Stoughton Breaks Industry Safety Record with 40 MPH Rear-Impact Test

Key Details Stoughton Trailers announced it has exceeded industry standards by successfully conducting a 40 mph rear-impact crash test through the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's 30% overlap protocol. This marks the first time an OEM in the trailer space has passed this challenging test at the elevated speed, surpassing the previous 35 mph industry standard. The test was conducted December 22 at an independent Calspan facility in Buffalo, New York. Why It Matters The 5 mph increase represents significantly greater force - kinetic energy at 40 mph is approximately 31% greater than at 35 mph. When a test vehicle struck the trailer's rear at an angle, the trailer's standard rear-impact guard prevented compartmental intrusion and allowed the car to bounce away rather than become entangled, potentially saving lives in real-world collisions. Standard Safety Feature Stoughton emphasized this enhanced protection comes standard on all dry, refrigerated, and 53-foot intermodal container chassis with no additional cost to customers. The company purposely selected the 30% overlap test as it's more challenging than straight-on and 50% overlap tests. Simulation modeling had already confirmed the rear-impact guard could pass all three tests at 40 mph, demonstrating Stoughton's commitment to leading industry safety advancements.