With so many different trailers on the road nowadays, it can be tough to determine what each is for and which is ideal for your cargo. If you’ve never considered purchasing a trailer, you might wonder what all the fuss is about.
What Is a Freight Trailer?
Let’s start with the fundamentals of freight types of trailers. A trailer is an accessory for vehicles that haul or transport bulky goods. Cars are very limited in terms of their capacity to store and haul bulky, heavy, and oftentimes a large number of goods. As a result, installing a trailer to the back of a vehicle that is equipped for this service provides greater room and stability when driving long distances with heavy goods.
Trailers vary in terms of type, size, and load capacity, and this is because they individually serve various objectives and needs. While you must secure your goods before driving anywhere, certain trailers provide additional security, such as those with walls or enclosures.
Trailers can be helpful for a variety of reasons. While many businesses rely on this additional help for transporting certain freight and things, you may need to lease or own a unit for personal reasons. When carrying heavy-duty items long distances, a trailer efficiently provides piece of mind.
This is critical for some courier services, for example, an expediting sprinter van. If you may benefit from more room and load-bearing, you should consider using a trailer. Here are some of the many types of freight trailers available and how they can help transport your goods.
Types of Freight Trailers
Dry Van Trailer
The dry van trailer, which is typically 53 feet long, is the most prevalent type of trailer on the road today. Dry van trailers are used by some of the world’s top businesses to move their inventory. Dry van trailers carry goods such as apparel, non-perishable food products, home goods, etc., and are widely used to move inventory.
These trailers are great for any shipper/receiver working from a loading dock due to their boxlike design and ability to back straight into the bay of a loading dock. Dry van trailers are a flexible and cost-effective investment for any firm wishing to increase its fleet.
Refrigerated Trailers
Refrigerated trailers were created to transport any cargo that required temperature control. Because of the insulated walls, they are the only form of trailer suitable for transporting perishable commodities. These trailers are widely used to transport products such as fruit, medications, ice cream, etc.
Refrigerated trailers have the same maximum weight capacity as dry vans. A reefer’s maximum height is between 8 feet and 8 feet, 2 inches, and its maximum width is 8 feet, 2 inches.
Lowboy/Double Drop Trailers
The double drop trailer is the closest to the ground of any trailer type. Their closeness to the ground is due to two drops, one behind the gooseneck and one before the back wheels. As a result, a double-drop trucking company in Texas can transport large machines.
Double drop trailers can handle huge hauls with weight limits ranging from 40,000 to 80,000 pounds. Because of the structure of these trailers, the load capacity is restricted to the wall space, which is usually 29 feet long. Because of their improved height capacity, they are ideal for any organization moving huge equipment.
Conestoga Trailers
Conestoga trailers are a customized trailer type designed to provide additional weather protection for freight in transportation. Conestoga trailers are typically 53 feet long and an excellent alternative to many open-deck trailers since they are available in step-deck, double-drop, and flatbed configurations.
While Conestogas are used in various industries to transport various sorts of freight, companies with delicate cargo that might be damaged by tarps, such as cargo from the aerospace and energy sectors, employ them the most frequently.
Extendable Drop-Deck Trailers
These trailers are used to transport heavy loads that can’t be stacked on top of one another as the extendable nature of these trailers allows for more room in terms of length. To do this, the trailer’s central section may be expanded from its initial length of 38 feet to a maximum length of 65 feet.
These trailers are commonly used to transport huge machinery and raw materials and may be handy for loads that can’t be stacked.
Standard Flatbed Trailers
The average flatbed trailer is a very typical trailer type. While they come in various sizes, the 48-foot flatbed trailer is the most commonly utilized. These flatbed trucking trailers are known for their versatility and are popular since they are frequently relatively inexpensive. Even without high walls, you may still link down your goods and lock your trailer to your vehicle for safe travel.
Because it lacks a container to store its contents, a typical flatbed trailer can transport big freight as long as the correct permissions are obtained and the proper routes are followed. Freight must be adequately secured on standard flatbed trailers and all others utilizing chains, straps, and different tarping options.
Drop-Deck/Step-Deck Trailers
When cargo height is an issue, drop-deck or step-deck trailers are a popular alternative to flatbed trailers. The drop-deck trailer is a popular mode of transportation due to its simplicity and increased height capacity.
Drop deck trailers, which consist of an upper deck and a close-to-the-ground rear component, may handle loads up to 10 feet, 2 inches in height, before being classified as over-dimensional. Drop deck trailers are substantially shorter than flatbed trailers, measuring about 3 feet, 6 inches at their lowest point. These trailers’ upper and lower decks are 10 feet and 43 feet long in the 53-foot variant, respectively.
Step deck trailers are popular among carriers worldwide due to their versatility and capacity to transport more oversized cargo. These trailers frequently transport agricultural and construction products and all types of machinery under 10ft.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the different types of freight trailers available is essential for anyone involved in the transportation and logistics industry. Each type of trailer has its own unique features and advantages, making it suitable for specific types of cargo and transportation needs. By selecting the right trailer for a particular load, companies can ensure that their freight is transported safely and efficiently while minimizing the risk of damage or delay. Whether you need to transport dry goods, refrigerated items, oversized or heavy loads, there’s a trailer out there that can meet your requirements. It’s important to work with experienced professionals who can help you select the appropriate trailer for your specific needs and provide guidance on best practices in loading and securing cargo. With the right equipment and expertise, transporting goods by road can be an effective and reliable way to move products across short or long distances.
