A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer comprising a frame having mounted thereto at least a right side wheel and a left side wheel, the frame also including a hitch, a fifth wheel, and at least one of a repositionable wheel chock and a repositionable hook, the trailer stabilizing device further including a repositioning device in order to reposition at least one of the repositionable wheel chock and the repositionable hook. The present disclosure also includes a method of stabilizing a parked trailer at a loading dock, the method comprising: (a) positioning a wheeled trailer stabilizer underneath a parked freight trailer at a loading dock while landing gear of the parked freight trailer are deployed and a kingpin of the parked trailer is accessible; (b) securing the kingpin of the parked freight trailer to a fifth wheel of the wheeled trailer stabilizer; and, (c) deploying a repositionable hook operatively coupled to the frame of the wheeled trailer stabilizer so the repositionable hook couples to a cleat mounted to the ground, where deployment of the hook is operative to exert a pulling force on the kingpin.

A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer comprising a frame having mounted thereto at least a right side wheel and a left side wheel, the frame also including a hitch, a fifth wheel, and at least one of a repositionable wheel chock and a repositionable hook, the trailer stabilizing device further including a repositioning device in order to reposition at least one of the repositionable wheel chock and the repositionable hook. The present disclosure also includes a method of stabilizing a parked trailer at a loading dock, the method comprising: (a) positioning a wheeled trailer stabilizer underneath a parked freight trailer at a loading dock while landing gear of the parked freight trailer are deployed and a kingpin of the parked trailer is accessible; (b) securing the kingpin of the parked freight trailer to a fifth wheel of the wheeled trailer stabilizer; and, (c) deploying a repositionable hook operatively coupled to the frame of the wheeled trailer stabilizer so the repositionable hook couples to a cleat mounted to the ground, where deployment of the hook is operative to exert a pulling force on the kingpin.

The invention relates to a removable supporting cross-member (1) comprising: a built-in adjustable-height fifth wheel (18) for receiving the kingpin of semi-trailer, and front (26, 27) and rear (28) openings for the passage of the fork arms of a forklift truck or tractor. The invention can be used for moving a semi-trailer, positioning the semi-trailer horizontally on a carriage and securing same for transport, as well as for the corresponding operations during unloading, using only a forklift truck or tractor suitably dimensioned for the loads to be supplied. The invention is suitable for use by those involved in intermodal trail transport.

The disclosure is directed at an apparatus for an active converter dolly for use in a tractor-trailer configuration. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a system to connect a first trailer towed behind a towing vehicle to a second trailer. The apparatus further includes a kinetic energy recovery device for translating the mechanical motions or actions of the dolly into electricity or electrical energy so that this energy can be used to charge a battery or to power other functionality for either the dolly or the tractor-trailer. The active dolly may also operate to assist in shunting the tractor-trailer. The active dolly is operable in a number of modes to increase vehicle performance and efficiency.

A self-powered dolly vehicle unit with an adaptable wheelbase, the dolly vehicle unit comprising a front axle arranged to support a pair of steerable front wheels, a rear axle arranged to support a pair of rear wheels, a fifth wheel connection for towing a trailer vehicle, a draw-bar attachment mechanism arranged to hold a draw-bar, and a frame structure arranged to support the front axle and the rear axle at a variable wheelbase distance from each other, wherein the frame structure is arranged to be locked at a first wheelbase distance position and at a second wheelbase distance position.

A dolly adapted to be coupled to a semitrailer, where the dolly comprises a first steerable axle and a second axle provided with a drive unit, and where the dolly comprises a fifth wheel and a drawbar, where the dolly further comprises a cover having a front compartment in front of the first axle, where the front compartment comprises a first radiator, and where the cover comprises a first air opening adjacent the drawbar. In this way, a dolly with integral cooling is provided.

The disclosure is directed at an apparatus, method and computer readable medium for a self-powered towed vehicle in a road train or tractor-trailer vehicle configuration to detect and respond to forward jack-knifing risk conditions. The apparatus may detect jack-knifing risk conditions based on sensors and information including sensors to detect an angle of misalignment between the towed vehicle and the vehicle directly in front of it in the road train. The apparatus may respond to the presence of a jack-knifing risk condition by reducing or eliminating the motive rotational force applied to the wheels of the towed vehicle.

The present disclosure relates to a method for selecting and identifying a powered dolly vehicle for forming a vehicle combination with a primary vehicle and one or more trailers. The method includes receiving a request from a primary vehicle to select a powered dolly vehicle among a group of powered dolly vehicles based at least in part on a mission-characteristic for a vehicle combination; evaluating the operational characteristic of each one of the powered dolly vehicles based on the mission-characteristic; selecting a powered dolly vehicle among the group of powered dolly vehicles based at least in part on the evaluation; locating the selected powered dolly vehicle in the geographical area based at least in part on the identification information; and communicating the location of the selected powered dolly vehicle to the primary vehicle or operating the powered dolly vehicle to primary vehicle.

A rear trailer hostler can be used to move a parked trailer without otherwise disengaging pneumatic brakes thereof. For example, the rear trailer hostler can lift the wheels of the trailer off of the ground, thereby allowing a front hostler to move the trailer without a gladhands connection to the trailer pneumatic lines. Alternatively, the rear trailer hostler can move the trailer independently. For example, the trailer can be parked atop the rear trailer hostler and disconnected from the truck. With the rear trailer hostler supporting the locked wheels and the landing gear, the trailer can be moved without requiring the pneumatic brakes to be disengaged. The rear trailer hostler can also provide one or more safety or convenience features, such as a bridging platform or a safety door stop.

The disclosure is directed at an apparatus for an active converter dolly for use in a tractor-trailer configuration. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a system to connect a first trailer towed behind a towing vehicle to a second trailer. The apparatus further includes a kinetic energy recovery device for translating the mechanical motions or actions of the dolly into electricity or electrical energy so that this energy can be used to charge a battery or to power other functionality for either the dolly or the tractor-trailer. The active dolly may also operate to assist in shunting the tractor-trailer. The active dolly is operable in a number of modes to increase vehicle performance and efficiency.