These days, when it comes to transfer trailers, the choices seem to be almost endless. So how do you know which trailer is best for you?

Amy Sorkin

It sounds simple to say: “Well, first you have to determine your specific needs.” But, in the waste transfer business in a time of increasing competition and rising operating costs, this could be far from a trivial task. For instance, would a dump trailer or push-out save you more time? How much trash does your trailer need to hold at one time for it to be the most profitable? Is your trash mostly dry or often damp and compact? Does your area have severe weather conditions? These are just some of the factors that will play into your decision as to what type of trailer to buy, as well as what features it should have.

Then there’s the other side of the equation: what’s out there to meet your needs? To help with your research, we've talked to a number of transfer trailer and trailer accessory manufacturers to get their take on what the trailer buyer should be aware of when writing their specs and selecting a manufacturer.

So What Is Out There?
Each type of transfer trailer, whether it’s dump, pushout, moving floor or tipper trailer—has its own advantages and drawbacks. For instance, dump trailers have limitations on capacity and run the risk of rolling over. Pushouts have traditionally been heavier in weight, which restricts the amount of trash that can be carried. While tippers have the capacity to haul a greater load, moving floors are more versatile and can save many drivers a lot of time. Certain trailers, such as live-floor trailers, tend to require more maintenance than others, such as straight tippers.

Then the top loading of trailers brings a dimension of caution to the table. “Loading in this manner necessitates very strong top rails to withstand the impact of the loader bucket, as well as structural side uprights and/or sidewall panels and rear pockets capable of withstanding the constant ‘beating’ and downward forces,” says Philip J. Bortz, vice president of sales and marketing at MAC Trailer Mfg.

So you see, there are a lot of choices and a trade-off of benefits, which is why you need to first determine, before you start shopping, which benefits should be optimized in terms of your company’s needs.

Smart Shopping
Though it’s easy to get caught up on features and details, the long-term goal of profitability should always be on your mind when deciding upon a transfer trailer. “While all configurations have their advantages and disadvantages, we must revert to the understanding of the haul and provide the equipment that will best serve the application, maximize efficiencies, and enable enhanced profits,” says Bortz.

For instance, some companies may need a specialized trailer, and others may need a more multi-purpose trailer. “Not all trash haulers or municipalities can afford or choose to run a fleet of strictly garbage-hauling transfer trailers,” says John Christofferson, marketing manager at Trinity Trailer. “Their objective may be to haul not only trash from transfer stations, but other recyclable commodities such as green waste, wood chips, compost, or various forms of construction debris.”

"Knowing and understanding how the trailer will be utilized will aid the customer in getting their job accomplished in a timely and consistent manner," says Mark Sabol, product manager, solid waste equipment, at East Mfg. Corp. So be aware of such elements as how your trailer will be loaded and unloaded, and the density and make-up of the material being loaded. Following are some other things to consider:

“Proper measurements are critical for trailers designed to receive waste via a compactor,” says Bortz. “Such applications require a perfect marriage between the two, and compactor-type loading applies different forces to the construction of the trailer. Thereby, one typically has reinforced bulkheads, additional sidewall bracing built into the rear 25% of the trailer, and wear plates are added to the floor sheet or moving floor slats.”

Charlie Russell, national sales manager at Hallco Mfg. Co. Inc., manufacturerer of live-floor conveyors used for unloading bulk products from semi-trailers, small trucks and stationary bins, talks about the importance of analyzing your cubic-yard hauling capacity. “Waste can vary from 400 lbs. per yard to 800 lbs. per 5 yards. By analyzing the cubic yard weight of the product you wish to haul, you can make sure you buy a trailer with the right amount of cargo space.”

What Makes a Good Trailer?
There are many factors involved. But generally speaking, what makes a good trailer? “The body is definitely the key element in designing an exceptional transfer trailer,” shares Titan Trailers president Mike Kloepfer. “It must have exceptional sidewall strength, a well-designed top rail-to-sidewall [connection], and a good floor-to-sidewall connection in order to handle the constant abuse that goes with this job.”

“The most important feature of a transfer trailer is a sturdy, yet lightweight design,” adds Bob Moore, sales representative at Keith Manufacturing Co. “The waste industry is very tough on equipment, so it needs to be strongly built. But payload is also an important factor, especially when haulers have to drive long distances to the landfill.”

And of course your machine must be able to take the abuse of the trash industry. In trash hauling, it’s truly a Darwinian situation. Only the most fit will survive. “By nature of the industry we serve, related equipment to the waste industry must be engineered and constructed in a manner to withstand harsh rigors on a daily basis, which substantiates the necessity of being quite cognizant of the application,” says Bortz.

