Freighter innovation on show

Safety will be firmly in focus at the Freighter stand at this year's Brisbane Truck Show, due to be staged at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre over May 14-17.

Specifically, the event will mark the official show debut of the company's innovative AutoHold product, a clever automatic opening and closing system for the company's curtainsider trailers that saves time and effectively eliminates the safety issues associated with traditional curtainsiders.

Launched in June 2014 (click here for the full review of the AutoHold product), the system dispenses with buckles and uses the trailer's pneumatic system to open the close the curtain. Freighter says this saves an average of 15 minutes per stop, boosting productivity while lightening the load for the driver.

Freighter General Manager, Mario Colosimo, said the AutoHold system delivers multiple safety benefits.

"As a result of one-touch unfastening on the front of the trailer, drivers can be clear of the curtains when they are released, removing the chance of loads which have shifted during travel falling on them," he said.

"The removal of the need to manually fasten and unfasten buckles when loading and unloading also greatly reduces the chance of repetitive strain injury.

"As half of the name suggests, the AutoHold curtains are also fitted with Freighter's proven LoadHold load restraint curtains, which eliminate the need for conventional gates with many load types because the load restraint system is built into the curtains.

"By not having to manually handle gates, drivers significantly reduce their Work Health and Safety risk."

Freighter's AutoHold has been certified to meet the NTC Load Restraint Guidelines for a unitised load of at least 1250kg per pallet space on a straight-deck trailer. Higher restraint levels can be specified, if required.

The AutoHold trailer on show in Brisbane will also feature Freighter's 'Auto Mezz Decks', first released in 2013, that allows operators to raise or lower deck heights at the push of a button, eliminating the need for a forklift.

One of Freighter's favourite models, a Drop Deck Semi with ramps, will also be on display.

To see all these Freighter products for yourself, and to speak with the company's expert staff, visit Stand 30 in the main exhibition hall at the show.