Have you ever had to fight the steering wheel while driving down the road, as the dry van or flatbed trailer behind you is tracking to the side? When this happens, you’ll know it’s time to align the trailer’s suspension components. Why is it so important to keep the trailer aligned? Here are several reasons why you should get your trailer realigned.
Safety
Pulling a semi-trailer down the road and drifting from side to side can cause an accident, as the trailer may travel over into another lane or frighten a driver beside you and cause an accident. It makes driving you harder because you’ll be fighting the trailer. Uneven tires can also blow out or hydroplane.
Tire Wear
Being out of alignment creates uneven pressure on the tires. This creates more tire resistance to the road. Therefore, your tires end up wearing unevenly. The tires ultimately become worn on one side. Tires must be replaced to avoid heat buildup, blowouts, and other poor performance issues.
More Difficult to Drive
Keeping a misaligned trailer can transfer wear to your truck’s tires, especially the steer tires. The driver must constantly adjust steering to keep the trailer in the lane behind the truck. This makes driving more tiring when you must keep adapting to compensate for the tracking of the trailer. The tires may become louder on the road due to unevenness, as well.
Fuel Costs
An improperly aligned dry van will increase your fuel bill. The tractor must work harder to keep the trailer driving in line, using more fuel. The cost of an alignment is minor compared to having to fuel up more often.
Alignments are a significant preventative maintenance step due to all the reasons above. Spending just a small amount for an alignment can save so much money in the long run by not having to buy additional tires and fuel. Plus, it makes your job much easier by creating a smoother ride.
Call or contact us today to schedule an appointment for a semi-trailer alignment using our state-of-the-art equipment.
