Tridec steering from JOST UK supports the DfT trial for longer articulated-trailers

The DfT test was commissioned to trial the environmental and safety impacts of allowing longer articulated-trailers on the UK roads. Over the course of the 10 year trial up to 1,800 trailers – 900 will be 14.6m and 900 will be 15.65m – split between 130 operators. It is estimated that the trial will save 3000 tonnes of carbon emissions and a total of £33m to the operators involved.

While there are clear potential benefits to those involved in the trial there are also the usual drawbacks associated with being at the forefront of innovation. Firstly, there is no guarantee that the trailers will be permitted on the road beyond the end of the trial period. Secondly, the trailers must operate within certain requirements – meaning that the operators must work with body builders to find solutions which make the trailers comply with legislation without negatively affecting the overall driving experience.

JOST UK, a manufacturer and supplier of components for commercial vehicles, believes that trials such as these are important for the haulage industry in the UK. If the trial is successful it will benefit a great number of UK operators who handle lighter good and don’t always reach the maximum weight allowance with their standard trailers. This could be a real boost to an industry where margins are being squeezed by ever increasing operating costs.

JOST UK is working with many of the operators and body builders involved in the trial to deliver steering systems which able trailers to meet the legislative requirements and still ensure a good driving experience.

To meet the requirements the trailer must turn within two concentric circles, the inner radius of which is 5.3m and the outer no more than 12.5m. To achieve this and maintain good axle weight distribution, steering systems such as the Tridec TD system have been effectively introduced on a large number of longer trailers.

The Tridec solution is a command (or positive) steer system which is linked directly to the fifth-wheel via a mechanical rod. Thanks to the solid linkage, the steering movements are transferred directly without any play and tram lines and other roughness in the road has no negative influence on the driving behaviour of the vehicle. Command steer provides greater control when on the road and increased control during reversing as, unlike self-steer systems, which are locked when in reverse, command steers remain active.

Tridec offers a safe, secure and cost effective, minimal maintenance solution for improving manoeuvrability, that once installed requires little maintenance over and above regular lubrication.