get a leg up on support gear positive reinforcement a leg up on support gear volume• 10/ issue•...

Get a Leg Up on Support Gear

Volume • 10/ Issue • 2

Designing an All Access Pass

Positive Reinforcement

Get a Leg Up on Support GearProgram Calculates Correct Specs

Designing an All Access PassSafe, Efficient Entry/Egress Options

Positive Reinforcement Selecting Proper Side Door Placement

CALENDAR

JulyJuly 9 – 11Truckload Carriers’ Association (TCA)Refrigerated Division Annual MeetingHyatt Regency Monterey ResortMonterey, CA

July 29 – August 1Texas Motor Transportation AssociationAnnual ConferenceWestin – La Quintera ResortSan Antonio, TX

AugustAugust 21 - 23Great American Trucking ShowDallas Convention CenterDallas, TX

SeptemberSeptember 11 - 12National Private Truck Council (NPTC)2008 National Safety ConferenceHyatt Dulles HotelHerndon, VA

September 15 – 20Technology and Maintenance Council(TMC) 2008 Fall MeetingNashville Renaissance Hotel andConvention CenterNashville, TN

September 21 – 24Transportation Association of Canada2008 Annual Conference &Exhibition - Transportation: A Key to aSustainable FutureWestin Harbour Castle HotelToronto, Ontario, Canada

Quality You Can Count onToday and Down the Road


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Dear Customer,

Delivering superior quality products that meet our customers’ needs todayand for the long haul is our unrelenting commitment at Great DaneTrailers.

Rising fuel prices are making practical fuel-efficient trucking solutionsmore important than ever in terms of operational costs. Great Dane’songoing dedication to research and design has helped developcost-effective strategies to help improve fuel economy, thermal efficiencyand corrosion protection, and help enhance durability, appearance andease of repair. These features and options can extend a trailer’s life,meaning a greater return on the money you spend.

In this issue of Evolving Trailer Technology, Great Dane engineers share tipsfor spec’ing side doors and entry/egress options, as well as how GreatDane ensures that support gear placement is properly calculated for yourtrailers. Keeping these in mind can help you and your operation get themost from your investment.

For quality customer support backed by an extensive network ofdistribution, parts and service centers, we hope you will turn to us to helpyou find the best product you can count on today and down the road.

Regards,

pines_signature.tif

Jim PinesExecutive Vice PresidentGreat Dane Trailers

Contents

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Table of8 Grocery Relies on GreatDane Classic Models inEfforts to Go Green

Food Lion


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News and TrendsImproved Road Safety No Accident: Latest Stats Show Programs, Tools Paying Off

Inside Track:• Support Gear • Entry/Egress Options • Proper Side Door Placement

Food LionGreat Dane Classics Help ReduceEnvironmental Impact for Supermarket Chain

Vendor View:• Haldex • Meritor WABCO RSS

Olympic FreightwaysGreat Dane Custom Classic Van DeliversFreshness to Fast Food Chain

Did You Know?EPA-approved Spec Helps Cut Costs, Reduce Emissions

CorroGuardGreat Dane Exclusive Is Protection You Can't Afford to Resist

Comments for the editor?E-mail:[email protected]

Or write to:Evolving Trailer TechnologyGreat Dane TrailersP.O. Box 67Savannah, GA 31402

Evolving Trailer Technology is published byGreat Dane Trailers.

12 OlympicFreightways

14Did You Know?EPA SmartWay Spec aSmart Choice to HelpReduce Fuel Costs

Great Dane Custom ClassicVans Go the Distance forFast Food Chain

Improved RoadSafety No Accident

Volume • 9/ Issue • 14 Volume • 10/ Issue • 24

Latest Stats Show Programs,Tools Paying Off

eleased earlier this year by AmericanTrucking Associations, an analysis of datafrom the U.S. Department of Transportationshowed improvement in three majorindicators of truck safety in 2006, the latestyear for which figures are available.

