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April 17, 2006 10:05 AM, EDT

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Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study found that static commercial vehicle alignment procedures and settings performed by truck original equipment manufacturers and fleets in the field may not be optimal under moving conditions.

FMCSA said proper tractor-trailer alignment can extend the life of tires, raise fuel economy and improve highway safety.

A poorly aligned vehicle, on the other hand, can reduce the driver’s control, which hampers vehicle stability and increases operating costs, the report said.

“The research we did on this issue found that tractor-trailer dynamic alignment could potentially improve vehicle handling, decrease vibration and make the vehicles easier to steer,” Debbie Freund, senior transportation specialist for FMCSA and project manager for the study, told Transport Topics.

For the full story, see the April 17 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.