“The trailer must be strong enough to withstand the rigors of the refuse industry, yet be light enough to allow the owner to carry enough payload to make a profit,” says Sabol. “Components such as top rails, bottom rails, side-sheet thickness, floor cross-members, and the proper spec’ing of other floor components, such as floor-sheet thickness and walking floor slat design—plus a working knowledge of the operation in which the trailers will be used (length of haul, loads per day, load make-up, etc.)—are what we at East Manufacturing consider to be the biggest factors of concern.”

“In today’s world,” says Kloepfer, “operators need their trucks and trailers on the road, not in the shop. They know that they only make money when their equipment is operating. A good trailer must prove itself on the job consistently through strength of design and always provide trouble-free operation and a long working life.” He cautions against manufacturers who sell mainly on price, and urges customers to consider product quality, longevity, and durability, and to compete on price from there.

Dan Taylor, sales manager of Western Trailers—manufacturer of lightweight semi-trailers—offers a quick checklist of elements a good transfer trailer should have.

• Top rails with an anti-snag feature for compactors.
• A tarping system that is easy to operate and maintain.
• Rear door frame and doors that facilitate full clean out of the trailer.

Strength, Weight, Durability
The main factors to consider when purchasing a transfer trailer are strength, weight, and roadworthiness. You’re always walking a fine line between balancing strength and weight so you can carry the most revenue-producing load. And of course you want your trailer to last, with the least amount of maintenance as possible.

“With any bulk haul, trailer tare weight is always a major factor. By using high-tensile steel and high-strength aluminum, we at Western Trailers have won the battle of strength versus durability,” says Taylor.

“At MAC Trailer,” begins Bortz, “we have made significant strides focused on weight savings in the areas of our coupler, sub-assemblies, and dollies without compromising the strength, as we then engineer other areas of the trailer to address structural needs that in turn compensate for the adjustment in weight.”

“Durability and strength in a trailer are always found to complement each other, because either one will ensure the success of the other. The trailer must be strong and durable, but also easy to repair by featuring easy-to-find and economical parts,” adds Russell.

“Longevity of a trailer is two-fold,” says Bortz. “Identify the specification-construction properly and implement a preventive maintenance program to ensure a proactive posture on trailers being maintained for the long term.” In terms of longevity, there are certain areas of the trailer that are susceptible to high damage, and these should be given special consideration. “These are the top rail, rear gate, hinge, and bumper assembly.”

Layout and Design
“It is essential to have knowledgeable and imaginative people working constantly together in these two areas [layout and design],” begins Kloepfer. “Engineering and sales must understand each other and the customer needs. You will never end up with a good robust design that is user-friendly and practical if these two groups don’t understand customer needs and design possibilities.” So it’s not a bad idea to ask the manufacturers you’re considering what their thoughts are on what makes a good layout and design. How do they come to these decisions? How experienced are their designers and engineers in this specific industry? In other words, make sure they really know what they’re doing and why.

Even when it comes to tarps, design is critical. “Good construction and design of an automated tarp system is important and often overlooked,” shares Cindy Cook, marketing manager at Rollrite LLC, manufacturer of tarp systems and specializing in electric tarp systems for dump trucks. “Companies would benefit over the life of a system if they initially invested in systems designed for cost-efficient part replacement to minimize repair costs and maintenance labor.”

Materially Speaking
Manufacturers’ opinions vary concerning which materials to use for different parts of a trailer. Most, however, tend to lean heavily toward an aluminum-constructed trailer. “While everyone looks toward alternate materials and components, the market continues to favor aluminum-built trailers for its strength, weight savings, and forgiveness during periods of flex,” shares Bortz.

Sabol believes that in terms of the body, aluminum is typically the best choice. "It's probably the best material for transfer trailers. The strength to weight ratio, and the physical and chemical properties of aluminum give the customer the most potential payload capacity. In most cases, the hauler [customer]) is paid by the ton. Therefore, the more weight they can haul legally the more cost effective and profit-producing it becomes for the customer."

Kloepfer is a firm believer in aluminum as well. “An extruded aluminum body definitely works the best because virtually any shape imaginable can be developed to incorporate into different parts on a trailer,” he says. “You can thicken up where necessary and lighten up in less critical areas.”

Taylor and those at Western Trailer feel that using riveted aluminum sheet and post construction is the best way to build the body. “They enable sectionalized repairs in damaged areas for less down time and expense."

As far as the chassis is concerned, various manufacturers use differing materials.

