Although it’s sometimes overlooked, the coupling that joins a truck to a trailer is one of the most vital parts of the entire vehicle. Both from a safety and operational perspective, the coupling that fastens the truck to the trailer is fundamental in ensuring correct operation – so for that reason, it’s essential to choose the right one.
If the capacity of the coupling is too low, safety and reliability will become major issues when the truck is in operation. However, if you use a highly robust, heavy-duty coupling on a truck used in light and undemanding applications, you risk inefficiency. So, to keep total cost of ownership low and make truck operation as straightforward as possible, your coupling should be well matched to the environment it will be put to work in.
As you know, not all couplings are made equal – so to start narrowing down your choice of coupling, let’s take a look at some of the most common trucking environments and the couplings that work best.
Light applications in ‘last mile’ logistics
In busy, cramped environments like city centres, smaller and more agile trucks and vans do a good job of making deliveries and transporting goods. However, in some cases, trucks with trailers are required, especially when large quantities of goods are on the move.
The demands placed on the truck in this environment can vary, but if the load is fairly light and the trailer won’t be coupled and uncoupled repeatedly during operation, a light-duty manual coupling with a 40mm drawbar eye diameter is a good choice. This type of coupling offers the required performance in an inexpensive and low-maintenance package.
Medium to heavy loads on the open road
In typical trucking applications like these, a sturdier coupling is a better choice. Even for a truck and trailer that spends most of its time cruising on long, straight motorways between different logistics centres, the forces exerted on the coupling can be significant, especially if the trailer load is on the heavier side.
Additionally, reliability and consistent performance is key in situations like these – with growing demand on the logistics network and the importance of on-time deliveries for many manufacturers, truck drivers can’t afford to be held back by a malfunctioning coupling.
So, if the application involves transportation of medium to heavy loads over longer distances on public roads, a robust all-round coupling is preferable. The right drawbar eye diameter is an important consideration – factors like the weight of the vehicles, the length of the trailer load area and the type of suspension will decide whether a 40mm or 50mm drawbar eye diameter is required. Some customers opt for a 50mm coupling, since the stronger components result in lower levels of wear.
If regular coupling and uncoupling is required, for example at a distribution centre or depot, a pneumatic solution that allows your driver to open the coupling in an easy and comfortable way dramatically boosts, efficiency, ergonomics and safety. And in this type of application, additional safety features like electronic jackknifing alarms can assist your driver and help them get the job done on time.
Construction, mining, forestry and other demanding environments
These are some of the most challenging environments that a truck and coupling can operate in. In these applications, smooth asphalt roads are rare and off-road surfaces like stony dirt tracks or uneven forest floors are standard. Loads can be extremely heavy and bulky, and long distances can be covered – especially in forest environments. Additionally, difficult manoeuvres and constant coupling and uncoupling places significant strain on both the driver and the equipment.
When a coupling operates in this type of harsh environment, robustness and reliability are the main priorities, especially since access to service workshops and spare parts can sometimes be far away. Additional safety measures should also be considered, this time for the benefit of people working around the truck, for example on a construction site. A simple extra like an external locking indicator, which is included in some couplings and can be fitted to others, shows whether the trailer is connected at a glance, so there’s no surprises.
Finally, in these tough environments, air-assisted opening should also be implemented if uneven driving surfaces make direct access to the coupling difficult or dangerous.
Finding the right trailer coupling for your application
This guide should give you a brief introduction into what category of coupling you should be looking at for the environments you work in. However, for specific guidance, use the performance value calculator to find out the performance values your coupling equipment needs to have to deal with the forces involved in your operation.
For more guidance around the additional safety features or optional extras that could make your trucking safer and more cost-effective, get in touch with us and an expert will help you find out more.