The ATA study showed that the fatal crashrate for large trucks had fallen to 1.93 per100 million miles traveled in 2006, a newrecord low compared to the previous markof 1.97 per 100 million miles in 2002. Inaddition, truck-related fatalities, whichwere 2.24 per 100 million miles, weredown from 2.35 in 2005. ATA alsoreported that the number of trucksinvolved in fatal crashes fell to 2.12 per100 million miles in 2006, down from 2.21the previous year.

While not downplaying the need toeliminate as many more truck crashes andtruck related fatalities as possible, ATA wasquick to laud the achievement. “Thesefigures illustrate the effectiveness of thetrucking industry’s continuous efforts toincrease safety on the nation’s highways,”ATA President Bill Graves said.

Promoting highway safety is nothing newfor many in the industry. For example,Share the Road, a highway safety programguided by ATA that is sponsored by MackTrucks and Michelin North America, sendsveteran truck drivers around the country to

educate motorists about how trucks andcars can safely share the road. The programdelivers information that can immediatelyreduce the likelihood of having a trafficaccident with a truck or other vehicle,including displays of cars and trucks set upin simulated highway lanes to show thecommon ways in which accidents happen.Its goal is to reach as many people aspossible with a message that changesdriving behavior and saves lives.

Another key part of improving highwaysafety is the development and adoption oftechnologies, several of which are readilyavailable on trailers built by Great Dane.For example, trailer roll stability systemsoffered by manufacturers, including thenew RSSplus from Meritor WABCOVehicle Control Systems, counteract thetendency of a vehicle to tip over whilechanging direction.

Also a safety-enhancing tool offered byGreat Dane is the Meritor Tire InflationSystem by P.S.I. By monitoring andmaintaining proper air pressure, the systemcan enhance safety by reducing thelikelihood of tire failures that could createhazardous situations.

There are also a number of new lightingtechnologies such as LEDs that enhancesafety by making large commercial vehiclesmore visible to other motorists, and are

more reliable, reducing the chance ofhaving an unlit vehicle on the road.

Suppliers are also offering braking systemsolutions that respond more effectively andbring vehicles to a safe controlled stop in asshort a distance as possible. With increas-ing traffic and roadway congestion, there isnow a growing need to enhance brakingperformance, a factor that is beingrecognized by regulators in proposedreductions to heavy-duty vehicle stopping distances.

For combination vehicles, a variety ofsuppliers offer collision avoidance systemsthat provide added visibility, offer obstacledetection and warn drivers about objectsahead, behind and alongside vehicles.Another capability is linking those systemswith vehicle electronics to automaticallyreduce engine speed and downshift tomaintain safe following distances.

For the entire trucking industry, makingroadways safer remains a key concern.Truckers, OEMs like Great Dane, andmany other system and componentmanufacturers, are clearly intent onhelping achieve that goal.

upport gear manufacturers make a variety of assemblies withdifferent footware, leg length and travel to accommodate a widerange of trailers. “We call them by many names, including landinggear, jack legs, support gear and lift legs,” says Dan Carter, projectengineer, “and there are probably just as many misconceptions aboutdetermining correct landing gear specifications for the extensiveGreat Dane product line.”

To help clear up the confusion, Carter explains some of the factorsto consider. Landing gear dimensions, for example, take intoaccount the trailer mounting structure, retracted leg length of thegear assembly and the travel distance between fully retracted andextended positions. Equally important are upper coupler height,location of the landing gear from the kingpin, the kingpin location,and crossmember elevation at the rear of the trailer, which takesinto account tire size and clearance, bogie type and location, andride and mounting heights.

“It is up to our engineering staff to optimize the selection of theproper gear,” Carter states. “In general, we follow guidelinesdeveloped by TTMA (Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association) as outlined in Recommended Practice, RP 4-03, which provides for a minimum ground clearance of 12 inches with a minimum liftof two inches.

“For the benefit of Great Dane customers,” Carter continues, “wehave created programs that allow us to plug in trailer geometry dataand quickly and accurately calculate the crossmember elevationabove the landing gear. Based on the sales order, we are able todetermine the correct gear assembly for each trailer.”

