Fleet managers are always on the lookout for alternatives to increase the versatility of their fleet. Load requirements aren't static, so having the equipment to haul whatever freight presents itself at any given time is critical to a profitable operation. Unfortunately, a standard flatbed or an enclosed van trailer limit your options. That's why curtainside trailers have become game-changers in the freight business in the United States today, just as they were in Europe, previously.
Of course, an all-new unit, purpose-built from the wheels up to your custom specs by Roland—leading the way in the curtainside revolution since 1997—is the definitive solution. However, budget limitations and cash flow may stand in the way of that right now. That doesn't mean you have to postpone the advantages and flexibility of a curtainside, though. An existing flatbed in your fleet can provide the platform for a Roland curtainside conversion kit. Almost any make or model can be upgraded with all structural components and parts provided in a single kit. Roland’s facilities or an authorized service provider are ready to make the upgrade and your trailer will be back on the road in just three days. If you prefer to handle it yourself, a few competent mechanics can usually get the curtainside conversions job done. Once it's finished, the entire unit looks like a fully-integrated, new trailer.
More importantly, it's a unit with the enclosure and protection of a van, vital for certain freight, but also the three-side open access for rapid loading and unloading, like a flatbed. Partial shipments can be accessed separate from the rest of the load. New revenue opportunities are multiplied as the curtainside configuration adjusts and accommodates a wide variety of load configurations. Best of all, the lost time of tarping—and the safety hazards that accompany it—are a thing of the past for many loads.
Fleet managers will also see these benefits of a Roland curtainside conversion in the bottom line:
- Depending on your individual circumstance, the addition of a Roland curtainside conversion may allow the depreciation of your existing flatbed to be re-calculated and the net worth of your fleet increased.
- If your flatbed is at least six months old and the cost of the conversion is below 75 percent of the sticker price of an all-new curtainside trailer, the modification is exempt from federal excise tax.
- The maintenance record of the trailer is documented. You're pulling a flatbed with a verified history of all service and repairs and no surprises when it comes to durability or other issues.
- Your drivers are already familiar with the characteristics unique to that particular flatbed, including weight distribution, load restraints and other features. There is no lost labor time training or adapting to a new vehicle.
- A Roland curtainside conversion only adds about 2,200 pounds to the flatbed’s empty weight. This modest increase enables maximization of payload and, additionally, permits you to exploit other profit opportunities you may have been missing such as backhauls.
- Three-side access for loading and unloading permits pickups and deliveries at locations that lack conventional back-in loading docks—such as construction sites and elsewhere—widening the market you can serve and increasing profit potential.
Want to learn more about or request more info on what trailer conversions Roland can help you with? Then please feel free to make your request here and someone will be back with you shortly.
