Swift Ultra Light's

those are the new trailers they are buying. everyonce in a while im lucky and get to pull one but havent pulled one with super singles yet. really nice trailers though compared to the rest of the junk

 

We were on the same stretch of road today although I got through Kern County late this afternoon. Did you happen to see a Swift Prostar going a bit faster than 55mph southbound?
Frank

 

So, how much lighter are these trailers?

I really can't imagine they can be all that much lighter.
They'll add, what? One or two thousand to a load?

I wonder if that will really be cost effective, considering the extra cost of production and upkeep.

 

I'm on my way from Lewiston, ID to the East L. A. area, the Newark, NJ of the west. I traveled US-95 to US-395 all the way south and deliver part of the load, rolls of paper, in the morning, then on to Phoenix to drop the rest. The last time I was through your neighborhood was in the mid-80s; I lived in Taft at the time.

Best thing about those new trailers is some have air release tandem pins. Way too cool! I saw a bunch of them loaded and ready to go to Canada at the Swift transfer point at a paper mill in Usk, WA in March. Saw a moose that night too. (One with hooves.) That was even more cool!

Moose, I read somewhere the ulta lights are 3400 pounds lighter but I have to wonder if they will actually haul more weight. There's usually floor room for one more 4500 pound roll of paper but can it be scaled? Ideally every truck should be going down the road at 79,999 pounds to maximize the freight charges but the practical is a whole different story because Squeak will not go down the road over 40,000 unless it's downhill with a tailwind.
Frank

 

Actually I've talked to more than a few drivers who have had a few days hometime under a load and 395 is most definitely a truck route and is crossed by CA-58 which connects the San Jaoquin Valley with I-15 and I-40 so you shouldn't have a problem. You might want to make arrangements for a secure parking place near where you live now while you are home. There are always tcalled loads at the terminals with too much time to be dispatched for immediate delivery so don't worry about hometime loads.
Frank

 

It's not just the abilty to pull weight. The ultra lights get improved fuel milage. I've seen them mostly in dedicated fleets. I pulled an UL reefer out of Costoco with super singles ... at 79K I got 7.8 mpg on a route that I would have expected 6.8 to 7.1 at that weight.

 

Was curious when I saw this in the new thread thingy. Prime here has been replacing our trailers with ultralight reefers since 2010. 2010 & 2011 trailers have super singles but they changed back to duals in 2012. The super singles are squirelly on those worn roads with the dual grooves. They are hell in crosswinds when they are empty as well. Just thought I would share. Good to see a fellow soldier here Frank. Retired 07... OIF 05-07.

 

Ideally every truck should be going down the road at 79,999 pounds to maximize the freight charges but the practical is a whole different story because Squeak will not go down the road over 40,000 unless it's downhill with a tailwind.
Frank[/QUOTE]

How did I get into this conversation. I have more than pulled my share of loads of over 40,000, and had my share of loads maxing out at close to 79,900. I will say that I prefer to stay on the Southern routes, and under 20,000.