For every trailer order, Great Dane generates a dimensional analysis,which includes projecting exact crossmember elevations over thelanding gear based on specific information in the sales order alongwith trailer geometry per model. This data is used to select theproper landing gear assembly and match minimum ground clearanceand lift parameters. However, if there is a special need that fallsoutside the standard parameters, it must be requested through thesales order system prior to delivering the quote and making the sale.

By doing all the legwork, Great Dane is able to clear up anymisconceptions about determining support gear needs for customersand ensure that each trailer it builds has the correct legs to stand on.

Getting a Leg Up onSupport Gear Specs

Great Dane Program CalculatesCorrect Dimensions

5www.greatdanetrailers.com

Designing an All Access Pass


Selecting Safe, Efficient Entry/Egress Trailer Options

ulti-temp and local deliveries arecommon to refrigerated operations, andthe use of a forklift for unloading isfrequently impractical or impossible. Thedesign of trailer entry/egress is critical tosafe and efficient loading and unloading.

The specific details of particularoperations and delivery routes ofteninfluence what type of access is best on atrailer. When working with your trailersales representative, consider exactly howthe trailer is going to be used in youroperation. Great Dane offers a variety ofsteps, ladders and platforms to aid in thesafe and efficient use of the trailer.

Details to consider include how muchroom is available at the places wheredeliveries are to be made and the typeand amount of cargo to be unloaded.Steps to allow entry and positioning ofsmall boxes, which can then be removedfrom outside the trailer while standing onthe ground, may be best for oneoperation, while a ramp may be best foran operation that requires removal ofheavier cartons.

For guidance in selecting the best optionsfor your operation, review the followinginformation that includes both briefdescriptions and restrictions on theoptions Great Dane offers.

Side Door Options

The most common means of entry at a sidedoor include steps, platforms and ladders.Steps can be installed either under thedoor or offset off the door. In either case,the step would be located at the bladelock side of the door (more commonlyknown as the non-hinged side). Thislocation allows the proper use of the step

and Great Dane’s 36-inchchrome grabhandle and createsthree points of contact for a safeentry or egress. Without anyexception, all items on the list belowrequire a grabhandle to be installed.Items 7 and 10 are two of the mostpopular means of entry. However, eachcustomer has their specific wants andneeds that must be kept in mind.

Steps:

1. Stationary step with grabhandle. 2. Retractable (stirrup-style step) with

grabhandle. This step passes throughthe bottom rail.

3. Recessed folding step with grabhandle.Penz Products step is the standard stepwith the option of the Bustin IndustrialProducts step.

Platforms with steps:

4. Bustin #DE2105 aluminum pulloutplatform and enclosure beneathcrossmembers.

5. Bustin #TAP200 heavy duty aluminumpullout platform and steel enclosuremounted above crossmembers.

6. #DL2102 aluminum pullout platformand steel enclosure mounted abovecrossmembers.

7. Bustin #POS-204-PG steel pulloutplatform and steel enclosure mountedabove crossmembers.

8. Bustin #POS-400-G galvanized steelpullout platform and steel enclosuremounted above crossmembers.

Ladders/Platforms without steps:

9. Steel ladder assembly F-750 with undermount storage carrier (four-rung, 5-foot-long ladder)

10. Bustin #DE1102 aluminum fixedlanding and stairway with an

under-mount Bustin #DB2501 stairway carrier.

11. Side door walkramp preparation thatconsists of two recessed cups in floor toaccept walkramp of choice.

12. Pullout steel split type without step (2 sections).

13. Pullout steel split type without step (3 sections).

14. Steel pullout platform F-100HD, 26" x 33".



Rear Door Restrictions

When selecting the rear door accesssystem, there are just about as manyvariations possible as with side doors.However, there are some restrictionsspecific to rear doors. Please keep in mindthe following rules when specifying yournext trailer.

