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Product Safety Features for Multi-Temp Trailers.

Product safety features built into your trailer design will help maintain a safe environment.

Regulations and legislation require that you protect the load from temperature variations and bacteria contamination of all sorts.

Trailer Cleanout.

A strong drainage system and antimicrobial surfaces can help manage product safety.

We can build antimicrobial strategies into these trailers and the materials used, but typically it's the drains and the cleanout.

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Interior and exterior lighting and controls are critical elements in the design of your trailer. And it is difficult to retrofit, so you've got to get it right when designing the trailer upfront.

Interior Lighting.

There has been significant innovation and technological improvement in LED lighting recently to create a bright environment for your driver to work inside the trailer.

Automatic Timers and Passive Infrared Sensors.

In the old strategy, you would go around the nose box on the trailer's front, hit a button, and...

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How Thicker Insulation Can Affect Earning Potential

If you’re running a multi-temp trailer, chances are you don’t have a 53’ long 102" wide, 13.6” high trailer. Instead, you’ve got something shorter in length, height, and width.  

This means the wall thickness (insulation) becomes an even bigger issue for you because it reduces your inside width and potentially the number of pallets you can fit inside. The thicker the walls and the better insulation you have, the lower number of pallets you can put into the trailer, allowing you to haul...

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Proper placement of your heat evaporator is crucial for controlling airflow.

If you place the evaporator too close to a side wall, or rear door, or bulkhead, you won’t get proper airflow.

You must work with your trailer salesman and evaporator provider to work out a strategy that will get you the proper airflow.

Evaporator protection.

Think about how you will protect the evaporator when determining the layout.

• Tow motors going in and out of your trailer are going to hit those evaporators...

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Today, we'll discuss How to spec your semi-trailer for a heavy-haul application, and it is part of our series on How to Buy the Best Reefer Trailer. 

If you're considering spec'ing your trailer for heavy applications, then you're in the right place. We'll review:

• Examples of Heavy Haul Scenarios
  • Bulk loads, anything that loads against the side walls like watermelon or potatoes or even a backhaul load such as carpet.
  • Consistently loading a heavy tow motor inside the...

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Winning the Battle between Mother Nature and Your Multi-Temp Trailer

This is the reason you’re buying a multi-temp trailer. Controlling temperatures at different ranges in the same trailer can be more challenging than it might seem.

If you have experience with single-temp trailers, you understand the battle between mother nature and ambient temperature and your products's temperature.

Temperature Ranges and Control on Multi-Temp Trailers

The critical factor in the design of the trailer is the ability to maintain proper...

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In this series of articles, we'll discuss Trailer Body Features and Upgrades you'll want to consider when spec'ing your next reefer trailer.

Today we’re talking about Insulation, Light packages, and Stainless Steel options.

What Thickness Insulation Do I Need For My Reefer Trailer?

More insulation means greater ability to hold temperatures, and more insulation means thicker walls, which reduces interior space.

Common insulation thicknesses:

• 2” on the side
• 3”...

Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy Your Next Reefer Trailer.

If you’re looking for a new or used reefer trailer, this series How to Buy the Best Reefer Trailer is definitely for you. Our goal is to find you the best reefer trailer with the specs you need and within your budget.

We’ll take a deep dive into how you can buy the best reefer trailer spec’d with your particular requirements and needs in mind.

We’ll look at upgrades and options to consider for reducing your maintenance cost, reducing downtime, and maximizing efficiency and return on your investment.

Here are just a few of the topics we’ll cover:

• What options and specs should you consider for heavy-...

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Today we're discussing Options to Consider for Deep Frozen Applications and is part of your series on "How to Buy the Best Refrigerated Trailer."

If you're buying a reefer trailer to haul product at 0 to -20 degrees, and you have some questions about properly spec'ing it for deep-frozen, then you're at the place.

We're going to learn about:

• How to determine your clearance needs and insulation options
• How alternative deep-frozen...

5TH WHEEL REPAIR & REPLACEMENT

Inspection of a tractor trailer 5th wheel plate and kingpin is an absolute necessity for ensuring operational and road safety; however, this inspection is often neglected, overlooking rusted, corroded, or cracked parts that need repair or replacement.

85%-90% of 5th wheel plate failures are found during the DOT inspection.

In this video, Lead Service Technician, Larry Anders, walks us through our 5-point process and showcases what sets Utility Keystone Trailer Sales service team apart from the rest.

Utility Keystone's 5^th wheel plate repair and...

IT MAY BE TIME TO GET A YARD TRUCK...

If you’re moving 10 or more trailers around your facility per day, your drivers are feeling the pain, literally, and it’s probably time to think about buying a yard truck to help.

Yard trucks (also called terminal tractors, yard mules, yard spotters, yard dog trucks, yard goats, yard jockeys or switcher trucks) are semi-tractors that have one task: jockey trailers around in confined spaces and short distances throughout the yard. Designed with safety measures, they reduce driver injuries, cut worker’s comp claims and retain drivers by removing unnecessary hazards. If that’s not enough reason to consider a yard truck read on, there’s more....

YOUR FUEL ECONOMY SUCKS. HERE'S HOW TO FIX IT.

Want more money in your pocket? Let's take a look at your fuel economy. Whether you’re in charge of a large fleet or an independent owner/operator, attention to fuel efficiency could have a significant, long-term effect on your bottom line. There are multiple factors that affect fuel economy: driver experience, road conditions, load weight, and specifications just to name a few. Some things are out of your control, naturally, so don’t get all worked up. As for the things you can control, here’s a list of opportunities. Enjoy!

1.     Know Your Role!

First...

UTILITY KEYSTONE TRAILER SALES ADDS ONE; PROMOTES ONE

We are proud to announce the addition of Tom Dorwart to our sales team and the promotion of Mark Miller from Outside Parts Sales Representative to Director of Customer Sales.

Tom, a native to Manheim, has over 25 years of sales and management experience. Bill Zeamer, Vice President, had this to say about Tom:

“Tom brings a passion to take care of...

DISC v. DRUM BRAKES

With the recent change to the U.S. DOT stopping distance requirements, are drum brakes up to the task?  The short answer is yes.  However, are disc brakes the future?

Disc brakes carry a hefty $3000 price, or about $500 per wheel, ballpark.  This is why fleets often raise the question on why they should spend so much capital on disc brakes because drum brakes are still very useful and meet U.S. DOT requirements.

Disc brakes do offer additional margin in terms of safety and stopping distance.  This is good for hilly roads or when carrying heavy loads.  They also are very good for powerful start and stop cycles.   Maintenance costs are lower over the lifetime of...

THE BEST SELLING REEFER IN THE INDUSTRY

What makes the Utility Reefer Trailer the bestselling reefer trailer in the industry?  Pretty much everything.  Did you know every trailer is real-world tested on Utility’s custom test track?  The stronger & lightweight design, superior thermal performance built into the roof, walls, and floors, and the best rear door system on the market (Utility Barrier Doors) all help make the Utility 3000R better than the rest.

The most important piece that makes the 3000R superior, is the Foam-In-Place insulation process.  This...

SAVE TIME, MONEY & EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR TIRES

Looking to get the best performance from your trailer? Do you want to save money on general maintenance, especially on tires? Automatic tire inflation systems keep your tires correctly inflated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of the weather or delivery schedules.

Automatic tire inflation systems use compressed air from the trailer to inflate any tire that falls below its appropriate pressure. Air from the existing trailer air supply is routed to a control box, then into each axle.

The benefits of having a tire inflation systems far outweigh the challenges without one. It will save you time, less time & money on...