“A combination of steel and aluminum is needed to meet chassis requirements,” says Sabol. “There are a number of components that are only available in steel. With concern of corrosion and the use of magnesium chloride to melt snow and ice on the roads in areas where this is necessary, the more things we can do to better isolate any steel and aluminum component interfaces will be very beneficial in the long run.”

“We use an extruded-aluminum frame,” says Kloepfer. “It fits into our picture better for connection to the body and it doesn’t rust. If designed properly this performs better than steel.

“We use high-tensile steel in our chassis for strength, weight savings, and reparability,” says Taylor.

In short, asking your manufacturer why they use a particular material for a particular part of the trailer is a good way to determine how knowledgeable they are about their product.

Accessorizing
Apart from the main structure of a trailer, there’s a whole list of other “details” to consider, like brakes, tires, lights, and suspension, just to name a few.

“Most first time buyers of our trailers just ask us to give them what the other manufacturers provided to them in the past,” says Kloepfer. “We often show the customers that there are many things that can complement a trailer to make the parts last longer. Options like heavy, medium, or light on toprails, sidewalls, floors, suspensions, and tailgates can make the trailer expensive initially, but can ensure many years of trouble-free operation. Smart buyers know this is what adds to their bottom line.”

The bottom line, with accessories, is that much of it is up to each customer’s personal preference. There’s not always a right and a wrong. Following are some comments from various manufacturers on what to consider when buying accessories:

• Walking floors. Kloepfer—“For moving floors, options like stainless steel tubing, splash bearings, HD cylinders and aluminum wear strips on the slats will increase the life of the floor.”
• Scales. Sabol—“Due to the roughness of the application, it is usually better to have the scales on the loading end of the process, not on the trailer or tractor. However, with the use of air ride suspensions, a durable weighing device can be added to the system.”
Russell—“On-board scales give drivers and loaders an idea of whether they have the proper load weight they can legally haul. Going too heavy can result in fines, too light can mean loss of payload.”
• Tarps. Cook—“A reputable tarp system manufacturer will recommend a system that is best suited to your truck, your type of load, and your available budget. Shop, shop, shop! Compare all aspects of similar competitive systems, especially repair and maintenance or part replacement costs. Ask how much it would be to replace an arm unit, motor, or any assembly in the event you have loading or transportation-related damage. Average expected life span for many automated tarp units is from three to five years. Many professionals find out the hard way that their units end up costing them way more in maintenance and replacement parts than if they would have bought another brand, often up to 2.5 times the cost of the unit over the lifetime of the system.”
• Brakes. Sabol—“Brakes must meet all FHSS and DOT requirements.”
• Suspension. Kloepfer—“Not every suspension is built for the garbage industry. You need to choose a heavy-duty version for the waste industry whether it is spring or air ride.”
Russell—“Aluminum trailers with aluminum mounting for the suspension are very popular because the aluminum is both light and durable. Advanced engineering tells us the proper strengths of mounting points. You can then mount either a spring or air-ride suspension on your trailer. Either suspension is primarily steel. However, it will mount to aluminum trailer frames.”
• Tires. Taylor of Western Trailers—“Central tire inflation would be my number one choice. Being able to keep the air pressure constant will save fuel and tires.”
Russell—“There should always be a high grade as you reduce downtime on the roadside. Aluminum 10-hole wheels are really good because they have both strength and durability and they are lighter than steel wheels, giving you more payload time.”
• Lights. Sabol—“LED lights are the way to go. They are more durable and burn longer, with less downtime for burnt out bulbs. The use of wiring harness will also add value and benefit to the customer.”
Taylor—“Backup lights are a popular option with transfer trailers, being used both day and night.”
Russell—“Lights are dictated by DOT laws. Extra lights—in particular, backup—never hurt. They are safe and save lost time and unloading mistakes.”

Choosing a Manufacturer
A good manufacturer should be able to work with your needs to design a trailer that matches the transfer station, weight, and length laws for the state or states in which it will operate and the tractor that will operate it. They should be knowledgeable, experienced in the refuse industry, and imaginative problem-solvers. A proven track record doesn’t exactly hurt, either.

“Whoever is looking for a trailer, or is charged with writing specifications for an RFB, needs to look to the trailer manufacturer as a resource and utilize their input for new technology, design features, and a history of proven components,” says Bortz. “At MAC Trailer, we encourage interested buyers to visit our facility, meet our people, see first-hand the manufacturing process, and review their needs with our sales and engineering staff.” The more you get to know the manufacturers you’re considering, the more obvious your choice will be.

Amy Sorkin is an LA-based freelance journalist and copywriter who specializes in marketing communications.

MSW - November/December 2005