1. Mud flaps on the buckplate are notallowed with retractable steps.

2. Bolt-on horizontals are not availablefor buckplate heights less than 36.75".

3. When a step is desired at any locationa handhold is also required.

4. Roll-up door rear frame RIGs are notstandard with an intermediate step.

5. Minimum buckplate height for installa-tion of an intermediate step/handholdcombination is greater than 36".

roper placement of side doors is morethan simply deciding where they will bestsuit a particular operation. In all moderndomestic semi-trailers, the sidewalls are thestructure that supports the payload betweenthe coupler and the suspension, so carefulattention must be paid to the placement ofside doors.

Often, you will find that moving a door justa few inches will reduce the reinforcementrequired. This results in a lighter, more cost-effective trailer that is more profitable.

The first step in deciding on the best sidedoor locations is analyzing the operation. Isit a zoned multi-temp operation or a singletemp/dry freight operation? If the operationis a multi-temp, are the partitions transverseor longitudinal? Transverse bulkheads,which are more common, require a doorlocation that does not open in the center ofa bulkhead.

Since sidewalls are the structure thatsupports the payload, cutting a largeopening in the sidewall requiresreinforcement to avoid cracked skin sheetsand rails. To visualize the forces on a dooropening, imagine the payload beingconcentrated and placed mid-way betweenthe coupler and the suspension. Here thecoupler would be pushing up hard enoughto support one-half the payload, with thesuspension supporting the other half.

Then imagine a door opening behind thecoupler but ahead of the payload in thecenter of the trailer, and you will see that

the front post of the door opening would bepushed up by the coupler and the rear postof the door opening would be pulled downfrom the force of the payload. These forcesare trying to distort the previouslyrectangular door opening into aparallelogram; that is, two diagonal corners are being pulled open beyond 90degrees and the other two are beingsqueezed closed.

These forces are why additionalreinforcement is needed. In reality, thepayload is usually distributed from the frontto the rear, so the most challenging place toput a door is just aft of the coupler. Thesimplest is in the center of the trailer.Placing a door ahead of the suspension isbetween these two extremes.

The forward-most door location is 35.5inches front of trailer to centerline of doorand the next standard location aft of that is59.5 inches. Placing a door in theselocations near the coupler requires thesupport of an extended main beam tonegate the door racking. While necessaryfor the trailer’s longevity, this reinforcementresults in additional cost and weight. If theoperation allows some flexibility in doorplacement, moving the door aft can savethe cost and weight of the extended main beam.

The next area back avoids the weight of amainbeam extension, but is in a highstressed over the support gear and requires aheader 5 inches deeper. If a door can be

placed aft of the support gear and closer tothe center of the trailer, usually noreinforcement is required.

Once we move behind the center (bayarea) and closer to the suspension sliderails, the forces on the frame again increaseand require a minor reinforcement.Multiple side doors further complicate thepicture but in general, if the centerlines ofthe doors are 96 inches apart, the doors will not need more than standardreinforcement packages.

Remember, when specifying a doorlocation, the closer the trailer door can beplaced to the center, the lighter the doorreinforcement can be. A slight adjustmentin the placement of the door can alsoreduce the reinforcement required.Analyzing and understanding the operationfor which you are spec’ing side doors willenable you to optimize their placementand perhaps reduce the weightand expense of variousreinforcements.

7

Giving PositiveReinforcement

Analyze Operationto Determine Proper Side Door Placement

www.greatdanetrailers.com

Volume • 10/ Issue • 28 9www.greatdanetrailers.com

riving more than 50 million miles each year, says TimothyJames Lively, corporate fleet manager, a 0.2-MPG improvementfor the Food Lion LLC fleet saves approximately 300,000gallons of diesel fuel each year, and significantly reducesemissions in the environment. “For that reason,” he states,“we’re proudly working with our vendor partners like GreatDane to reduce emissions, improve fuel efficiency and loweroperating costs.”

Founded in 1957, Food Lion is one of the largest supermarketchains in the U.S. The Salisbury, North Carolina-basedcompany, a member of Brussels-based Delhaize Group, operates1,300 stores in 11 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. Apredominantly Great Dane fleet since the 1970s, the companyfields Classic refrigerated trailers at seven distribution centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.

