A lot of freight passes through the Australian road network in one year, and this may grow sharply during the decade ahead. Operators are always looking for the most efficient way to move this freight, which is why road trains have become so popular. If you have been moving freight regionally in recent times but want to expand nationwide, what type of equipment do you need to focus on so that you can create road trains of your own?
Towing Extra
If you're thinking about operating an interstate freight company, you need to focus on logistics. You need to ensure that you can move as much freight in one operation as possible, capitalise on your equipment costs, and ensure that your labour expenditure is kept in check. Consequently, you need to see how much freight you can put onto more than one trailer and will need to connect as many trailers to each other as you possibly can.
Higher Mass Limits
When you do so, you can probably take advantage of the higher mass limits allowed, as regulated by the Department Of Transport. However, these limits are only for road trains, and these need to drive along designated routes between each state. Just bear in mind that the regulations are very specific and designed to ensure safety for all road users. They are also designed to keep wear and tear in check and ensure that the road surfaces do not deteriorate more than necessary under such heavy loads.
Working with Dollies
Special connecting units known as "dollies" are essential to enable a road train to work properly. These dolly trailers are the only way to link the load-bearing trailers together, and they are very sophisticated pieces of equipment in their own right.
While dolly trailers may be unpowered, they are nevertheless made from very high tensile steel to put up with the weight and steering forces. They may feature two or three axles with a hinged drawbar and turntable so you can attach them to the towing rig as needed. They feature their own braking systems as well.
Getting the Best Equipment
If you want to break into the road train industry, ensure that you get the highest quality dolly trailers available. These could allow you to connect up to three trailers to your towing vehicle and capitalise on your opportunity.
Reach out to a local trailer dealer to learn more about dolly trailers.