Smart Kingpin Benefits

Benefits of the ais Smart Kingpin

Featuring patented technology, which is already proven in other fixings, the ais Smart Kingpin is the world’s first kingpin that improves safety and reduces operational costs. It offers the following benefits:

1. Demonstrates social responsibility by mitigating haulage risk

Above all, using the ais Smart Kingpin eliminates the risk of unknowingly operating with a kingpin in an illegal and/or dangerous condition. In the worst-case scenario, kingpin deficiencies can lead to trailer detachment.

Despite the dangers, kingpin inspections at two national fleet operators identified 15% as unroadworthy/illegal (ais 2022).

“Research by Volvo shows 90% of all truck accidents stem entirely or partly from the human factor.”

2. Improves safety by reducing dependency on visual inspections

While it is a legal requirement for kingpins to be replaced as soon as wear limits are exceeded, or a crack occurs, it is widely recognised in the haulage industry that the monitoring of kingpins is neglected, often because it is time-consuming and non-revenue generating. 

The DVSA recommends kingpin inspections to be as often as every 4 weeks for arduous work or difficult conditions, and as infrequent as every 13 weeks for light conditions. Should an illegal/dangerous kingpin be detected at roadside, it could jeopardise the operator licence.

However, to be certain no excessive wear or cracks have occurred, the kingpin needs to be thoroughly cleaned and degreased, which is an onerous, time-consuming task. Crack spray also needs to be applied to reveal any defects, and wear measured with a gauge, before new grease is applied ready for use. Periodic kingpin inspections may therefore not only fail to take place, but fail to uncover serious defects. 

The Smart Kingpin reduces dependency on visual inspections with a self-checking internally-housed sensor to constantly monitor its own condition to detect and alert when wear thresholds are reached, or a crack occurs. Alerts are displayed on a simple to read, trailer-mounted light box and can be integrated with trailer tracking systems to provide remote status alerts.

“Department for Transport data shows 20% of trailers fail roadside checks.”

3. Improves fleet performance to reduce the cost of premature part replacement

By alerting as soon as wear thresholds are reached, the ais Smart Kingpin helps keep an entire fleet within operational specifications. While this is mandatory for operator licence compliance, it’s also integral to maximising the operational lifetime of the kingpin and fifth wheel jaw it feeds into.

Excessively worn kingpins can affect fifth wheel performance and cause excessive wear and damage to the jaw. When this happens, worn kingpins can cause damage to a fleet that spreads like a virus. 

This issue is particularly problematic in sectors where trailers are hooked up and disconnected several times a day. The worn kingpin damages each fifth wheel jaw it gets married to, and the consequently damaged jaw goes on to damage the next kingpin that feeds into it.

Wear rate will always increase with time, but a big wear variance will further accelerate speed of wear by 70-80%, causing new kingpins and fifth wheel jaws to require costly premature replacement.