The Food Lion fleet currently includes 927 Great Danerefrigerated trailers and more than 600 Great Dane dry vans.The reefers are equipped with a mix of Carrier Transicold andThermo King refrigeration units. “Some of our trailers are as oldas 1990 models,” Lively says, “which speaks highly of the qualityof trailer built by Great Dane.

“For 2008,” Lively continues, “we’ve ordered 25 new GreatDane Classic reefers equipped with fuel saving technologies likethe Meritor Tire Inflation System by P.S.I., which monitorsinflation to ensure that every tire is within 5 lbs of optimalpressure, reduces rolling resistance and increases MPG.

The systems are alsoreducing road calls andincreasing the life expectancy of our casings for retread purposes.”

Food Lion is working with Great Dane to evaluate its reefers soit has the best model for its operation. “We are currentlyconducting tests to ensure that Food Lion is meeting its No. 1priority, which is product integrity,” according to Lively. “Forexample, we are testing interior linings with increased puncture-resistance as well as thermal efficiency, and we are planning toput Great Dane’s ThermoGuard reefer lining in our new trailers.

“There is no substitute for doing all we can to prevent thermalloss,” Lively continues. “We are also developing best practicesfor trailer maintenance that can help maintain thermalefficiency and peak operating performance.”

Food Lion, Lively points out, has worked closely with GreatDane to make sure its trailers meet its needs today and after 14to 18 years of service. “We look at our trailer assets with a totalcost of ownership perspective,” he says. “While we can find aless expensive trailer, we prefer to take a long term view andblend the best of quality and service with life expectancy.

“We also like to work with suppliers that provide more than just aneffective product,” Lively adds. “Great Dane, for example, hasdisplayed trust – the foundation for any successful relationship –authenticity fostered by people with ideas who are committed to ourmutual success, and good stewardship, which entails taking care ofcorporate as well as environmental resources.

“Food Lion and Great Dane have had a longstanding relationship for many years,” Livelyconcludes, “because we’ve been able to rely on theOEM to guide us as we strive to keep deliveringthe great service our customers expect. GreatDane has proven to be a partner we candepend on to help us with operationalconcerns, and to find ways to reduceour impact on the environment.”

Food Lion, LLCGreat Dane Classics Help Reduce EnvironmentalImpact for Supermarket Chain

Worry Free Savings

The Meritor Tire Inflation System by P.S.I., an Automatic Tire InflationSystem (ATIS) offered as an option on Great Dane trailers, monitorsand maintains air pressure at a constant and proper level, increasing fuelefficiency, enhancing safety, and adding life to tires, which also helpsmaximize recap potential.

Tires represent the second largest operating costs for most fleets.Consider this: A 20 percent under-inflation of a trailer’s tires can cut

their usable life by 25 percent. If they’reunder-inflated by 30 percent, their life is

cut by as much as 55 percent.

And that’s just the start. Fuelefficiency is lost because improp-erly inflated tires tend to scuffand drag. What’s more, loss ofinflation can increase costlyroad service calls and createhazardous situations. Blowoutscan also cause costly damage tothe trailer undercarriage.

With the Meritor Tire InflationSystem by P.S.I. under-inflation is

no longer a problem. Added up, itssavings come from keeping trailers on

the road to deliver loads on time, whichtranslates into lower costs.

P.S.I. Tire Inflation System


HaldexGoes for the Gold


Uniquely Designed Gold Seal Actuators Save Time, Money

ecently selected as a standard product offering on GreatDane trailers, Haldex Gold Seal Actuators help reducemaintenance and downtime expenses. Featuring speciallydesigned components engineered to strict standards, Gold SealActuators assure lower operating costs and deliver long-lastingdurability, performance and reliability for outstanding valuemile after trouble-free mile.

