Some shippers view air ride as the top suspension choice for handling, lateral control and roll stability, and it's often said to be gentler on freight. On the other hand, spring ride has comparable damping characteristics (the control of motion or oscillation) to air ride for full loads. With limited light or less-than-truckload shipments, the perceived benefits of air ride are minimal at best.

These tests prove that both air- and spring-ride suspensions are capable of providing the proper damping levels needed not only to get the trailer back to a normal state in the least amount of time but also to protect the freight during transport.

Spring ride is less prone to maintenance issues during the lifecycle of a trailer when compared with air ride. Less likely to need replacement, spring ride has been known to last the life of a trailer. Air-ride suspension, on the other hand, is more likely to need replacement over the same life span, depending on the environment in which the unit resides. It is also more prone to failure – subject to puncturing, leaks and collapsing. Should an air-ride suspension collapse while out on the road, freight movement stalls, losing precious time and money.

The conclusion: Air-ride suspension is not superior to spring ride. Not only are air-ride suspensions more expensive to purchase and maintain, which could translate to inflated expense to the shipper, but more importantly, they do not guarantee superior ride quality.

Air ride uses a variety of valves, air lines and air-spring bags in place of steel suspension. The flexible air-spring bags are made from a woven and rubber-like material. The air supplied to the air-ride suspension uses the same air compressor and air reservoir as a truck’s braking system. The supplied air pressurizes the air-spring bags, creating a spring-like motion that raises the chassis from the axle.