When faced with the task of hauling more than 1,000, 100-ton precast bridge segments on a steep downgrade to build twin bridges across the Susquehanna River, Edward Kraemer and Sons Inc. looked into Rogers Bros. Corp., Albion, Pa., to build two trailers that could stand up to the challenge for over a year of continuous service. The trailers also needed to be economical and able to be resold when the job was completed.
The size of each bridge piece, 57 ft long by 13 ft wide and 8.5 ft tall, was a major factor in the design of the trailer. Rogers’ engineers designed a five-axle, 100-ton capacity fixed gooseneck trailer with air-lift suspension on the fifth axle and spring-walking beam suspension on the first four axles. The trailer’s deck size is 35 ft by 10 ft with pullout outriggers to handle the extra width of the bridge segments. Mainbeams and side beams fabricated with 100k psi materials provide strength and durability.