Haldex Gold Seal features include:

• Premium Piloted Diaphragm for straight springcycling and longer diaphragm life

• Caging tool with ACME threads makes cagingquick, convenient and easy

• Double O-Ring Center Seal and Unique WearRings extend service life and protect against airleakage between chambers

• Orbital Riveted Adapter Push Rod Discs permanentlyattached for durability

• Orange Alert Stroke Indicator is visible when brakes are outof adjustment

• Zinc Plated Push Rod for added corrosion protection• Special Heat Treated Power Spring producing maximum

output force and extended life that is powder-coated forcorrosion protection

• Piloted dust shield is designed to enhance automatic brakeadjuster operation by maintaining push rod alignment andreducing contaminants in the service chamber

• Epoxy-coated 9-gauge stud housing for maximum strength• Lightweight, aluminum spring piston for excellent

corrosion resistance • Tamper-resistant integral, rolled seal permanently attaches

the spring housing to the aluminum center body to preventinadvertent disassembly

The Haldex Gold Seal Spring Brake is also available in a longstroke version. When compared to a standard stroke, theHaldex Long Stroke Gold Seal provides a higher and moreconstant force output. As wear and heat take effect on thefoundation brake system, the extra stroke and additional outputforce is required to maintain braking, resulting in moreavailable power to stop the vehicle.

Haldex Commercial Vehicle Systems, part of Haldex Group, isa leading manufacturer and distributor of heavy-duty air brakeand suspension control system components. The companyoffers its Gold Seal Spring Brake models in 12 sizes for trailer S-Cam and Air Disc Brake applications.

n 2003, Meritor WABCO Vehicle Control Systemsintroduced its first trailer Roll Stability Support (RSS) system.Recently, the manufacturer began offering Great Danecustomers its new RSSplus system as a factory-installed optionand for retrofit through dealers.

The new RSSplus system builds on the original RSS design,which incorporates ABS functionality with other safety featuresthat intervene to reduce the likelihood of a rollover.

The independent electronic technology is integrated in thetrailer’s braking system where it monitors lateral accelerationand wheel speed for critical limits. If the limit is exceeded, thetrailer brakes are automatically applied, helping reduce thevehicle’s speed.

RSSplus uses Meritor WABCO’s field-proven side-by-side wheelend control system to provide superior stability management.The 2-modulator (2M)-roll mitigation technology integratesseveral features, including ABS and Power Line Carrier (PLC)functionality, reducing the number of individual components.

New features of the latest version include:• A cable connector system that allows for more positive

connections and cable stabilization to prevent damage andeliminate potential problems with connector corrosion.

• Standardized SAE diagnostics that make troubleshootingsimpler and that are integrated into the company’s TOOL-BOX PC software. System diagnostics can also be performedusing standard blink codes, which eliminate the cost ofadditional diagnostic tools.

• PLC capability that can communicate between the tractorand trailer using a display unit. Additional messaging can also be accommodated via telematic devices. Examples ofevents that can be communicated include suspension weight,tire pressure, wheel-end temperatures or other customer-specific data.

• On-board data recording within the RSSplus ECU allows forthe retention of vehicle performance information to enhancefleet management and help improve operating efficiencies.

Configurations of the RSSplus system include 2S/2M1, 4S/2Mand 4S/2M + 1 (for most 4S/3M requirements). The new systemis compatible for use with spring as well as air ride suspensions.


Meritor WABCO’sNewest System

a Safe BetRSSplus Support

System ReducesChance of Rollover

OlympicFreightways

12

“A staggered loading and delivery schedule means ourtrailers are full most of the time,” Cepeda notes. “We operate with a minimum of equipment so our trailershave to be virtually maintenance free and very reliable.Each trailer is expected to operate 130,000 miles each year, or more than 900,000 miles over the term of a seven-year lease.”

By all indications, according to Cepeda, the Great DaneClassic dry freight vans in the Olympic Freightways fleetwill stand the test of time, and some of its newer trailerspurchased in 2004 may be kept in service even longer thanoriginally planned.

Long-term relationships are nothing new for OlympicFreightways or its parent company. East Balt Commissary’sties to McDonald’s date back to 1955 when the bakery’sfounder, Louis Kuchuris, approached McDonald’s founderRay Kroc about supplying buns for the growing franchise.On a simple handshake, the two agreed upon a customer-supplier relationship that is still in effect five decades later.

