Future of the Flatbed Trailers
The flatbed trailer market is set to increase by five per cent in the next three years according to an industry report despite concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. But experts have predicted a slump in the market in the longer term because the industry is not growing year on year.
Growth of the flatbed trailer marker across the world has been driven by newly flourishing economies in South America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe who have been seeing a spike in manufacturing and construction work, so the demand of transport and logistics is rocketing.
Market Research Company Technavio released the report forecasting the state of the industry across the world. But another report has shown that short term sales in the European markets have taken a big hit due to the global COVID-19 crisis.
The Clear International report said it anticipated sales would be down 13% in the first quarter of 2020, but the pandemic has hit the industry as factories were forced to close and new forecasts are suggesting a 23% dip in the market for quarter one and a massive 42% drop in quarter two. Experts are hoping the market will rally in quarter four if the virus does not spread out of control in a second spike.
Last year, US production of truck-trailers was solid with 25 companies across the country producing more than 300,000 trailers. This is the ninth year in a row that the industry has produced more than 200,000 units in a year, and it was a two per cent growth on 2018. The four biggest names in the trailer market built 70% - Hyundai Translead, Wabash National, Utility Trailer Manufacturing and Great Dane Limited Partnership.
Flatbed trailers are not just used for industry. Many people use trailers to move boats to lakes, RVs to camping sites or even to transport their latest garden center purchases back to their homes. Industry safety experts launched a campaign last week to raise awareness of safe driving with trailers and to encourage the production of quality products from manufacturers.
The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) used its third annual National Trailer Safety Week to warn trailer drivers and manufacturers about the importance of safe towing and manufacturer best practice.
The NATM and its campaign supporter Americana Tire and Wheel (ATW) said that many drivers did not realize how something as simple as the tire pressure would have such a big impact on the performance of the trailer on their journey. They said load capacity, air pressure and proper tire maintenance were key factors for drivers to consider when using trailers safely.
The NATM and ATW has issued its seven top tips for trailer safety and appealed to drivers to take note for their safety and the safety of others on the road:
• Inspect the car, trailer and load before setting off on the journey • Keep an eye on speed and make sure there is a big enough distance between you nd the car in front
• Check the load capacity of the tires and do not exceed it. Ensure 60% of the load is at the front of the trailer
• Adjust tire pressure according to the load weight, so it will need to change once you have dropped off your load
• Stopping distances will be different if a vehicle is pulling a trailer, so be aware of this and know that it is at least 325-foot gap or around five seconds between vehicles or obstacles in front
• If the trailer begins to sway, take the gas off, take the brakes off, steer straight and wait for it to correct itself. Steering to try to control the sway will make it worse. If the trailer has its own brakes, you can very gently apply the trailer brakes
• Check the tires after use to make sure they have not been damage and make sure you store your trailer properly as tires can deteriorate if they are left exposed to the elements for long periods
The NATM suggested drivers use a checklist to make sure their cargo is safe before travelling.
• Check tire pressure of the trailer, the car and then spare tires before setting off
• Make sure all the nuts and bolts on the wheels and the trailer are all tightened
• Ensure the load is secure on the trailer and not subject to moving around • Check the lights, brake lights, turn signals and the hazard lights are all working correctly
• Look up your route and ensure there are no bridge or tunnel restrictions.
The organization says it is committed to making roadways safer one trailer at a time and appealed to anyone who wanted to get involved with their campaign – manufacturers, road safety groups, local authorities or trailer users to get in touch.
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