SmartValveBlog Tag

In the world of trucking, tractor and trailer coupling operations can be a daily occurrence for most drivers. Often referred to as “Drop and hook”, or switching trailers, this operation may seem like a simple interaction: back the tractor up to the trailer for the fifth wheel to hook to the trailer pin, connect the …

Drivers, Fleet Managers, and Business Owners feel the strain of rising fuel prices that only seem to keep going up. Luckily, even as these prices trend upwards, there are actions drivers and fleets can take to increase their fuel efficiency in today’s market. Many commercial vehicle industry best practices should be adopted such as educating …

A challenge since the creation of vehicles has been reducing the damage taken by chassis. The major way that most vehicle OEMs have found to reduce said damages has been to improve the ride quality of the vehicle, most often with a suspension system. A suspension system will reduce road shock felt by the vehicle …

Every day we see more electric vehicles being used and becoming prevalent. While commercial battery powered technology is still in the early adopter stages of the Class 8 market, past and future environmental regulations paved the way for electric technology to be necessary. Link’s active engagement with councils and market associations has poised itself to …

With the driver shortage at an all-time high, professional truck drivers are in a unique position to be selective on who they drive for, remaining patient until they find a fleet that they feel invests in them. Such factors are contributing to the driver turnover rate that remains above 90% in large fleets and why …

The patented SmartValve™ was introduced in 2013 as a solution to major fleet challenges of driver recruitment, driver retention and increased insurance costs. Until SmartValve, electronically controlled air suspensions have required several separate components: the electronic control Unit, a valve manifold, an external sensor, and the associated electronics. Link’s SmartValve combines these devices into one …

Ask any driver handling 5 to 7 drop and hook operations a day and they will be the first to agree that fatigue and injuries from cranking the landing gear takes its toll on their comfort, safety and health. One fleet taking steps to change that is West Side Transportation from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. With …

Ron Diamond is typical of the drivers who run out of Meijer Logistic’s distribution facility in Newport, Michigan. He drops and hooks trailers about 10 times a day and says it can be tiring. Dropping and hooking are integral to the operation of Grand Rapids-based Meijer Stores, which has 228 tractors and 2,850 trailers in …

If Nationwide Rail Services was to include “safety” as a line item in its assets, it would not seem far-fetched to its insurance carrier. The 30 drivers employed by NRS perform 300 to 400 drop-and-hook operations every day, with a chance for injury each time – more so as the average age of the driver …