As with most other waste management systems, transfer activities throughout the nation are undergoing continuous and, in some cases, radical change in response to a variety of social, operational, and economic pressures. Perhaps the most important of these factors is replacement of local landfills by more remote regional facilities. Safety, load security, and increased payload are other considerations that will affect the types and configurations of transfer equipment that will be coming onto the market in the near future, so MSW Management asked a group of manufacturers to give us a heads-up on what’s in store.

Participants

Scot Fuhrman, waste products division manager, Donovan Enterprises, Stuart, FL

Mark Sabol, product manager, East Manufacturing Corporation, Randolph, OH

Michael S. McDonough, vice president of sales and marketing, Ravens Inc., Kent, OH

MSW Management: Do you see any significant changes to transfer activities in the relatively near future and, if so, what are they?

Scot Fuhrman: Donovan Enterprises is a tarping system manufacturer, so obviously we spend the majority of our time speaking to trailer owners, operators, manufacturers, and dealers about their tarping needs. The area where we see an increasing emphasis is safety. Improving productivity and reducing maintenance are always high priorities, but more and more the number-one priority is safety. Preferably, haulers would like to have a tarper that significantly improves safety and productivity while reducing maintenance.

Mark Sabol: Transfer activity has been changing for the last five to seven years. Longer hauls have made the major waste companies seek outside contractors for the transfer aspect of hauling. This has enabled the major waste companies to put a fixed cost on this part of the operation. Regions with less air space will be more affected by this. Vehicle regulations probably will not have any major changes except the ability to carry more than the current legal 80,000-lb. gross. This is a situation that is currently being looked at, but I am unsure of the status of this.

Michael McDonough: Most of Ravens’ live-floor customers are hauling waste products. With many municipal landfills becoming full and an increased tendency to locate new landfills farther from municipalities, waste haulers are looking for ways to cut transportation costs. To do this, they have been requesting longer and lighter trailers to allow them to haul more per load.

MSW: Are there any changes in optional equipment that you see coming onto the market?

Scot Fuhrman: Donovan recently introduced a fully automatic tarping system for live floor transfer trailers called Sidewinder. Sidewinder differs from all other tarping systems in that it has a single-flip design that hinges on just one side of the trailer. This reduces maintenance drastically, while giving the operator full view of the tarping operation for added safety. Also, Sidewinder runs off of its own self-contained electric/hydraulic power unit. This eliminates the constant hassle of adjusting pressure relief valves that many owners of double-flip-top tarpers are familiar with.

Michael McDonough: Truck and trailer suppliers, like manufacturers, are always trying to improve their products with value-added offerings. Recently the trend has been toward products that decrease maintenance costs, such as air-system tires and better brake linings. While these low-maintenance items may reduce repair costs, they do not eliminate the need for regular maintenance.

Mark Sabol: Tire-inflation systems and air-ride suspension seem to be picking up in popularity. Air-ride suspensions allow for easier loading because the payload weight can be measured by air pressure. Tarp systems are probably the most frustrating component in the refuse business. New ideas are constantly being looked at.

MSW: What should prospective trailer buyers be aware of when they prepare their specifications?

Michael McDonough: Know your transportation needs. What you intend to haul will affect how you spec your trailer, and with live-floor trailers, it will affect the floor you put in. Also, keep in mind that what you haul today might not be what you haul tomorrow, so don’t make your trailer inflexible to future loads. For example, if the width of the trailer is not crucial to your current load, you still might want to consider a 102-in.-wide trailer to accommodate pallets in the future. Your initial cost might be greater, but keeping your options open can help you in the long term.

Mark Sabol: The best advice on specifications is to know and understand the operation and to spec your equipment accordingly.

Scot Fuhrman: When specifying a Sidewinder tarping system for a new trailer, customers must know which side of the trailer they would like the Sidewinder to hinge on. Most customers prefer it to hinge on the driver’s side for the convenience of the driver. Each Sidewinder adjusts to fit any length and width of trailer. Prospective trailer buyers who are considering specifying a Sidewinder should be aware that it is not designed for applications requiring solid tarps and that solid tarps are not offered with Sidewinder.

MSW: Is there a particular segment of the market on which you focus particular attention?

Scot Fuhrman: As a tarping system manufacturer, Donovan has focused primarily on live-floor transfer trailers used to haul solid waste. As everyone knows, however, few trailers are used to haul just one type of material. Because of this, Sidewinder was field-tested for more than two years by a variety of haulers, including transporters of solid waste, C&D, mulch and wood chips, and recyclable materials. The results of all this field-testing were accounted for in the design of Sidewinder. The result is a simple yet versatile and durable tarping system for all hauling applications.

Michael McDonough: Most of our customers are waste haulers, but I guess we really focus on those who are in business for the long haul, whether they are owner operators or fleets. Over many years, Ravens has built a reputation for manufacturing lightweight, high-quality aluminum trailers. Our trailers are going to last a long time, so we really target businesses that also plan to be around awhile.

Mark Sabol: The three major market segments are municipal, major public companies, and contract trailer/trucking companies. East puts its focus on all three of these markets. Our longevity in the market and our brand recognition along with building business relationships are the most important factors to gain market share.

MSW: What do you feel is special about your own equipment that you’d like prospective buyers to be aware of?

Mark Sabol: Many people new to the industry are unsure of what makes competing products different. At East, our product design, trailer weight, product durability, and low maintenance cost are some of the value-added differences our product has to offer. Our people are who make the real difference, however. They’re knowledgeable and experienced to help consult with the customer for proper specifications for their refuse hauling needs.

Michael McDonough: Ravens’ live-floor trailers are designed and manufactured for long-term performance with solid single-unit construction, a thicker deck, more bearings and fewer replacement parts than competitive trailers. Ravens also offers a variety of options on its trailers to ensure the trailer will hold up to current and future loads. Also, when you look at the cost of ownership, your best buy is a Ravens. We build high-quality aluminum trailers, but the up-front cost is more. When you look at the real costs of owning and operating trailers, however, taking into account maintenance, fuel costs, capacity, trailers life, and everything else that costs money in this business, a Ravens is the best buy on the market, and we can prove that.

Scot Fuhrman: We feel that the Donovan Sidewinder finally gives the transfer trailer market the tarping system it has been asking for. Sidewinder increases safety by giving operators an automatic system that can be operated from the ground. In addition, its single-flip-lid design gives the operator a much better view of the tarping operation. Sidewinder greatly increases the productivity of each trailer by saving valuable time. It takes less than 20 seconds to cover or uncover a load. This equates to quicker turnarounds and more loads per day per trailer. Sidewinder also drastically reduces the maintenance that operators typically associate with tarping systems. The single-flip-lid design allows operators to keep the tarp out of the way while loading. With Sidewinder, operators are also placing the tarp down onto the load, rather than dragging it across, as they do with manual systems. This results in longer tarp life. Donovan conducted extensive field testing before the Sidewinder was introduced to the market. We have many happy customers who say it was worth it.

MSW
January /February 2000