TIRE SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
(The 11 Tools of Cost Control)

6. Truck and Trailer Alignments

Kal Tire performs computerized heavy-duty truck and trailer alignments. Industry figures indicate that over 70% of all trucks on the road have tandem axles that are misaligned. To keep the truck going straight, the turning force of the tandem must be offset by turning the front wheels in the opposite direction. This causes all ten wheels to scrub mile after mile.

It takes just 1/10" to have a big impact on your costs. For example, a tractor with a toe misalignment on the drive axle, of just .10" (or .06 degrees offset). If the mileage is 100,000 miles per year, the resulting effect is the equivalent of dragging the tires sideways for 100 miles. Aligning the steer axle isn't enough. One of the two most critical factors in front-end wear is drive axle misalignment. A misaligned drive axle affects all the wheels on the tractor. This impacts on tire wear, and fuel consumption multiplied by tractor after tractor and trailer after trailer.

In summary, a total 3-axle wheel alignment provides the following benefits:

• Reduced tire wear
• Reduced component wear
• Spot prematurely worn parts
• Improved handling
• Decrease fuel costs by minimizing rolling resistance

We have truck alignment facilities in Abbotsford, Port Kells, Prince George, Kamloops, Coquitlam, Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Grand Prairie, Regina and Fort St. John.