Weightlifter tackles downtime with Smart Trailer Package
Weightlifter Bodies has launched its new Smart Trailer Package, bringing together a range of integrated trailer technologies designed to help operators improve visibility of trailer performance, support maintenance planning and simplify day-to-day operation.
Officially unveiled at this year’s Road Transport Expo, the Smart Trailer Package combines a selection of technologies from leading commercial vehicle suppliers into a single specification, available across new Weightlifter Bodies trailer builds. The package is designed to help operators make more informed decisions through improved access to trailer data, while supporting safer and more efficient fleet operation.
Developed in collaboration with established commercial vehicle technology partners including Haldex, SAF-Holland, Axscend, VPG and Aspöck, Smart combines systems that operators may already recognise individually into one fully integrated trailer specification.
Michael Hill, managing director at Weightlifter Bodies, said: “In today’s economy, haulage companies are under increasing pressure to maximise vehicle availability while managing costs. Unexpected downtime doesn’t just mean a trailer is off the road, it can have a knock-on effect across an entire operation.
“At the same time, technology across the transport industry continues to develop at a rapid pace, giving operators access to more data than ever before. Yet trailers often remain one of the least connected assets within a fleet.”
He continued: “Smart was developed to bridge that gap. By bringing together proven technologies from trusted industry partners into one integrated package, we’re giving operators greater visibility of their trailer’s performance and helping them make more informed maintenance and operational decisions…
“The response we received at Road Transport Expo reinforced that this is the direction the industry is heading. Operators aren’t looking for technology for technology’s sake; they’re looking for practical solutions that help keep their fleets moving.”
During the development of the package, the Weightlifter team worked closely with supplier partners to understand not only how each individual system operates, but how they could work together to deliver practical benefits for operators. Visits to supplier development facilities, including SAF-Holland and Haldex at the MIRA Technology Park, gave the team first-hand insight into the testing and validation behind the braking technologies now integrated into Smart.
Central to the package is the Axscend TrailerMaster platform, which brings together information from multiple onboard systems into a single interface. Operators can access journey information, monitor trailer location, review braking performance and receive maintenance insights, providing greater visibility of how their trailers are performing throughout their working life, rather than relying solely on standalone systems and daily walkaround checks.
Other features included within the Smart Trailer Package are: Haldex Gen 4 EBS, including Colas; the Axscend Electronic Brake Performance Monitoring System (EBPMS); Axle Load Monitoring (Info Centre 2); VPG PM1155 loadcell system; VPG WiFi connect for the weighing system; VPG Body-mounted inclinometer; Aspöck Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS); auto-opening rear door; air-operated locking bar; and Brigade reverse camera. The Smart Trailer Package is now available across new Weightlifter trailer builds and can be specified across a wide range of trailer configurations.
