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Shuttlewagon uses industry-standard direct type coupling that readily connect to most all American Association of Railroads (AAR) couplers. This means the Shuttlewagon connects to railcars like a handshake. The Shuttlewagon's direct non-binding, non-lifting coupler permits unrestricted, side-to-side movement and permits limited up and down movement along the coupler face. A dense urethane shock absorber absorbs the fore-to-aft compression forces and reduces shock loads through the coupling mechanism. Unlike Railcar Movers that must borrow weight by lifting railcars via the railcar's coupler, Shuttlewagons use their own weight along with the superior tractive power of rubber tires to move railcars. In the late 1940s, steel wheel Railcar Movers were developed. These early devices had steel wheels and employed "weight transfer" technology to move railcars. Weight from the attached railcar was mechanically transferred onto the Railcar Mover by lifting the railcar by its coupler in order to gain tractive power. The smaller device had off-track mobility and was considerably less expensive than a locomotive.
The Commander's new sliding coupler eliminates many of the problems inherent with the older pivot style couplers. They are easier for the operator to position, the increased range of movement of the coupler along the slide allows the Shuttlewagon to push or pull though tighter curves, the coupler's attachment to the Shuttlewagon is more evenly spread out instead of being attached only by the pivot pin making it stronger, and they are cushioned against coupling shock loads with dense urethane shock absorbers.
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