Choose the type of trailer for the successful transportation of your goods.
A trailer is a container or flat bed on wheels pulled by a vehicle. It is used to transport large or heavy cargo. To move large amounts of equipment, materials, or really just anything in bulk, you are going to need a trailer. However, choosing the right type of trailer plays a crucial role in the successful transportation of your goods. Here, you will discover a wide variety of trailers from leading manufacturers and suppliers.
Not every trailer is perfect for every job. Whether you're moving furniture, food and beverage, sporting equipment, or more, investing in the right trailer will save you a lot of time and frustration in the future.
For example, purchasing a trailer that's too large for your current shipments won't be utilising the space efficiently and will cost you in gas over the long run. However, you don't want a semi trailer that's inadequate for the job–this means more frequent trips and late shipments.
With this in mind, read on for common trailer types in Zambia.
The most common trailer types used to move freight in the trucking industry are:
- Dry Van Trailers - When it comes to the shipment of pallet-based, boxed or loose commodities, dry van trailers are the go-to solution. Typically measuring in at 53 feet, the dry van trailer is the most common type of trailer on the roads today. Because of their boxlike shape and ability to back right into the bay of a loading dock, these trailers are the ideal equipment type for any shipper/receiver working from a loading dock.
- Standard flatbed trailers - In addition to the dry van, the standard flatbed trailer is an incredibly common type of trailer. Although they come in several different sizes (including 24, 40, 45, 48 and 53 feet) the 48-foot flatbed trailer is the most frequently used. Because it doesn’t have a container to house its contents (like a dry van), the standard flatbed trailer can be used to haul oversized freight as long as the necessary permits are acquired and the proper routes are followed.
- Refrigerated trailers (reefers) - Designed to move any freight requiring temperature control. Their temperature control and insulated walls make them the only type of trailer that is properly suited to haul perishable items. Products like fruit, pharmaceuticals and ice cream are commonly moved using these trailers.
- Drop-deck/step-deck trailers - These are commonly used as an alternative to the flatbed trailer when the height of a load is a factor. The simplicity of a flatbed coupled with their added height capacity makes the drop-deck trailer a commonly utilised method of transport.
- Double drop/lowboy trailers - These trailers are far closer to the ground than any other trailer type. Their proximity to the ground is thanks to two drops that occur behind the gooseneck and before the back wheels respectively. As such, double-drop trailers can carry tall pieces of machinery.
- Hot shot trailers - These trailers have become increasingly popular among carriers. The are are low-lying flatbed trailers that can be pulled with pickup trucks categorised from classes 3-6.
- Conestoga trailers - These are a specialised trailer type designed as an additional option for freight that requires in-transit protection from the elements. They are used in a number of industries — to transport freight of all types — industries with sensitive cargo, which could be damaged by tarping it, such as the aerospace and energy sectors utilise them most frequently.
- Curtainside trailers - Similar to Conestoga trailers in that they both feature built-in tarp systems, cutrainsides have a solid top, rear and front and hanging tarps on each side. As such, these trailers can only be loaded from the back or sides and not from above (unlike a Conestoga).
- Extendable drop-deck trailers - These are used to move exceptionally long freight. To do this, the middle portion of these trailers can be extended from its original length. This makes them perfect for hauling any freight that exceeds the legal length limits of traditionally sized trailers.
- Removable gooseneck trailers (RGN) - Coming in a variety of sizes, these trailers can be used in a lot of the same ways as traditional trailers. In an industry that houses a wide variety of options for shippers to choose from, RGNs are certainly worth consideration. As the name suggests, the gooseneck — used to secure the trailer to the tractor — at the front of these trailers can be removed. By doing so, the driver places the front of the trailer on the ground. This creates a ramp for loading and unloading equipment making RGN trailers the perfect tool for hauling large machinery from point A to B.
- RGN - These trailers can be used with two or three axles depending on how much capacity is needed. They provide ease of use for carriers hauling large industrial equipment. Simply drive your equipment onto the trailer before its departure, safely secure it and drive it off once you reach your destination. This removes the need to have cranes and forklifts on hand for the loading/unloading process.
- Extendable RGN - When well-space is an issue, the extendable RGN provides a solution. Similar to the expandable double drop trailer, the expandable RGN is built for extra-long freight. These specialty trailers provide ample capacity to haul large equipment, materials and oversized freight.
A car carrier trailer, also known as a car-carrying trailer, car hauler, or auto transport trailer, is a type of trailer or semi-trailer designed to efficiently transport passenger vehicles via truck.
The smallest enclosed trailer you'll find measures 8' X 16' — yet it is still more than large enough to haul a single vehicle with ease. The two most popular trailer sizes we sell are 8.5' X 20' and 8.5' X 24', both of which are ideal for hauling a single vehicle with room to spare.
A 16-foot trailer is an excellent compromise between accommodating most cars, and not being unwieldy to tow. Flatbed trailers are most commonly 16-20 feet long, and enclosed trailers are most apt to fall in the range of 20-24 feet. More important than length is the total load capacity.