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28 February
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In the trucking and logistics industry, it can be hard to decide what trailer will suit your shipping needs best. Especially when some of the terms for trailers can get a bit blurry. However, keeping your goods protected during transit is a no brainer.
Of course, you want to keep your cargo protected from the elements and weather. We will focus on understanding curtain side trailers, comparing the 2 basic types. When exploring curtain side trailers for your shipment, you will be choosing from the Conestoga flatbed or the Tautliner that more resembles a dry van trailer. Both prove useful, and both will keep your cargo dry and protected from harsh elements and weather. But what's the difference? Both trailers classify as flatbeds, and both utilize the use of sliding tarp-systems. Lets look at the difference.
The Conestoga flatbed is one of the most sought after trailers on the road today, due to the versatility and flexibility this flatbed brags. A Conestoga uses a tarp system, much like an accordion to keep your goods protected. The sliding tarp-system allows complete access to all sides of the flatbed, offering loading and unloading just as easy as a flatbed. One thing to consider when utilizing a Conestoga flatbed is the size of your load. Much like a dry van, you will be limited to the maximum size of the tarp-system sides. But, many prefer the effortless loading and unloading the Conestoga offers.
The curtain side Tautliner though classified as a flatbed, might more closely resemble a dry van. The tautliner is a flatbed with a ceiling, front wall, and rear-doors, but has open side walls that allow side access for forklifts and such. The curtains then slide along these open sides to provide an enclosed trailer. This differs from the Conestoga in that its frame does not move, limiting access for top-loading, and making loading and unloading a little more complicated, but still very versatile.
It's easy to see why curtain side flatbeds serve their purpose on todays roads and are a great addition to any fleet for those loads that require more unique handling. They are a life-saver at a busy dock or even a destination that does not have a dock, allowing for loading and unloading just about anywhere. Sometimes a load is just more efficiently loaded and unloaded from the side. The Conestoga or the Tautliner both give easy side access, and would definitely benefit a shipment that might have multiple stops to make, offering more security for your part of the shipment.
Finding the best trailer to meet your freights demands can be tricky, but here at American Manufacturing Solutions, we do our best to offer just that...Solutions. Solutions to your logistic needs in all its forms. We work hard to provide dependable options for your shipping needs. Our team would love to help answer any remaining questions you might have, and look forward to serving you in whatever way we can.
Over the years, the trucking industry continues to evolve, creating more shipping solutions to meet customer needs. Every freight has its specific characteristics and requirements, from size to weight to protective needs. With all of these specifications, the industry has provided an array of trucks and trailers to cater to them. A great example of this is the Conestoga truck.
But what is a Conestoga truck, and which type of Conestoga is right for your shipment? Its important to find the right trailer to save you money and get your goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We know that researching and choosing the right one can be overwhelming, so weve put together some quick facts and figures to help you determine the right way to go.
So, what is a Conestoga? The simplest Conestoga definition is a trailer that provides security, protection, and versatility of loading and unloading. Conestogas are described as Curtainside trailers, meaning they have a retractable tarping system. These trailers have a large height, width, and length capacity, and the curtain spans the length of the deck and has a weight capacity of up to 44,000 lbs.
The tarping system is best known for having a few unique factors:
All Conestoga freight trailers have at least one thing in common: their tarping system. This tarping is used to cover the freight during transit and helpfully retracts to make loading and unload more convenient. Its made even more versatile by coming in a few different shapes and sizes.
Below weve listed the most common types of Conestoga trailers:
Each of these has its advantages and services, great for fitting to every unique shipment. These specialized trailers should not be overlooked for many shipments.
Keep in mind that the exact specifications of each trailer can vary slightly depending on your provider; contact your provider to get more information.
What is a Conestoga flatbed? The most popular Conestoga trailer is the flatbed Conestoga, generally used to ship open deck commodities and cargo that are similar to the traditional flatbed trailer but larger. A Conestoga flatbed comes in two length options: 48 ft and 53 ft.
