An upper deck frame assembly for a trailer chassis includes a flushed floor section defining a first floor height, and a header section, with a header, forward of the flushed floor section and defining a second floor height above the first floor height. A towing assembly may be secured to the header. A reduced size header section increases usable floor space, and the towing assembly is securable to the header.

An adjustable capture plate for a fifth wheel hitch is disclosed. An example capture plate includes a skid plate couplable to a fifth wheel hitch, and a clamping system including, a base coupled to the skid plate, a pressure plate slidably coupled to the base, and a crank arm coupled to the pressure plate via a link, wherein rotation of the crank arm about an anchor pin of the base corresponds to linear travel of the pressure plate along the base, the pressure plate movable between a first position in which the pressure plate engages a pin box of a trailer and a second position in which the pressure plate is positioned away from the pin box.

A kingpin assembly includes a housing having a recess located therein, a kingpin having at least a portion located within the recess of the housing, wherein the kingpin is secured within the recess of the housing, and wherein the kingpin includes an axis extending along a length of the kingpin, and a sensor arrangement configured to sense a force exerted on the kingpin in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

A remotely-engaging handle for a fifth wheel hitch system is provided. The remotely-engaging handle may comprise a body and a latching assembly that may be securely attached to the body and capable of engaging with a fifth wheel hitch. The latching assembly may comprise a locking member and an actuating member. The actuation of the actuating member may position a portion of the locking member from an unlocked position to a locked position. The locking member may comprise a latching arm rotating about a pivot point and a biasing member operatively attached the body. The biasing member may bias the locking member into a transitory position. In one embodiment, the actuating member may further comprise an electrically-operated button or a software-based interface. In particular embodiment, the locking member may further actuated by a solenoid and the connecting member may further comprise a wireless device.

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 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 platform trailer includes a neck reinforcement structure located in the neck region to provide for a reduced height in the neck region of the trailer to increase the cargo-carrying capacity of the trailer. The height in the neck region of the trailer is less than 30% of the height in the rest of the trailer. A fifth wheel plate includes a main portion secured to both the first and second beams of the trailer. The fifth wheel plate includes a bifurcated tail portion including a first tail portion connected to the first beam and a second tail portion connected to the second beam. A kingpin is connected to the fifth wheel plate and is adapted to be engaged by an associated tractor fifth wheel.

An adapter arrangement, in particular fifth wheel adapter arrangement, for a semitrailer train, comprising a base body, a coupling arrangement, in particular a fifth wheel coupling plate, and a king pin, wherein the king pin is fixed indirectly and/or directly to the base body, wherein in particular the coupling arrangement is stationary relative to the king pin.

A trailer assembly with improved lateral support structure and steering system control of the axial wheels on a front elongated trailer and a rear elongated trailer to remain in a collinear following configuration to carry elongated loads extending over the extended lengths of the combination of the front elongated trailer and the rear elongated trailer and allow ready turning control.

The present invention relates to the fields of mechanical and electronic engineering, focusing on energy efficiency on freight transport systems. More specifically, the invention applies to Long Combination Vehicles (LCV), in which the semi-trailer is provided with an auxiliary traction system, such as electric traction with regenerative braking, for example. The invention provides means for controlling the actuation of the auxiliary traction, which provides safe use and enhances economic and environmental savings in freight transport. In one embodiment, the invention provides a system for managing the auxiliary traction on a road implement that provides improved, safer drivability of the set.