Over the years, as McDonald’s has grown, East Balt andOlympic Freightways have worked diligently to meet itsneeds, and in the process have come to rely on Great Dane to help it achieve the ultimate goal of always delivering fresh.


Great Dane Custom Classic VanDelivers Freshness to Fast Food Chain


Extend Trailer Life with PunctureGuard Interior Lining

Strong, remarkably rigid andincredibly thin, Great Dane’s exclusivePunctureGuard lining offers customersusing its dry freight and refrigerated trailers several advantages.For example, PunctureGuard is more than 40 percent lighterthan .090-inch and tapered FRP linings and is also significantlystronger, providing the most impact resistance available in atrailer lining.

PunctureGuard also does not require surface treatment to resiststains and abrasion. Additionally, because it is not composed offillers that can hold dirt and other contaminants, it remainsscuff- and scratch-resistant throughout its thickness. Its glossy,consistently smooth texture also enhances the appearance of atrailer’s interior and is easier to keep bright and clean.

PunctureGuard significantly reduces maintenance costs as well.Able to be reheated and reformed, it offers ease of repair using acommon plastic welder and does not require riveted patches. As a result, material costs are reduced along with downtimeassociated with repairs using other materials.

ur trailers have to be immaculate,” says Manny Cepeda ofOlympic Freightways. “Appearance is important because of theproduct we haul, and reliability is crucial to us and our customer.”

As the dedicated fleet for East Balt Commissary, a Chicago-basedsupplier of all the buns used in McDonald’s restaurants in a fivestate area, Olympic Freightways chooses Great Dane Classic dryfreight vans to make sure that the 963 restaurants it serves inIllinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin have the freshestbuns on hand for their customers. The 24 trailers are operated anaverage of 20 hours per day, six days a week, bringing productsbaked in Chicago to the McDonald’s locations, including 493locations in the city’s greater metro area.

“Ryder leases our Great Dane trailers to us,” Cepeda says, “but wewere very involved in the process of specifying them to ensurethey meet our needs. We work closely with Great Dane’s sales andengineering teams and with its Brazil, Indiana plant. We’ve beenvery impressed with their dedication and with how well thesetrailers are built.”

The Great Dane Classic dry freight vans in the Olympic fleet arecustomized in several ways. All semi-insulated drop frame models,the trailers feature loading ramps and specially designed rear andside doors, built to fit the racks used to carry buns and placed tofacilitate unloading and the loading of empty racks at each stopwith a minimum of effort. Efficiency and safety during deliveries,

especially at night, are also addressed by specifications for interiorand exterior utility lights, and strobe lamps that help make thevehicle highly visible when parked.

Another consideration for Olympic that Great Dane hasaddressed is the need to maintain a highly clean trailer interior.Specified by the fleet, for example is a hardwood floor overlaidwith aluminum diamondette as well as PunctureGuard lining.“PunctureGuard has been a very effective choice for us,” Cepedastates. “It’s not only highly durable but it’s also non-porous so it’smuch more sanitary and does not attract mold or contamination.We actually showed the lining to McDonald’s and they were veryinterested in having us specify it on the trailers we use to haultheir buns.”

Great Dane’s advanced technology and its versatility in buildingOlympic’s trailers to meet the unique needs of the company’soperation is essential. Making from eight to 12 stops per load, thetrailers hold rolling racks of buns that can weigh 250 lbs each.The fleet’s average load is 35,000 lbs.

In a highly organized relay operation using tractors based inIllinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Iowa, the trailers are loaded withbuns right off the bakery’s production line and transferred to relaypoints, or used to make local deliveries. Empty units are returnedto the bakery for the next loads.

“


Saving Fuel theSmartWay EPA-approved Spec Helps

Cut Costs, Reduce Emissions

he benefits are as clear as a bright blue sky. By participating inthe U.S. Environmental Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership,trucking companies can improve fuel efficiency while also reducingthe impact their vehicles have on the environment.

Great Dane and other manufacturers that have signed on aspartners in the government-industry partnership have risen to thechallenge by developing and adopting technologies that cansignificantly reduce fuel consumption for their customers.