Though dimensions are never fully exact, below are the general dimensions for these flatbed trailers:
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Flatbed Conestoga Length Options
48 ft and 53 ft
Flatbed Conestoga Maximum Height 8 ft (96) Flatbed Conestoga Maximum Width 8 ft 6 in (102) Flatbed Conestoga Weight Capacity 44,000 lbsStep-deck Conestogas are a valuable asset when shipping large items. Able to meet a much greater height capacity than the usual flatbed Conestoga, step-deck Conestogas are much needed for many shipments.
Step-deck Conestogas are most often used to transport goods and products like robotics, CNC machinery, helicopters, and numerous other large freight that require protection from the elements and road debris during transit.
Below weve listed the Conestoga trailer dimensions for both the 48-foot step-deck Conestoga trailer and the 53-foot step-deck Conestoga trailer:
Dimensions
48-foot step-deck Conestoga
53-foot step-deck Conestoga
Lower Deck Maximum Height 9 ft 2 in (110) 9 ft 8 in (116) Upper Deck Maximum Height 8 ft (96) 8 ft (96) Width Capacity 8 feet, 6 inches (102) 8 feet, 6 inches (102) Weight Capacity 44,000 lbs 43,000 lbs Lower Deck Length 38 ft (456) 43 ft (516) Upper Deck Length 10 ft (120) 10 ft (120)Double drop Conestogas are generally used to transport commodities like machinery and equipment that weigh less than 36,000 lbs and are above 9 ft 8in at their tallest point.
Though not as common as step-deck or flatbed Conestogas, double drops are essential for freight that meets these dimensions and requires both the ease of loading and unloading with the tarping system.
Below are the dimensions for a 48-foot double drop Conestoga:
Front Deck Length
9 ft (108)
Front Deck Maximum Height 8 ft (96) Lower Deck Length 30 ft (360) Lower Deck Maximum Height 11 ft 7 in (139) Rear Deck Length 9 ft (108) Rear Deck Maximum Height 9 ft 6 in (114) Weight Capacity 35,000 lbs 90L x 86W x 8H (front deck)Trucking is a constantly expanding industry always looking for new ways to improve service, making it more efficient, cost-effective, and safe. Conestoga trailers are a great example of the trucking industrys innovative solutions.
Some advantages come with using a Conestoga trailer, including:
A Conestogas tarped trailer makes loading and unloading easier, saving time and money and making the overall shipping process more efficient. It also is still a protective shield against the roads and poor weather conditions.
So, what does dry van mean? Dry van trailers are easily the most popular semi-trucks. Dry vans are called this because they can keep freight and products protected from road debris and elements like rain and snow. Dry vans are basically enclosed boxes designed to keep cargo protected and be loaded from the back.
They differ from Conestoga trailers in that they have a hard shell, while a Conestoga cover can be opened. Another aspect of the trailers design is that its used in conjunction with a loading dock; the dry van trailer is backed up to the loading dock and loaded and unloaded like that.
Though there are many different types of flatbed trucks, they all come with the same problem. With a flatbed trailer, you cannot load the cargo from anywhere but the rear doors. A standard flatbed trailer does not allow for the same loading options, making crane loading and unloading, as well as loading from the side, impossible. That is why, when the cargo has particular specifications, Conestogas often win in the Conestoga vs flatbed debate.
Both are great for protecting from the elements and road debris, but Conestoga trailers do provide more loading options, making them a versatile choice for many freights. The Conestoga flatbed trailer is used for very particular loads that require certain accommodations, while a dry van is used for more simple loads that require protection.
Though they are the most commonly used trailers in the industry for transporting goods, dry vans arent always the right choice for every freight. The biggest difference is that most dry vans dont allow for loading anywhere but in the back, while Conestoga trailers are great for use when a crane is necessary to place the products on top of the trailer or when the goods need to be loaded from the side. When considering Conestoga trailer vs flatbed, to keep goods protected from the harsh elements, a conestoga trailer, with its rolling tarp and ease of access, is the perfect choice.
Picking the right trailer thats both cost-effective and meets all of your trucking requirements doesnt have to be complicated. Get a freight transportation quote at DFW trucking company to see how we can help you with your future shipments.
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