New Feature: Complete Truck Types & Trailer Guide

What's New

We're excited to announce the launch of our Truck Types & Trailer Guide - a comprehensive resource covering 21 different truck and trailer types used in freight transportation. Whether you're shipping general cargo, temperature-sensitive goods, or heavy equipment, this guide helps you understand which vehicle type best suits your needs.

Each truck type page includes detailed specifications, key features, common use cases, and related vehicle types to help you make informed decisions about your freight transportation needs.

Why This Matters

Choosing the right truck or trailer type is crucial for successful freight transportation. The wrong choice can lead to:

• Cargo damage from inadequate protection or handling
• Increased costs from using oversized or specialized equipment unnecessarily
• Delivery delays when equipment doesn't match cargo requirements
• Compliance issues with temperature-controlled or hazardous goods
• Loading inefficiencies when trailer design doesn't match cargo type

Our truck types guide provides the knowledge you need to match your cargo with the optimal vehicle type, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective transportation.

Truck Categories

We've organized the 21 truck types into 5 logical categories:

General Freight (6 types)

Versatile trailers for standard cargo that doesn't require special handling:

• Tilt Truck - Lightweight construction with flexible loading options
• Tautliner - Sliding roofs and curtains for all-round loading flexibility
• Conestoga - Accordion-style opening for accelerated loading
• Mega-trailer - Large curtainsider with 100m³ capacity
• Jumbo - Greater load volume with 3-meter loading height
• Container Truck - For transporting 20-45 foot containers

Temperature Controlled (4 types)

Specialized vehicles for temperature-sensitive cargo:

• Refrigerator Truck - For temperature-sensitive cargo over long distances
• Isotherm Truck - Maintains stable thermal conditions
• Refrigerator Van - Smaller reefer for shorter distances
• Isotherm Van - Larger van for temperature range preservation

Flatbed & Platform (3 types)

Open trailers for cargo that doesn't require weather protection:

• Drop-side Platform - Flatbed with removable sides
• Open Platform - No sides for large commercial cargo
• Flatbed Truck - Completely flat bed for heavy, non-delicate cargo

Specialized (6 types)

Purpose-built vehicles for specific cargo types:

• Tank Truck - For liquid bulk cargo
• Grain Carrier - Bulk transportation of grain crops
• Dump Truck - Self-unloading for bulk or granular cargo
• Logging & Pipes Truck - For long timber and rolled pipes
• Coil Trailer - Designed for steel coils
• Cattle Truck - Specialized for livestock transport

Heavy Haul (2 types)

Equipment for oversized and heavy cargo:

• Huckepack Trailer - Intermodal solution for rail and road transport
• Lowboy - Low deck profile for heavy equipment

Key Features

Each truck type page in our guide includes:

Key Specifications

Essential technical details including:

• Payload capacity (in metric tons)
• Pallet capacity
• Typical dimensions
• Special features

Detailed Overview

Comprehensive description of each truck type, explaining its design, construction, and primary purposes in the freight industry.

Features and Benefits

Key advantages and capabilities that make each truck type suitable for specific cargo types and shipping scenarios.

Related Truck Types

Links to similar or complementary vehicles to help you explore alternatives that might better suit your needs.

Popular Truck Types

Tautliner (Curtainsider)

One of the most versatile general freight trailers, the tautliner features sliding curtains on the sides that can be opened for easy forklift loading from any direction. Popular across Europe and increasingly common worldwide, it combines the weather protection of an enclosed trailer with the loading flexibility of a flatbed.

Learn more about Tautliner →

Refrigerator Truck (Reefer)

Essential for the food supply chain, refrigerator trucks maintain precise temperature control from -25°C to +25°C. Modern reefers feature multi-temperature zones, GPS tracking, and real-time temperature monitoring to ensure cold chain integrity throughout transit.

Learn more about Refrigerator Trucks →

Lowboy Trailer

The go-to choice for transporting heavy equipment like excavators, bulldozers, and industrial machinery. With a deck height as low as 18 inches, lowboys can carry tall equipment while staying within legal height limits. Typical capacity ranges from 40 to 80 tons.

Learn more about Lowboy Trailers →

Flatbed Truck

The workhorse of the construction and industrial sectors, flatbed trucks feature a completely flat deck with no sides or roof. This allows for easy loading of irregularly shaped cargo, building materials, and machinery. Cargo is secured with straps, chains, or tarps as needed.

Learn more about Flatbed Trucks →

Practical Use Cases

For Shippers

• Identify the optimal truck type for your specific cargo
• Understand capacity limits and dimensions before booking
• Request the right equipment from carriers
• Avoid costly equipment mismatches

For Carriers & Brokers

• Educate customers on equipment options
• Match available equipment with cargo requirements
• Provide accurate quotes based on equipment needs
• Train new dispatchers on truck capabilities

For Logistics Managers

• Optimize fleet composition based on cargo mix
• Plan equipment requirements for new contracts
• Benchmark utilization across truck types
• Make informed equipment purchasing decisions

What's Coming Next

This is our initial release of the truck types guide. We're planning to add:

• Comparison tools to compare specifications across truck types
• Regional guides for truck availability by market
• Cost guides for typical rates by truck type
• Regulation summaries for weight and dimension limits by region
• Equipment photos showing real-world examples

Have suggestions for truck types you'd like to see covered? Email us at support@freightclass.org - we're actively expanding this guide.