The types of trailers in truckload shipping will make all the difference when you’re evaluating your freight options. If you don’t have much experience with truckload freight shipping, it may be challenging to arrange everything properly. While many shippers focus on freight rates, they often miss the importance of using the correct equipment, including the types of freight trailers.
How to choose a trailer?
There are different types of freight trailers in truckload shipping, each created to move different kinds of freight. Before booking a shipment, knowing the differences between types of freight trailers, their roles, and their specifics is crucial.
To pick the most suitable trailer type, it is critical to examine your cargo in detail and understand its size and dimensions. The weight limit also matters when choosing a trailer for transporting freight. Characteristics like items’ fragility or special chemical features will influence your trailer choice, too.
Gathering the necessary data is the key to finding the right type of freight trailer to condense and secure your cargo. Determining your product type will help the carrier company select the vehicle for you and meet your transit expectations. Ensure you can provide the required data before booking a trailer to avoid possible transportation risks caused by wrong trailer choices.
What are the types of freight trailers?
The versatility of truckload shipping strongly depends on the variety of trailers. Each of them is constructed to serve specific transportation modes. Knowing the characteristics of your freight, you can easily decide on the most appropriate freight trailer type.
Dry van trailer
Dry vans are the stars of the truckload freight shipping industry, as this is the most commonly used type of freight shipping equipment. This type of trailer in freight truckload shipping is more than likely the one you will use. They are called ‘dry’ because shippers move their dry freight, which means goods that don’t require temperature control. A dry van is an enclosed trailer fully protected from external influence. They work for everything except perishable and oversized freight.
The most frequently moved commodities:
- Clothing, fabrics, textile
- Electronics and machinery
- Consumer packaged goods (CPG)
- Non-perishable food and beverages
- Retail products
Dry van trailer dimensions:
- Length: 28, 32, 36, 40, 42, 43, 45, 48, 53 feet
- Widths: 96 – 102 inches
- Height: 12.5 – 13.5 feet
Refrigerated trailers
In a nutshell, refrigerated trailers, or reefers, are just refrigerators on wheels. On the outside, they look like dry van trailers but have built-in climate control systems inside to maintain a specific temperature during transit. It’s not hard to guess that reefers typically move perishable products and healthcare goods requiring a particular temperature regime. Modern reefers suggest automated regulation tools that remotely regulate the temperature throughout the shipment.
The most frequently moved commodities:
- Perishable food and beverages
- Flowers
- Pharmaceuticals
- Fine art products
Refrigerated trailer dimensions:
- Length: 28, 32, 36, 40, 48, 51, 53 feet
- Widths: 96 – 102 inches
- Height: 12.5 – 13.5 feet
Flatbed trailers
The category of flatbed trucks includes the whole range of trailers of different sizes and designs (step deck trailer, side kit trailer, Conestoga trailer, etc. ). Generally, a flatbed is an open trailer with sides but no roof and a specific deck to load freight.
Flatbeds won’t work if your cargo is sensitive to wind or rain because these trailers don’t protect like dry vans. However, flatbed shipping may be the only reasonable solution for oversized freight. These trailers handle cargo of irregular shapes and sizes and are in high demand among industrial shippers.
The most frequently moved commodities:
- Oversized machinery
- Industrial equipment
- Steel products, pipes, and rigs
- Aircraft, engines
Flatbed trailer dimensions:
- Length: 40, 42, 45, 48, 53 feet
- Widths: 102 inches
- Height: 58 – 62 inches
Now that you know all the main freight trailer types, you’re good to arrange a shipment and choose the right equipment for your freight. At GoShip, we offer to collaborate with many professional carriers ready to help you pick a suitable trailer.
Whether you require an LTL freight quote for smaller, less-than-truckload shipments, or a full truckload quote for larger, more substantial freight, GoShip provides reliable, efficient, and cost-effective options. With GoShip, obtaining an LTL quote or full truckload quote is a seamless process, making them a go-to partner for all your specialized freight shipping requirements.
Check out our truckload shipping services and book a shipment today!