A method detects and prevents stall of a drive motor of an autonomous electric tractor. A stall detector receives, at intervals, a motor current value from a drive circuit of the autonomous electric tractor, determines when the motor current value reaches or exceeds a first current threshold and applies brakes, inhibits a throttle controlling the drive motor, and sets a motor stall flag. A method determines a height above the ground of a landing gear of a trailer coupled with a tractor. A lift detector controls a hydraulic pump to pump a hydraulic fluid into a chamber of a piston coupled to a fifth wheel of the tractor to raise the fifth wheel. The lift detector senses, at intervals as the fifth wheel rises, a pressure value of the hydraulic fluid in the chamber and processes the pressure value to determine when the landing gear is lifted off the ground.

The disclosure is directed at an apparatus and method for shifting or moving trailers. In one aspect, the apparatus is a converter dolly with at least one set of powered wheels, which can be equipped with a remote control steering device. In another aspect, the apparatus is a remotely controlled terminal tractor configured to be coupled to a trailer. In some aspects, the remote control of the apparatus is directed by an autonomous algorithm resident remotely or on the apparatus itself. In another aspect, a frame of an apparatus for towing a trailer includes an articulated frame with a first frame counterpart pivotably connected to a second frame counterpart.

A portable trailer stabilizer, comprising: (i) a support surface engagement element configured to selectively engage a support surface; (ii) a trailer engagement element configured to selectively engage a forward end portion of a trailer; (iii) a hydraulic cylinder operatively connected between the support surface engagement element and the trailer engagement element, the hydraulic cylinder configured to extend the trailer engagement element relative to the support surface engagement element; (iv) an on-board, self-contained energy source comprising a hydraulic accumulator operatively coupled to the hydraulic cylinder; (v) an isolation valve fluidically interposing the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic accumulator; (vi) a positioning element engagement element configured to selectively couple with a trailer stabilizer positioning element of a tractor; and (vii) a valve operator mechanism configured to (a) open the isolation valve when the when the positioning element engagement element is coupled to the trailer stabilizer positioning element of the tractor, and (b) shut the isolation valve when the positioning element engagement element is uncoupled from the trailer stabilizer positioning element of the tractor, where the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic accumulator, and the isolation valve are operatively connected in a closed hydraulic system containing a hydraulic fluid.

The vehicle system can include: a set of vehicle couplings (e.g., a tractor interface, a trailer interface, etc.); a chassis, a battery pack, an electric powertrain, a sensor suite, and a controller. The modular vehicle system can optionally include landing gear, a suspension, and any other suitable set of components. The vehicle system functions to structurally support and/or tow a trailer – such as a Class 8 semi-trailer – and/or to augment/supplement a tractor propulsive capability (e.g., via a diesel/combustion engine) with a supplementary electric drive axle(s).

A method of supporting a trailer using a portable trailer stabilizer, the method comprising: (i) contacting a trailer engagement element of a portable trailer stabilizer with a forward end portion of a parked trailer using a tractor coupled to the portable trailer stabilizer; (ii) compressing a hydraulic cylinder containing pressurized hydraulic fluid and directing the pressurized hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic accumulator via an open isolation valve by pressing the trailer engagement element against the forward end portion of the parked trailer to compress the hydraulic cylinder to move the trailer engagement element from the fully extended configuration to a partially extended configuration by positioning the portable trailer stabilizer at least partially beneath and the forward end portion of the parked trailer using the tractor, the hydraulic cylinder operatively coupled to extend the trailer engagement element relative to a support surface engagement element, the isolation valve fluidically interposing the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic accumulator; (iii) extending the hydraulic cylinder while maintaining contact between the trailer engagement element and the forward end portion of the parked trailer by lowering the support surface engagement element to engage a support surface beneath the trailer; and (iv) shutting the isolation valve and securing the trailer engagement element against the forward end portion of the trailer by disengaging the tractor from the portable trailer stabilizer, shutting the isolation valve preventing compression of the hydraulic cylinder, where disengaging the tractor from the portable trailer stabilizer actuates a valve operator mechanism operatively coupled to the isolation valve, the valve operator mechanism being operative to open the isolation valve when the portable trailer stabilizer is coupled to the tractor and to shut the isolation valve when the portable trailer stabilizer is uncoupled from the tractor, and where the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic accumulator, and the isolation valve are operatively connected in a closed hydraulic system.

An unmanned and self-powered vehicle or Towable Autonomous Dray (TOAD) may follow a vehicle and tow a trailer, haul a load, and/or recharge a pilot vehicle. The TOAD may be semi-autonomous and may attach to a pilot vehicle by an electronic identification. Further, wireless charging of the pilot vehicle may be provided by the TOAD. Smart trailer brakes, electric trailer axles, and a mechanically coupled tow vehicle may be provided by the TOAD in combination with additional units. A smart trailer controller may include a smart head unit and a smart tail unit in a trailer that may offer trailer security and increased safety. A smart trailer brake controller on the pilot vehicle and a smart module on the trailer may be applied where no unmanned vehicle is employed, such as, in a classic pick-up/trailer combination.

There is described a mobile drive system comprising at least one mobile drive unit capable of automated or autonomous navigation, wherein the mobile drive unit comprises: a platform comprising U or V type shape, the platform comprising two legs and a bent or front interconnector interconnecting both legs at one end; a first wheelset comprising two wheels, each arranged at a corresponding distal end of the legs of the platform; and a second wheelset comprising two or only one wheel at the interconnector of the platform.

An intermodal transportation system is provided having interconnected railcars adapted for transporting interconnected freight trailers where the freight trailers remain connected while being transported on the railcars. Individual trailers are dropped off at a railyard by over-the-road tractors and are then transported onto the railcars using various means as makes sense due to weather, location, and other factors.

A terminal tractor includes a fifth wheel coupling which is rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the terminal tractor such that an opening in the fifth wheel coupling may be reoriented depending on the terminal tractor's direction of approach to a semi-trailer.

A terminal tractor includes four independently steerable wheels, each with their own dedicated drive motor and each with their own dedicated steering device. The terminal tractor includes a controller operable to provide input commands to the drive motors and to the steering devices to operate the terminal tractor. The terminal tractor also includes a fifth wheel coupling which includes a lifting mechanism capable of raising and lowering the fifth wheel coupling a in single vertical direction.