Fleet managers keep the rubber on the road and freight moving on-time and cost-effectively.
Adding a curtainside to your available options helps overcome these four challenges fleet managers face daily:
Idle Trailers And Waiting Shipments
Something’s wrong with this picture. Usually, it’s a mismatch between the requirements of the freight and the capabilities of the trailer. When large or odd-shaped freight require a flatbed, but your available trailers are enclosed vans, that load-carrying capacity is doing you no good at that moment. A Roland curtainside product that converts from an enclosed van configuration to a flatbed with three-side access accommodates whatever load is available whenever, making optimal use of available assets the new normal.
Missed Opportunities
Shippers increasingly appreciate added value from freight companies, including the option to add a back-haul shipment to your load when you’re delivering. If the trailers you dispatch are enclosed vans that can’t accommodate additional freight when other deliveries are still pending, you’re probably declining that opportunity on a regular basis. Your competition may not be, however. A curtainside allows three-side accessibility to everything on the trailer, fully integrating back-haul freight into the existing load and enhancing your company profile and profits.
Driver Retention
Driver turnover is an issue in the industry that’s not going away. In fact, it’s getting worse: Today’s fleet manager often has to actively compete with other freight companies for the most qualified drivers. The arduous, time-consuming and often hazardous procedure of tarping loads—often multiple times per day—is increasingly viewed as a throwback to a bygone era by many of these professionals. Drivers are now constantly exposed to the adaptability of curtainside trailers utilized by other companies that eliminate the necessity for tarping loads.Keep drivers happy and reduce hiring and training costs.
Limited Cash Flow
Budget is always in the forefront of fleet manager’s concerns. While the advantages of a curtainside are obvious, the cash flow to acquire a new unit, custom-built from the wheels up to your specs, may not be immediately available. Delaying gratification isn’t required, however: any available flatbed in your fleet is a platform that's ripe for conversion at a much lower investment than an all-new trailer. Conversion kits include the rigid roof structure, side curtains and a double door and can be installed by Roland—or your own mechanics—in only a few days.
Need more reasons? Read about even more benefits of adding curtains.
