Not too heavy – and not too empty: this is how transport companies now optimise trailer utilisation

• New running gear generation iC Plus with axle load display
• Axle load information on the driver's smartphone, directly on-site
• Real-time analysis of vehicle and fleet utilisation indicates potential

Wiehl, 24.10.2023 --- Empty runs and under-utilised trailers are considered the number one efficiency killer in the transport industry. However, overloaded trailers can result in lengthy inspections, fines or even accidents. BPW offers a remedy with the intelligent axle load display of the new iC Plus running gear generation: it shows the axle load and vehicle load directly on the driver's mobile phone and the fleet manager's and dispatcher's PC.

The more air and empty space a trailer transports, the more money it loses. This is something that every haulage company, dispatcher, driver and fleet manager has always known – but how well or badly the vehicle is actually loaded and how the fleet is utilised is something that no one has really known until now. This is why a new generation of intelligent trailer running gear from BPW promises an enormous leap in efficiency: the new iC Plus running gear analyses axle loads and transmits them in real time to the cargofleet 3 telematics portal of the European market leader idem telematics. The driver uses a smartphone app to see how much weight is on each axle, whether the vehicle is properly balanced and therefore safely loaded, and how much load capacity is still available. The dispatcher can also immediately see how much the trailer can still carry on the Web portal. With the click of a mouse, the portal displays real-time data and long-term statistics on the utilisation of each individual trailer as well as the entire fleet. This indicates potential that supports entrepreneurial decisions.

The standard axle load detection system is certainly a benefit for load and driving safety: a driver who can see on their smartphone whether their vehicle is overloaded does not need to fear roadside checks and fines. If an inspector can also be convinced by looking at the display, this can save a trip to the weighbridge and thus valuable time. Even with lift axles, the running gear thinks for itself and can accurately transmit axle loads and capacity utilisation in any condition.

The axle load display is relevant for a wide range of vehicles, from standard curtainside vehicles to tankers / silo trucks and tippers. This is why it is now standard on all BPW iC Plus generation trailer running gear. And here's the highlight: BPW has made the new running gear more intelligent, but not more sensitive: no additional mechanical or electronic components have been installed for the new functions.

BPW Product Manager Katharina Kermelk: "With iC Plus, we have succeeded in generating a whole range of relevant information based on regular, tried-and-tested running gear components – from axle load display to brake pad wear and performance analysis to digital maintenance management. To do this, we first equipped research vehicles with sensors which we were able to reliably replace with intelligent algorithms and computational models. This means increased efficiency with the same level of robustness, without the risk of failure or the need for additional maintenance."