringing
up the rear
EnduroGuard provides
that extra support
“We’ve been buying Great Dane trailers for over 10
years and the Great Dane sales team has done a great
job helping us get the right trailers for our application.”
—Kyle Cousins, Vice President
of Operations, Fleenor Brothers
comply with California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations for fuel efficiency, they’re spec’d with aerodynamic
sideskirts. To protect the vibration-sensitive loads, trailers are
equipped with air-ride suspensions.
According to Kyle Cousins, vice president of operations for
Fleenor Brothers, “We’ve been buying Great Dane trailers for
over 10 years, and the Great Dane sales team has done a
great job helping us get the right trailers for our application.
We have not had any problems with our trailers or special
issues, but I am sure if we did our branch staff would solve
them for us. They have been very supportive with service,
parts and warranty over the years.”
The fleet is owned and operated by Darcy and Janice Cousins
and sons, Kyle and Dean.
Long hauls need extra protection to
keep them on the road.
EnduroGuard, Great Dane’s corrosion resistant standard rear frame,
is engineered with a combination
of galvannealed carbon steel and
stainless steel components.
EnduroGuard delivers corrosion
resistance and superior appearance
over other coating types. Unlike
galvanized coating, Galvanneal
does not crack, flake or discolor,
and provides an integrated zinc
surface that readily accepts
Great Dane's high-performance
paint system. Stainless steel is used
in the high impact areas of the
frame for protection against corrosion where you need it the most.
EnduroGuard rear frames not only
add value, but also deliver
enhanced durability and appearance throughout the life of a
Champion dry van.
Evolving Trailer Technology
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14 VendorView 11/5/13 9:24 AM Page 14
VENDOR VIEW
Protecting
the
“Bottom”
Line
he more hardwood floors get wet, the more they lose
strength, stiffness and hardness—trailer floors that stay
dry are more durable. With optional WAXIN100 protection,
when water hits the floor, most of it evaporates before it is
absorbed into the hardwood.
T
All trailer applications that are frequently exposed to water
on the floor can benefit from specifying WAXIN100. It's the
smart choice for fleet managers who want to extend the useful life of their trailers.
Prolam WAXIN100 protects the entire
trailer floor surface from moisture
Prolam Waxin100 offers superior protection for 3 reasons:
1.It uses paraffin—the most effective product to repel moisture from wood (per USDA study), it’s better than epoxy,
polyurethane or linseed oil.
2. Unlike other floor protection, like top coatings, the
Waxin100 process impregnates paraffin into the hardwood, which also makes it more resistant to the forklift
traffic compared to top coatings.
3. The protection is factory installed—maximizing the quality
of the application.
Automatic Axle Lift
Perfect for
Varying Loads
With the power on and trailer parking brakes released, the Autohe SAF-HOLLAND SAF CBX40 with Auto-PosiLift automatic axle
PosiLift system is programmed to automatically lift the front axle in
lift system, which is a spec’ option on certain Great Dane traila trailer tandem a maximum of four inches when it senses that
ers, provides a unique solution. It is designed for varying load
only one axle is necessary to carry the load. With the tractor
operations such as beverage distribution, less-than-truckload, food
power off, the trailer parking brakes engaged or in the event of
service and other multi-stop fleets, as well as fleets running empty
a loss of power, the system automatically deploys the front axle to
miles. It uses a unique ABS with built-in lift axle functionality
the down position. The position of the front
supplied by Meritor WABCO. A sensor in the
Benefits Include:
axle remains constant when the vehicle is
system’s air spring supply line reads the air
in motion.
• Significant fuel savings
spring pressure of the rear air springs and
determines whether to automatically raise the
• Reduced tire-wear
front axle or leave it in the down position.
• Reduced toll charges
T
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15 DidYouKNow Brakes 11/5/13 9:25 AM Page 15
DID YOU KNOW
Trailer Brakes:
Air Disc vs. Drum
How do they measure up?
C
hanges to the tractor stopping distance requirements mandated
by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 121 (FMVSS
121) changed in 2011. At that time, it was assumed that drum brake
friction material and design could not handle the new shorter stopping
distances and they could not produce enough torque, while the
engineering design of air disk brakes (specifically that they produce
higher more consistent torque), made them a more a logical choice.
But, the makers or drum brakes systems have changed their designs
and now both types of brakes are a viable choice for fleets.
Drum brakes typically use resin based friction materials that can
withstand only about 600 ºF before they begin to lose torque. Disc
brakes can withstand 1,000 ºF and produce consistent torque.
However, vehicle manufacturers have increased the size of the drum
brakes where needed, therefore improving their temperature and
torque capability.
Mixing disc and drum brakes on tractors and trailers generally
shouldn't create any problems if they are properly maintained with
good quality linings. Some fleets have reported that disc brakes seem
to have fewer problems with roadside inspectors. The disc brakes are
harder to access and see when a truck is pulled over for an inspection, therefore inspectors don't necessarily see if there
are problems.
Although disc brakes have a higher upfront cost, depending on the
carrier's need, it may pay for itself over the long-term. Each fleet must
weigh the pros and cons of each brake type in order to determine
what is best for its operation.
Evolving Trailer Technology
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