^SmartWay
Transport Partnership
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Tire Technology
Automatic Tire
Inflation
Company Profile
Headquarters Location
Tontitown, Arka n sa s
Contact:
Carl Tapp
VP, Maintenance
SmartWay Transport
Partnership Representative
(479) 361-5251
tappc@pamt.com
Number of Employees:
2,700
Strategy Category:
Tire Technology
Number of Trailers:
4,000
Number of Power Units:
1,800
Profile
TRANSPORT
P.A.M. Transport
PA \A Transport (P.A.M.) was established in 1980 and is a wholly-
• /~\ • IV I .owned subsidiary of P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. The
company operates 1,800 tractors and 4,000 trailers primarily in the 38
easternmost United States, the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and in Mexico.
P.A.M is an irregular route common and contract carrier specializing in
just-in-time service to the automotive, manufacturing, and retail industries.
For P.A.M. Transport, tires represent the number two non-payroll cost (behind
fuel) and the number one maintenance cost. In an effort to improve reliability
and performance, while also reducing costs associated with tire maintenance and
purchases, P.A.M. chose to evaluate the performance of automatic tire inflation
systems (ATIS). The company tested a number of units for one full year on
tractor-trailer combinations using four different trailer types, and the results
showed an average cost savings of 69.9 percent over tractor-trailer combinations
not equipped with ATIS. Based on these results, the company chose to include
ATIS in specifications for all new trailers. Currently, approximately 3,000 of the
company's trailers are equipped with ATIS.
The benefits experienced by P.A.M. as a result of moving to ATIS usage are
substantial and varied. Contributing to the average cost advantage of 69.9 %
with the use of ATIS were the following:
• Reduced maintenance cost - Proper inflation meant reduced wear and longer
tire life. The company also found that the reduced wear resulted in the ability
to produce more retreadable casings.
• Reduction in tire failures - P.A.M. found that roadside tire failures have been
substantially reduced, resulting in more on-time deliveries to customers and
reduced costs associated with service calls and tire replacement. If there is a
failure though, in many cases the ATIS can provide sufficient inflation to get
the vehicle to a shop for service,
rather than requiring a roadside
service call.
Other Benefits include -
• Improved fuel economy - Properly
inflated tires have reduced fuel
consumption.
• Increased trailer resale value-
Because ATIS have long useful lives,
P.A.M. believes that they will
increase the value of the trailer
when it is offered for resale.
http://www.epa.gov/smartway
EPA420-F-06-03I
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