Tail-Gate Is Not a Scandal

Since the break-in at the Watergate building in Washington D.C. in 1972, the suffix “gate” has taken on a scandalous tone. Yet, a gate is a tremendous asset in transportation. Gates keep others out of areas and keep trucks secure. Gates stop vehicles from proceeding until a toll is paid. Gates go up and down (and in and out) to allow freight to be moved from a truck bed or trailer to a business. What’s that got to do with innovation and technology, two topics I usually write about? Well, I was impressed with the simple, innovative design of the Redi-Gate by Reading.

I had an engineer that espoused that every part needed to do five things to help reduce cost and improve functionality. Reading has done that with a simple, hidden compartment in the pull-out gate. The compartment can house tools, at a favorable height. What if the same concept were used on lift-gates for semi-trailers? What if the same concept were used on the side of the trailer to house chains and brooms and such, rather than hanging them on the back of a tractor? We could move a trailer closer to the tractor for improved aerodynamics and better fuel economy. We could have something more than an aerodynamic fairing on the trailer. Maybe GATE as a suffix should be a positive and stand for Great Accessory Technology for Efficiency.