Fifth Wheels, King Pin, Landing Gear, Axle Lift, Twist Locks, BusLink

Automatic coupling via remote control with KKS: faster, safer, more efficient

The KKS enables drivers to couple and uncouple semi-trailers via remote control without leaving the driver’s cabin, automatically, safely and quickly. The driver is guided through the entire coupling process, with sensor technology providing live information on the KKS remote control throughout every step of the process. For example, the support plate sensor indicates that the trailer plate is touching and the position of the king pin is also monitored by sensors. Climbing out of the cabin to manually open the fifth wheel, cranking down the landing gear and manually connecting the spiral cable, air and brake connections are all a thing of the past for drivers. Time, comfort and safety gains are made possible with just one product.

The KKS also stands for the future of logistics and is a key component of autonomous driving.

In 2023, JOST introduced the next evolution of the KKS automatic coupling system: the KKS-U Connector. Fitted to the underside of the trailer, the KKS-U Connector is an alternative installation variant and enables fleet operators to equip trailers in existing stock easily with the KKS. It connects all the mechanical, electric, and air connections between the truck and trailer, eliminating the need for the standard vulnerable air, electrics and ABS/EBS spiral lines.

The newest development of KKS is the KKS-Cool: The KKS-Cool is for refrigerated trailers, which have another special body for temperature-controlled transport, and even more safety requirements.

Using the KKS automatic coupling system can cut the time required to change a trailer by up to 50 per-cent, as there is no need to manually crank the landing gear, connect the supply lines or open the fifth wheel coupling. The KKS significantly reduces the total costs for each circuit, with savings of up to 50 percent possible during the coupling and uncoupling process. It is particularly well suited for transport companies which perform coupling processes often and drive short distances, such as those in on-site transport, as the time saved here really pays off financially. Another application is the transport of goods where safety plays a key role, such as hazardous goods, as the sensor monitoring guarantees a high level of security against trailer losses and incorrect coupling. The KKS is also an ideal solution for transport between production sites and logistics facilities. Errors or damage caused during the coupling process are eliminated completely thanks to monitoring through the KKS remote control. For example, the Modul E-Drive landing gear is always fully retracted automatically. Moreover, the KKS reduces the probability of trailer losses due to erroneous operation, damage and occupational accidents to virtually zero.

Furthermore, the KKS makes all the physically demanding tasks of the coupling process a thing of the past, as well as ensuring that this process is no longer dependent on the weather or time of day and significantly reducing stress. A standard pneumatic cylinder opens the fifth wheel coupling effortlessly, even when the tractor-trailer is twisted. The automatic coupling process means that the driver does not have to climb in and out of the cab as often, nor climb onto the catwalk between truck and semi-trailer – two factors that significantly reduce the potential for injury. These benefits mean the KKS opens new possibilities for a more diverse driver pool; as such, JOST is providing an answer to demographic change and the lack of specialist workers.

The JOST King Pin Finder is a camera integrated in the fifth wheel coupling that supports the coupling process by sending optimum images to the dashboard in the driver’s cabin. Securely integrated into the fifth wheel coupling, the JOST King Pin Finder provides assistance by using guidelines during coupling, thereby enhancing both safety and convenience.

This latest assistance system allows the driver to find the ideal coupling height and to manoeuvre the truck perfectly. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for difficult coupling situations and frequent coupling processes. When using the reverse gear, the King Pin Finder activates automatically. The system assists by displaying a live camera image in the driver’s cabin when driving backwards, making the coupling process considerably easier. On top of this, the King Pin Finder’s intuitive handling assists drivers when changing trailers – thereby preventing accidents and damage to the fifth wheel coupling and king pin, as well as the truck and trailer. The JOST solution specifically addresses the driver shortage not only by safety enhancement, but it also reduces the departure control time.

ROCKINGER offers another innovation and smart solution for the coupling process. Here, a camera sits in a central and protected position above the towing hitch, functioning as an extra set of eyes and preventing misalignment of the drawbar eye. By providing both horizontal and vertical guidance, it enables precise coupling, which in turn raises efficiency and helps prevent accidents. The driver no longer needs to get out of the truck to check that the drawbar eye is aligned correctly. It is therefore a practical tool for coupling processes, which is a particular advantage when using central axle trailers.