A long list of SmartWay specifications for new and existing 53-ftdry freight van trailers has been developed. Included among thesystems and components available from or undergoing evaluationby Great Dane are aerodynamic trailer side skirts that smooth air-flow and reduce cross-flow along and below the side edges of thetrailer. Based on SAE J1321 testing, these side skirts can provide atleast a 4 percent fuel savings.

Made of lightweight rigid or semi-rigid material and designed to bepermanently installed along each bottom side edge, the skirts cover70 percent or more of the distance between the center point of thefront axle and the landing gear and 68 percent or more of the gapbetween the bottom edge of the trailer and the ground.

Front trailer fairings are also listed in the SmartWay specifications.Designed to smooth airflow around exposed top and side edges ofthe front of the trailer and reduce the tractor-trailer gap, the frontfairings tested using the SAE protocol can provide at least a 1percent fuel savings.

EPA’s front fairing specifications call for a permanently installedthree-panel design that are sealed to and fit flush along the top and

along each side edge of the front of the trailer. The top panelcovers 90 percent or more of the trailer front width at the top edgeand each side panel covers 75 percent or more of the height alongeach side edge.

EPA also lists rear-mounted tail fairings as an optional spec andencourages the use of lightweight aluminum and compositematerials in trailer design. In addition, low rolling resistance dualand wide-base single tires mounted on aluminum wheels are said toprovide a 3 percent fuel economy benefit.

SmartWay partners have already conserved more than 600 milliongallons of diesel fuel per year, saving the industry nearly $2 billionin annual fuel costs and eliminating about 7 million metric tons ofcarbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. By 2012, the SmartWay TransportPartnership and its counterpart, Natural Resources Canada’s(NRCan) FleetSmart (a component of the ecoENERGY for Fleetsprogram), aim to eliminate between 33 and 66 million metric tonsof CO2 and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissionsper year.

At the same time, the effort will result in fuel savings of up to 150 million barrels of oil annually, a clear benefit for Great Dane customers.


Great Dane Trailers Corporate HeadquartersP.O. Box 67Savannah, GA 31402 912-644-2100

Protection You Can't Afford to Resist

Advantages of CorroGuard • CorroGuard is extremely durable and resistant to de-icing

chemicals, road debris, climate fluctuations, and ice and snow*

• CorroGuard is air tight and water tight, and will not peel,crack, warp, flake or split under even the harshest of conditions

• CorroGuard is rapid-curing and does not require humidity ormoisture to cure so it can be applied in cold temperatures andwill not bubble in climates of high humidity

• CorroGuard remains pliable over time and withstandsprolonged UV exposure

• CorroGuard is 100% solids, does not contain VOCs (VolatileOrganic Compounds) or solvents so it is not carcinogenic,ozone depleting, or harmful if inhaled

* When applied over Great Dane's standard epoxy primer CorroGuard producessuperior results in ASTM testing for Hardness, Elongation and Adhesion.

* Now available as an option on Great Dane refrigerated and dry freighttrailers, CorroGuard is a featured part of Great Dane's Total ProtectionPackage of corrosion prevention solutions that add life to trailers, reducecosts and provide a superior appearance on the road.

CorroGuard, Great Dane's newest defense against corrosion, is a spray-in-place thermoplastic

coating that protects trailer underbodies from extreme conditions. Moisture, severe temperatures,

road abrasion, winter road traction and de-icing materials – CorroGuard can withstand them all.

Protection You Can't Afford to Resist

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Put maintenance costs and insulation degradation on icewith ThermoGuard, Great Dane’s exclusive, revolutionary glass-reinforced thermoplastic liner that adds years to the usefullife of a trailer by helping maintain thermal efficiency as it ages. Lessmaintenance downtime and extended performance that keeps its cool means more revenue for your operation. Reduced cooling unit run time meansgreater fuel efficiency — a solution that benefits you and the environment.

Performance Without A Melting Point.

To get the most out of your reefer, freeze your assets with ThermoGuard.

get a leg up on support gear positive reinforcement a leg up on support gear volume• 10/ issue•...

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