Saskatchewan Wheat Pool has contracted with four of Western Canada’s leading transportation authorities to build grain handling trailers equipped with central tire inflation technology.
The pool, and its affiliate AgPro Grain, believe the trailers will improve the transportation services they now offer to producers. The equipment should also translate into lower costs for producers and the pool in the long term, said Trenton Baisley, general manager of commodity logistics for Sask Pool, in a news release.
Manufacturing is expected to start immediately at Lode King’s plant in Winkler, Man. Five trailers should be completed each month, beginning in May.
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A total of 20 nine-axle trailers will be built worth about $1.5 million. The trailers will have a payload capacity of 56 tonnes. That compares favorably with the conventional Super B trailer, which can carry 45 tonnes on primary highways and 35 tonnes on secondary roads.
Each trailer will feature what is known as central tire inflation technology. That allows the operator to control tire pressure to reduce stress on roads and improve traction.
The equipment should also curb the problem of washboarding, which is associated with other types of heavy tractor/trailer units.
CTI technology will be provided by TPC International of Edmonton.
