Frequently Asked Questions
Click on a question below.
Will the TARS™ fifth wheel work with my semi truck?
Yes. The Axicle TARS™ fifth wheel works on every single semi truck. It's equivalent to replacing your current fifth wheel top plate with a new one. Our product also fits current Fontaine and SAF Holland rails.
Does the Axicle TARS™ fifth wheel save me/make me money?
Yes. The Axicle TARS™ fifth wheel has the same business model as an airbag. If there are reduced deaths and severe injuries, there are fewer insurance payouts which reduce the cost and coverage of insurance.
Axicle works with large insurance carriers to offer custom insurance discounts and credits that immediately save you money the second you install the Axicle fifth wheel. Estimates are $2,000-$3,000 per year savings. Contact us for more details!
Why can't currently offered safety systems or autonomous driver assistance prevent rollovers?
Although some currently offered products can reduce rollover risk due to speeding, these products will never be able to prevent rollovers from the other most common causes of rollovers: wind, crashes, driver inattentiveness, or faulty autonomous software. This is due to physics, where the trailer center of gravity height always initiates a rollover.
Can't drivers just reduce speeds on the highway to prevent rollovers from wind?
No. Rollovers that are caused by wind are generally independent of vehicle forward speed, so speed reductions are unlikely to reduce the rollover tendency. Deadheading trailers are especially dangerous.
Can driver assistance software prevent rollovers?
In most cases,no. Current and all foreseeable driver assistance and autonomous software is unable to predict wind gusts and stop the wind from blowing. Current products in development from numerous other companies fail to recognize the root cause of rollovers. Usually, by the time the driver or ESP react to a rollover, it's far too late and unrecoverable.
Will the TARS™ fifth wheel let go of the trailer too soon?
No. Axicle's proprietary and patent-pending controls software predict whether a rollover is unrecoverable based on instantaneous roll rate and roll angle measurements from an inertial measurement unit.
Should this safety mechanism be attached to the trailer instead?
While technically it could be attached to the trailer, there are there are 3-4 times more trailers in circulation in the U.S. than tractors. This makes it much more economical and overall lower cost to the customer.
Is the Axicle TARS™ fifth wheel heavier than normal fifth wheels?
The Axicle TARS™ fifth wheel weighs roughly 320lbs. This is a negligible difference as compared to normal fifth wheels.