Electric terminal tractor gets smart suspension

Lonestar Specialty Vehicles’ electric terminal tractors will now come with purpose-designed ROI Cabmate Smart Cab Suspensions from Link Mfg.

The suspension actually responds to conditions in real time, continuously adjusting the stiffness of shock absorbers to improve ride stability and comfort. It also features an electronic height control that minimizes air use because it doesn’t fill or exhaust air in response to dynamic suspension motion.

An accelerometer monitors the cab motion, while a position sensor measures the cab’s position and velocity relative to the frame.

Terminal tractors face a wide variety of terrain, while their drivers deal with multiple drop and hook cycles per day, Lonestar officials note. The related forces could lead to injuries over time if left unchecked.