The two classic axes of material selection in trailer engineering are well known: strength and weight. As of 2026, the third axis is now permanent: sustainability. European regulations and corporate carbon targets are questioning the material's performance not only on the vehicle, but across its entire life cycle.
A Three-Axis Evaluation
- Strength: Yield strength, fatigue life and impact toughness; weighted according to the operating profile
- Weight: Every kilogram saved from tare weight returns as payload or fuel savings
- Sustainability: Production carbon intensity, recycling rate and ease of dismantling
The Impact of the Circular Economy
Field studies in the heavy vehicle sector have shown that returning vehicles to the economy a second time — through dismantling, remanufacturing and parts recovery — is both technically and commercially viable. This perspective feeds back into the design stage: bolted connections are preferred over bonding, single-material modules over mixed structures; because a vehicle that can be dismantled is a vehicle that retains its value. The material decision is no longer part of purchasing, but of life cycle strategy.
References
- Saidani, M., Yannou, B., Leroy, Y. & Cluzel, F. (2020). Dismantling, remanufacturing and recovering heavy vehicles in a circular economy. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 156, 104684. DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104684