Personal gritter attachment stops trucks sliding in the snow

Autoline, a Norwegian company, produce chassis-mounted sand spreaders designed to enhance safety for large vehicles on icy roads.

From Superinnovators 18/09/24

White Autoline sand spreader box dispensing gravel in front of driving wheel. All image credits Autoline

The sand/gravel spreaders, mounted in front of the drive wheels on trucks and buses, are controlled by the driver from a switch in the cabin.

In operation, the spreaders distribute heated sand over slippery road surfaces to improve traction primarily for the driver’s vehicle but other road users can also benefit.

The spreaders have been developed since 1994 in close collaboration with the truck industry and are now used on thousands of vehicles, including buses and forklifts deployed in wintery locations.

They come in various sizes and are proven to reduce the need for chains, lessening road and tyre wear, according to the company.

Each unit consists of two stainless steel boxes, a mounting kit, an electric control unit, original vehicle switches, cables, and a user manual.

These spreaders can dispense 4-8 mm crushed gravel over 700-1000 metres, with spreading times between 2-3 minutes.

Autoline say their products reduce stress for drivers in challenging conditions and help prevent accidents on steep inclines.

Recently, Autoline spreaders have been integrated into Solaris Urbino 15 LE electric buses to further improve safety.

Pricing for a complete mounting kit starts at €3,900 (approximately $4,150) and includes two sand spreading boxes, mounting brackets, electronic control unit, switch and wires.