Sustainability & Trailer Flooring

By Micah Sutfin, 01/03/25

Sustainability & Trailer Flooring

Introduction

When the semi-trailer was pioneered in the early 20th century, trailer manufacturing evolved into a comprehensive system, distinct and autonomous from the truck industry. It occupies an indispensable position within North America’s transport and delivery network(s). The primary categories of commercial trailers include dry vans, reefer vans, flatbeds, dumps, liquid tanks, heavy low-beds, and specialized types with dry vans realizing about 65% of the annual total production.

In North America, the trailer flooring industry is entering a dynamic period. Originating with basic lumber and steel floors, the industry has grown to include a diverse array of materials such as laminated wood, aluminum, fiberglass-reinforced wood and plastics. These varied flooring types are all present in the marketplace, each competing for dominance. With climate trends indicating that carbon emissions should be dramatically lowered, many flooring manufacturers are beginning to make false claims of sustainability. So, what is the most sustainable trailer flooring product? There are many factors to consider when answering this question. We’ll start with carbon dioxide emissions.

CO2 Emissions

Many trailer flooring manufacturers claim that their products are environmentally friendly because they don’t utilize trees and therefore forests are preserved. However, using “green” products like plastic and steel will not sufficiently offset carbon emissions. There are many ways carbon emissions can be measured. The most common method of measurement is the life cycle analysis (LCA) which is recognized by ISO (International Organization for Standardization).

Carbon emissions by material

LCA has been defined by the EPA as a way to “evaluate the environmental effects associated with any given industrial activity from the initial gathering of raw materials from the earth until the point at which all residuals are returned to the earth” or “cradle-to-grave.” In doing so, the EPA has established relative carbon emissions for common materials used in various industries showing that steel, cement and ceramics make up over half of the carbon emissions while wood boasts a mere 1%.

CO2 Sequestration & Storage

Compared to other plants, trees are ideal for carbon sequestration because of their relatively large size. Trees will take carbon from the atmosphere and use it to form their cell walls and generate food. This poses the obvious question: If trees sequester carbon, then why should we cut them down at all? The answer can be found in a well-managed forest.

The practice of forest management is well established and can help enhance carbon sequestration by strategically increasing the amount of tree growth within a stand of trees. Foresters and silviculturists actively manage forests to ensure that their stands reach maximum yield without sacrificing future growth. In turn, this provides trees that sequester carbon and eventually logs which will be formed into carbon-storing products like LTF.

Summary

Trailer flooring made from wood is an environmentally conscious choice. Wood is the most sustainable material for trailers compared with steel, aluminum, and synthetic plastics. It is both renewable and recyclable. Species like eucalyptus, rubber wood and apitong are strong, durable species that are extensively used for trailer flooring. They sequester carbon that reduces global warming.

Furthermore, selection of wood trailer flooring effectively reduces fossil fuel emissions by substituting for non-wood flooring materials that utilize more fossil fuels in their manufacturing process. Byproducts from wood manufacturing can be reused and recycled.

Additionally, they can be used as a renewable energy source at the end of their service life to substitute for fossil fuels. According to the USDA, oven-dry wood contains about 50 percent carbon by weight on average. That means a wood trailer that weighs 7,000 pounds will store about 3,500 pounds of CO2! To tackle global warming, consider using tropical wood trailer flooring for a greener choice!

Trailer-decking-road

By Micah Sutfin, 01/03/25

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