Loading and unloading work equipment can be a major headache, especially when the load is heavy. When trailers tip downward forcing a load to travel uphill, you can bet on a difficult and dangerous loading. But thankfully, Air-tow Trailers revolutionized the loading process, and the company’s CEO, Arnie Behr, is here to tell us about it.
In 1995, we witnessed a terrible accident that involved a scissor lift being loaded onto a trailer using ramps. The ramps slipped out of position and the scissor lift tumbled, causing a severe injury. This is a scenario that is all too common in our industry. We felt there must be a better way of loading a trailer. This led to the idea of making a drop-down trailer that could be loaded at ground-level and remain level at all times. This design was patented in 1996, and we have manufactured the drop-down trailer ever since.
MWS: HOW DID AIR-TOW TRAILERS GET ITS START?
BEHR:
In 1995, we witnessed a terrible accident that involved a scissor lift being loaded onto a trailer using ramps. The ramps slipped out of position and the scissor lift tumbled, causing a severe injury. This is a scenario that is all too common in our industry. We felt there must be a better way of loading a trailer. This led to the idea of making a drop-down trailer that could be loaded at ground-level and remain level at all times. This design was patented in 1996, and we have manufactured the drop-down trailer ever since.
MWS: WHAT SETS AIR-TOW TRAILERS APART FROM TRADITIONAL TRAILERS?
BEHR:
The Air-tow trailer was, and still remains, a revolutionary trailer because the trailer deck lowers flat to the ground and remains completely level throughout the whole process. It is then raised hydraulically in less than 30 seconds. The Air-tow is also available with an air suspension system that isn’t available on any other trailer. Air suspension is self-adjusting to ensure the load is level at all times, and it provides a much smoother ride than traditional suspension systems.
MWS: WHAT’S THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING AN AIR-TOW TRAILER VS A TRADITIONAL TRAILER?
BEHR:
The traditional trailer may use ramps or have a bed that tilts. When trying to load equipment on one of these trailers, you are actually driving up an incline. In wet and icy conditions it may be impossible, not to mention dangerous, to load the equipment on such a trailer. Then the equipment must be locked or blocked in some manner so that it will remain in position while leveling the trailer for travel. The Air-tow trailer eliminates this process and keeps the operator safe while simultaneously making the loading and unloading process quicker.
MWS: DOES AIR-TOW TRAILERS OFFER INCENTIVES FOR FLEETS?
BEHR:
Air-tow Trailers offers quantity discounts for companies to outfit their entire fleet of work trucks.
MWS: WHAT’S NEXT FOR AIR-TOW TRAILERS?
BEHR:
Air-tow is constantly coming out with new models to provide solutions for problems that arise in the trailer industry. In the past few years, we have introduced the 3D (Drop-Deck & Dump) trailer that uses our ground-loading technology and has full dump capabilities. Then we released the DH-10 (Dock Height) trailer that will lower to the ground and raise to full dock height. This allows for ground-level loading at any height up to 60 inches. Our most recent addition, the Rental 14, is an adaptation of our traditional flatbed trailer designed specifically to combat the problems faced by the rental industry. Air-tow will continue to introduce new models every year.
MWS: ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
BEHR:
Air-tow designed and patented the drop-deck trailer more than 20 years ago. We are the only company that operates exclusively manufacturing drop-deck trailers. All of our products use ground-loading technology.
Air-tow Trailers has two locations (California and Ohio) and has dealers across the US and Canada.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Arnie Behr helped design and found Air-tow Trailers. He has been CEO since the company was established in 2003. Find out more, visit www.airtow.com.
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS: APRIL 2019 ISSUE
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