Wabash National’s ongoing commitment to composite trailer body technology was on display again this week at ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting in Atlanta.
Robert Lane, vice president – engineering, says the 53 ft. reefer trailer showcased at this year’s event offers a 31 percent improvement in thermal efficiency “depending on the spec” compared to similarly spec’d trailers using conventional materials. Additionally, Lane says the composite material also offers weight savings, more interior cube space and a wood, aluminum and steel free fully composite floor that has been proven up to 24,000 lb. weight rating through industry standard testing.
“We did a 20,000 lb. test and then we immediately turned around and did a 24,000 lb. test and it passed again,” he says. “We’ve proven we have floor that can go through two life cycles and still have a floor that is in good working condition.”
He adds, “We think longevity is really where this trailer is going to be different.”
Early feedback from the market is positive. Lane says pilot customers running the composite reefer are seeing results equal to Wabash’s internal testing and interest remains high. He says the company plans to continue moving forward at this pace until enough data exists to support the trailer maker’s longevity expectations.
“We are not looking for wholesale adoption yet. We know we have to prove the technology,” Lane says.
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