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Apr 1, 2008 12:00 PM

A desire to improve brake performance prompted a campaign to retrofit the entire KAG fleet with BrakeSentry visual brake stroke indicators. “Providing our drivers and technicians with a quick and reliable means to visually check critical brake stroke measurements adds value and efficiency to the maintenance and pre-trip safety inspections of our vehicles,” Molder says. “It is consistent with our commitment to safety.”

Tank trailers

On the trailer side, KAG runs LBT and Polar petroleum tanks and LBT asphalt units. New stainless steel chemical trailers come from Brenner Tank LLC.

The aluminum DOT407 petroleum trailers have four compartments and a 9200-gallon capacity. Every effort is made to ensure that the components specified on those tanks can perform reliably with blended fuels that contain ethanol and biodiesel.

Some concerns have been raised about the effect of ethanol, in particular, on aluminum materials. “I've heard about problems but haven't seen any firm documentation of the effects of ethanol on aluminum,” Molder says. “Ethanol hauling has gone on for a number of years already. It's only the volume that has changed. During the time I've been in this business, I've heard some rumblings about ethanol pitting the aluminum trailer or components. However, I haven't seen any proof or heard of any failures as a result of that. We transport many blends of ethanol up to 100%, and we've had no problems with any aluminum-constructed equipment.”

It's a different story with other components, though. Ethanol has a tendency to dry out gaskets, seals, and other materials that are in constant contact with it.

“Ethanol has affected some of our seals (gaskets and O-rings) when we didn't specify a material such as Viton or Teflon, which are fairly resistant to the fuel,” Molder says. “We've also had problems with sight glasses that dried out, clouded up, and developed cracks with the potential of leaking. We solved the sight glass problem by specifying Civacon valves and API adapters with sight bubbles. We've been using them for three years, and they are performing well.”

All of the petroleum trailers are specified with Civacon's System 3 fully integrated product handling system that includes vapor recovery, manhole assembly, overfill protection, and air-operated valves. Tanks also have Betts internal valves, vents, and manhole covers.

KAG has standardized on aluminum hose trays and four-inch Goodyear and Kanaflex product hoses with OPW fittings. A custom-designed fitting box has individual compartments for the Civacon elbows.

As part of the overall vehicle stability effort, KAG specifies wider rear frame rails and a wide-track Intraax air suspension system that pushed overall trailer width out to 102 inches. New trailers also come with the Haldex roll stability system.