The Fleet Business Authority
Issue link: http://heavydutytrucking.epubxp.com/i/307131
downgrades them to switcher tractors, getting an average of two retreads per trailer tire and one per yard tractor. • All new and recapped tires are SmartWay-certified, low-profile 22.5 duals. They tried wide-base singles but are now moving away from them. • All tire work is subcontracted and no work is done on the property. • There are automatic tire inflation systems on 28,000 single-axle 28-foot trailers and dollies. • Tire pressure: 85 psi because the trailers run very light loads. Major challenges: Getting consis- tent fleet inspections with tire condi- tions and pressure checks. FedEx Ground is currently looking for ways to improve the accuracy and frequen- cy of tire inspections with data-driven solutions through onboard pressure monitoring and telematics. Crete Carrier Corp. Lincoln, Neb. Kirk Altrichter, vice president of maintenance (and TMC general chairman • Fleet: 12,500 tandem trailers and 5,000 power units with 150,000 wheel positions across three company divisions van, flat and refrigerated. • Crete retreads an average of 2.5 times per tire up to 6 years of casing age. • All new and retreaded tires are SmartWay-certified; 295/75R-22.5 is the predominant size. • Tire pressure: 110 psi on steer tires, 100 psi on drive tires and 95 psi on trailer tires. • Crete has a mounted inventory program and actively conducts scrap tire analysis. Major challenges: Having enough time to evaluate tires between the time they are introduced and when they are withdrawn from the market. Tire inspections are difficult because the equipment isn't in often enough. Crete lacks the ability to track casings from cradle to grave. They lose a lot of casings in over-the-road repairs so they lose twice – no casing value and loss of failure analysis. South Shore Carriers Sandusky, Ohio Kevin Tomlinson, director of maintenance • Fleet: 200 power units, 450 trailers, mostly flatdecks. Local/regional carrier with 240-mile average length-of-haul mostly loaded one way, return empty. • South Shore retreads casings up to 7 years old. Steer tires are retreaded the 64 HDT • MAY 2014 www.truckinginfo.com Uptake of fuel-efficient, low-rolling-resistance tires: Steer position ............................. 94% Drive position ............................. 88% Trailer position ........................... 81% Wide-base single tires: 8 of the 21 fleets reported using at a drive position, 11 on trailers Frequency of tire pressure checks: Daily ............................................. 4% Weekly ......................................... 33% Monthly ........................................ 19% Only at PM interval .................... 29% Uptake on tire maintenance technology: Automatic tire inflation system on trailer ..........................62% Tire pressure monitoring 50/50-tractor and trailer...............29% Average tire mileage to take-off by position: Steer position..........................117,000 Drive position..........................236,000 Trailer position........................123,000 Average frequency of tire-related roadside service calls: Average across the 21-fleet sample was 93 service calls per month. Average monthly mileage for the 21 fleets was 6.9 million, for an average of one service call every 74,000 miles, or about 1.5 service calls per year per tractor. The average for trailers is higher than that. Fleets doing scrap tire pile analysis: 88% Fleets using an add-on after- market tire sealant: 14% (2 fleets reported using sealants on drive tires; 1 fleet used sealant on trailer tires) Fleets actively benchmarking against competition: 25% Tires&Wheels; S th Sh C i TMC tire survey quick facts TMC sent the survey to 435 fleets and received 21 responses. Of those, 50% were linehaul operations, 41% regional and 29% reported some pickup and delivery. The average number of trailers in the responding fleets was 2,093, indicating some large fleets responded. Here's a quick look at some of the results. t i r e s & w h e e l s _ m a y . i n d d 6 4 4 / 2 9 / 1 4 5 : 0 9 P M 4/29/14 5:09 PM