Xtra Lease, a provider of semi-trailer rentals and leases, announced that it has ordered about 9,400 new vans and reefers for 2012. Equipped with fuel-saving aerodynamic side skirts, the new models will replace many older model trailers that will be redesignated as local cartage or storage trailers, or sold.
Xtra Lease says it has invested heavily in new trailer orders since 2010, making late-model equipment accessible to trucking companies and shippers via rental and leasing programs. To keep its inventory updated, the company has ordered nearly 25,000 trailers over the past 2½ years. In addition, the trailer lessor is refurbishing about 1,000 flatbeds to restore them to like-new condition.
“In an economic era in which few companies have the capital resources to keep fleets updated with high-performance late-model equipment, Xtra Lease will continue to offer new trailers through rental and leasing opportunities,” says Bill Franz, president and chief executive officer. “Shippers haven’t reduced expectations for on-time deliveries. But completing them with an aging over-the-road fleet is risky. We plan on helping fleets reduce their risk by making high-performing equipment available to them. Not only will they reduce chances of mechanical failure and breakdowns, fleets can avoid higher maintenance costs inherent with older equipment.”
New vans and reefers are due to arrive in Xtra Lease branches from manufacturers’ plants beginning in February. Production will continue through August. The company says it will continue to install trailer-tracking units as a standard feature on vans targeted for the rental fleet. “There is no other service available on a trailer more powerful than trailer tracking to help fleets reduce costs,” Franz says. “We’re committed to providing a service that helps customers locate dormant trailers faster, enabling them to return underutilized trailers quickly and save significant rental costs.”
Fuel-saving aerodynamic side skirts and low-rolling-resistance tires now are standard features on Xtra Lease trailers. In addition, Xtra Lease’s new trailers can travel California’s highways without penalty, as they comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay and the state’s Greenhouse Gas regulations.
Xtra Lease also announced it will continue a program in 2012 to refurbish about 1,000 flatbeds. The company is targeting 1999-2001 model-year flatbed units in its fleet to extend the life of each trailer by about eight years. Each refurbished flatbed receives:
• Blasting and painting of all steel parts;
• New aluminum floors with wood nailing strips (which saves 400 pounds);
• New air and electrical, including lights;
• New wheels;
• New brake linings;
• Straightening of rub rails and repairing of all welds; and
• New shocks and airbags (on air-ride suspensions).