Reducing emissions, protecting resources and maximising efficiency were the key aims when developing the lightest axle in its class. The optimised structure of the entire axle reduces the trio weight by 51 kg. In combination with the optional Weight Optimiser 27, the air bellows support with a lightweight aluminium tail end structure, further weight savings of 27 kg are possible in the trio. The highlight of DCA WEIGHTMASTER PLUS is its wheel head with optimised weight, wear properties and performance. This includes the new DCA X7 brake, the lightest brake in its segment. The aim during its development was to achieve ideal interplay between the brake disc and lining, thereby reducing emissions while maximising the payload and performance.

The PLUS series of DCA axles offers benefits for all trailer applications. That is why it is not limited to the WEIGHTMASTER series. The new features will also be available for DCA AIRMASTER, DCA STEER-MASTER, DCA PAVEMASTER, DCA MEGAMASTER and DCA RAILMASTER.

As a world-leading producer and supplier of safety-critical systems for the commercial vehicle industry, JOST is now transferring its know-how to the bus industry. The innovative JOST articulation pusher bus system BusLink optimises the driving stability of an articulated bus with rear-wheel drive and ensures particularly smooth movement. By transferring the thrust force to the front of the vehicle in a controlled manner, BusLink prevents the rear of the vehicle from lurching or breaking away. The articulated turntable controller (ATC) is a core element of the system. It controls two hydraulic proportional damper cylinders and prevents the vehicle from buckling and swerving uncontrollably under any imaginable road conditions. The special feature of the JOST articulated turntable controller is the individual parameterisation of the input and output variables according to the requirements of the bus manufacturer. The articulated front bearings, which cushion the pitching and rolling movements of the bus chassis, can also be individually adapted to the requirements of the driving dynamics. As a system supplier, JOST BusLink offers a customised product for every customer requirement for electric and hydrogen buses as well as for classically powered articulated buses.

In developing the articulated swivel joint, JOST drew on decades of experience in welded constructions in the commercial vehicle industry. The weight-optimised welded design of the articulation system significantly increases the payload of the bus. It also enables individual adaptation to every customer requirement. The articulation also includes the tried-and-tested JOST ball bearing turntable, with which the JOST success story began in 1952. The bellows is also a reliable and customised product. The design of BusLink ensures easy installation as well as maximum ease of maintenance and service. The associated repair solution is typically JOST with minimum effort, resulting in maximum customer benefit. Passengers also benefit as end users from more comfort and an increased sense of safety thanks to the “gap free” solution of the inner bellows.

More than just a standard landing gear - the JOST Modul landing gears.

JOST landing gears are extremely versatile and have proven themselves time and again in daily use. Their flexible, modular design makes it easy to adapt to all important customer requirements, from standard implementations to specialised applications. Several representatives from the JOST Modul family of landing gears are: OPTIMA (the weight-optimised landing gear for long-distance transport), Modul B as an E-Drive version (best-in-class landing gear with additional reinforcement and electric motor for universal application) and Modul CS (for liquid and bulk tippers, which require stabilising landing gears in the rear for support during unloading). For those who particularly value low weight, we offer the Modul CA (an especially light aluminium landing gear with new S foot), which impresses with a weight saving of 41 kg compared to Modul B, as well as the newest and lightest member of the landing gear family, the powerful aluminium drop leg FA027, with a total weight of just 37 kg per set.

As a developer and producer of axle and manufacturer-independent steering systems, TRIDEC offers not only mechanical, but also hydraulic and electronic steering systems for trailers. TRITRONIC is a wireless trailer management system for heavy-duty transporters and is a supplement to the hydraulic TRIDEC steering and suspension systems. It offers the possibility of operating several functions on the trailer, such as steering, automatic toe-in, ride height control and many more, by means of a single powerful remote control. In terms of functionality, ease of operation and safety, TRITRONIC offers a solution for heavy transport that is unique on the market.

With the e-axle, JOST offers a cost-efficient and modular system that can be used flexibly for battery-electric trucks as well as for vehicles with conventional combustion engines in a resource-saving manner. Thanks to its lightweight and compact design, the e-axle enables flexible use in a variety of applications: from light distribution transport and short-haul routes to long-haul operations with the requirement for a long range to heavy-duty transport for traction support during start-up maneuvers.

The e-axle can be modularly adapted to different application requirements and offers a cost-effective way to make transport fleets more sustainable. The emission-free drive ensures a reduction in CO2 emissions in conventional diesel vehicles and increases the range of the vehicle combination, regardless of the type of drive. In field testing, over 20% was achieved.

The modular low-voltage system of the JOST E-Axis with an operating voltage of 48 V and a basic output of 90 kW offers a safe and maintenance-friendly product. Regenerative braking put less strain on mechanical brakes, which reduces the need for servicing the brakes.

The system can be operated with conventional trailer tires.