Keep on truckin'

Like much of the glass industry, the market for glass trucks has remained slow during the last several years. "We see the glass truck market continuing at the current lower levels with slight variations," says John Weise, owner and president of F. Barkow Inc.

"Almost every industry—especially glass and glass trucks—will begin to improve when the housing market is stabilized."

Yet, slow market conditions have not stopped glass truck companies from developing new products and updating current systems. Michael Frett, sales representative, MyGlassTruck.com, says glass truck companies need to respond to several new trends in the industry. "Independent glaziers are purchasing racks for a wider range of vehicles—from compacts like the Ford Transit through full-sized Sprinter vans—and demand for pick-up truck racks has increased," he says. "Commercial glass clients are also requesting more curtain-sided and closed-body trucks due to the upcoming winter season."

Read about new introductions from several glass truck companies below.

Super Single rear tires

F. Barkow Inc. introduced Super Single rear tires for glass trucks. The tires allow 9-foot to 16-foot bodies to continue to be viable on traditional American chassis cabs, and do not reduce the payload capacity of the truck, according to company officials. The stronger, more durable tires replace dual rear tires and allow the space necessary to accommodate full-length glass racks on both sides. For model year 2011, General Motors widened the track of the 3500HD, commonly used for glazing bodies. As a result, bodies that traditionally fit on the vehicle no longer do so and stay within the FMVSS restriction of 102-inch overall width. In response, F. Barkow introduced a super single rear tire that is narrower than duals.
800/558-5580 | www.barkow.com 

Curtain-side truck

MyGlassTruck.com developed a new curtain-side glass truck to protect glass from weather and highway debris, allow access for loading from both sides and provide access to interior racks through a rear door. To maximize capacity, four floor-to-ceiling aluminum glass racks run the length of the body. Rubber padding extends the length of all the posts and slats, and glass may be secured with E-track or poles. The durable, weather-proof curtain glides open and closed from one or either end of the body. Custom designs are available for most brands of trucks and trailers.
800/254-3643 | www.MyGlassTruck.com 

Nissan NV high roof van rack

Schodorf Truck Body designed a single- or double-sided glass rack with a standard ladder rack system specifically for the new Nissan NV High Roof Van. Featuring heavy duty, extruded aluminum construction, it’s a fuel-efficient, maintenance-free, long-lasting rack, according to company officials. The new ladder rack system is made of a powder-coated, rust-inhibiting, galvaneal metal, customized for the van’s roof. Inside racks, shelving and safety bulkheads are available. Schodorf can provide the complete, turnkey Nissan High Roof Vans outfitted with rack systems, it reports.
800/288-0992 | www.schodorftruck.com

Rack-mounted inclinometers

Unruh Fab offers rack-mounted inclinometers as standard equipment on all of its pickup and van glass racks. The inclinometer provides an easy-to-read visual reference if the vehicle is parked at an unsafe angle for loading or unloading. When truck lean exceeds 3 degrees, the driver should be alert to the fact that the glass might be in danger of falling, company officials explain. The company also offers an easy-to-install kit containing two inclinometers, labels and mounting instructions for racks already in service.
888/772-8400 | www.unruhfab.com