CURTAINSIDE TRAILER BLOG

What Kind of Cargo Can You Haul in a Curtainsider?

[fa icon="calendar"] Nov 24, 2015 9:00:00 AM / by Pete Johnson

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Curtainside trailers are getting quite a bit of traction here in the U. S. market as more owner/operators and trucking company fleet managers become aware of the many significant benefits these types of rigs have to offer. Curtainsiders are built for maximizing productivity, saving companies both time and money. And as more private fleets and for-hire fleets discover the facts, more are making the move to go with the curtainside concept.

With curtainsides, you get the flexibility of a flatbed when it comes to easy and quick loading and unloading from the sides and back of the trailer, yet you're also able to protect your cargo as you would in a van or box trailer. Man hours are also saved, as delays for dock access are gone because of the capability of loading and off-loading anywhere and at any time.

 

What Can You Carry?

We've often been asked, what type of cargo can be hauled in a curtainsider? The short answer is that you can haul just about anything. While used extensively for transporting such cargoes as lumber, machinery, pipe, steel and iron (items commonly carried on flatbed trailers) the enclosed environment provided by the curtainsides also makes it possible to haul fruits, vegetables and other foodstuffs, which is commonly done on the west coast. Protection from wind damage (which can cause dehydration) and from rain damage makes the use of a curtainsider appropriate for most goods.

As with flatbeds, the load you're hauling on your curtainside trailer can be safely secured to the trailer deck. The curtains themselves are then closed and secured. This will prevent the load from shifting while it's being driven down the road.

A big advantage of using curtainsiders will become immediately evident if you have a customer that requires rear dock loading at one facility but needs side unloading at another. The only efficient way to handle this type of situation is to use a curtainside trailer.

 

One Additional Advantage

Mobile billboards are becoming an increasingly popular method for companies to advertise their brand names, products, and services. You see it all the time in cities where buses and taxicabs are utilized not just for transportation but for advertising as well.

The large, flat, wide-open space provided by curtainside trailers makes mobile advertising on these surfaces a no-brainer. Some of the graphic images being used in this way are truly amazing. Some even look like bold works of art. A truck hauling produce, for example, accompanied by a big, bright, colorful photo of fruits and vegetables and smiling people enjoying these foods can make a powerful statement to those seeing it go by on the highway. A picture is still worth a thousand words and a well-conceived graphic representation placed on a curtainside trailer can convey a potent message regarding your company and its products.

 

The list of items currently being hauled in curtainside trailers is exhaustive and, perhaps, too long to list completely. The following is a small sampling:

 

    • Building Materials – Doors, windows, lumber, laminates, moldings, siding, insulation, roofing, bricks, tile, and other construction items
    • Industrial – Automotive components, automobiles, aircraft and aerospace components, defense equipment, munitions, artillery, ventilation equipment and chemicals
    • General Cargoes – Agricultural equipment, foodstuffs, feed, seeds, airfreight, paper products, nursery items and more

 

If you are interested in outfitting your trailer or fleet, or have more questions about curtainsiders, drop us a line here; we're standing by to meet your unique needs:

Request Info!

 

Topics: Benefits of Curtainside Trailers

Pete Johnson

Written by Pete Johnson

Vice President, General Manager & Co-founder of Roland Curtains Inc. Pete was the first US employee for Roland International opening the US manufacturing business while creating sales in North, Central, and South America.

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