Need to haul grains, heavy equipment, or construction materials? There's a trailer that's right for the job. There are different types of commercial trailers available, and each one can offer unique benefits to certain projects or businesses. From hopper style for farmers, to flatbeds and lowboys for construction equipment, knowing the differences between the types of trailers is essential.
Flatbed trailers are just like the name suggests: a flat bed that's open and ideal for heavy-duty loads. This type of trailer often has combination decking and comes in lengths from 45 feet long to 53 feet long. In the trucking and transportation industry, flatbed trailers are popular due to their ability to haul a wide variety of cargo such as lumber, piping, hay, pallet freight, and more. Construction companies, farmers, even the oil & gas industry all use flatbed trailers for hauling heavy cargo for their projects.
A step deck trailer, also known as a drop deck trailer, has a bed that drops in height after the trailer clears the semi-truck or tractor. The front of a step deck trailer typically sits 59 inches high at the front, and 38-42 inches high on the lower deck, but can vary depending on the tires and suspension. The drop in height allows the trailer to sit lower to the ground than a regular flatbed, which opens up the opportunity for taller loads. The construction industry often uses step deck trailers for transporting heavy equipment or taller building materials.
A flatbed trailer sits high off the ground and a step deck sits closer, but a lowboy sits closest to the ground. When it comes to hauling heavy construction equipment and oversized loads, you need a lowboy trailer. There are two drops in deck height on lowboys: one behind the gooseneck and the other at the back wheels. The deck space between sits low to the ground and can handle the weight of bulldozers, excavators, and other oversized loads. That low deck height also means you can haul freight as tall as 12 feet, which would exceed height restrictions on other types of trailers. Lowboy trailers also make loading easy with their ability to be loaded from either the front, back or sides.
Farmers know and trust hopper trailers for transporting crops after harvest. The hopper trailer gets its name from the funnel-shaped hoppers at the base, which allow for easy unloading of grain, dirt, sand, fertilizer, and other materials. These trailers also feature a tarp across the top which is rolled out of the way during loading, then secured into place to protect the load during transport. Easily pull your hopper trailer across fields and farm roads with a semi-truck, or leave it stand alone during off load so your truck can move on to the next load.
Haul stone, debris, sand and more with an end dump trailer. The popular end dump style features hydraulics that lift the front end, causing the contents to slide down and fall from the back end. End dump trailers typically have strong, high sides that can handle larger loads. Construction, agriculture, and so many other industries use end dump trailers in their day to day operations.
Road and levee construction, excavation, and pit mining operations all rely on side dump trailers for their job sites. A side dump trailer operates just as the name suggests, by dumping materials to the left or right sides. Gravel, dirt, and sand are commonly hauled to and from job sites in side dump style trailers. These trailers have rounded bottoms so that the materials fall easily no matter which side you're tilting.
Trailers are an essential part of the transportation industry, and they can be an essential piece of equipment for your business. Ready to find a trailer that's right for your business? Check out our inventory of available trailers here or contact us and we will help you find the right trailer for the job.