News roundup, Jan. 8: Medical clinic network in expansion mode; new Fontaine three-axle stepdeck trailer

Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, January 8:

UrgentCareTravel medical clinics adding locations to truck-stop network
The UrgentCareTravel network of clinics for medical care, with 13 current locations around the nation situated mostly at Pilot Flying J locations and all locations with truck parking, is soon to add three new facilities for expanded coverage. The three facilities will be located at Pilot Flying J locations in Hubbard, Ohio; Spiceland, Ind. (near Indianapolis); and Lebanon, Tenn. (near Nashville)In the longer-range planning are clinics also in Des Moines, Iowa; Pontoon Beach, Ill. (near St. Louis); and S. Beloit, Ill. (near Chicago).

Access more information about the UrgentCareTravel network via this link to the company website showing this the interactive map of its current locations.Access more information about the UrgentCareTravel network via this link to the company website showing this the interactive map of its current locations.

The clinics offer fee-for-service access to anyone needing a DOT physical or any of a bevy of service options. But there’s also membership benefits in the UCT Truckers Health Team program, says Fleet Sales Director Troy Lillicrap. At a rate of $100 monthly fleets can enroll drivers for no-deductible, no-copay service at any location.

The range of services includes professional-driver specific options like medical certifications (DOT physicals), drug and alcohol screening services and more. Also: chronic care management (for conditions like diabetes, hypertension and obesity), primary care-type services from health screenings to illness visits and checkups, pharmacy services, in-clinic lab services, pain management, injury treatment and more.

Long range, Lillicrap adds, a total of 44 locations could ultimately com online in the next five years. “One of the top reasons for drivers leaving a company is health,” he says. Lillicrap pitches drivers and the company splitting costs for membership as an effective way to help professional truckers stay in good health and access quality care on the road.

Fontaine intros new three-axle dropdeck trailer
Fontaine introduced this week its new three-axle all-aluminum Revolution dropdeck trailer that features air lift center and rear axles.

Fontaine’s new three-axle aluminum Revolution stepdeck trailer.Fontaine’s new three-axle aluminum Revolution stepdeck trailer.

Ken Webb, vice president of dealer sales with Fontaine, says when you lift the rear axle, you get a front tandem configuration that is 40 feet from the kingpin to the rear axle, making it legal in California.

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Additionally, when you lift the center axle, you get a 10-feet, 2-inches spread axle configuration to handle the maximum legal load capacity of the trailer. With all three axles dropped, Webb says, the trailer offers more capacity to haul heavier permitted loads.

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