When you step onto the lot at a semi trailer dealership, you may be surprised to see just how many different types of trailers there are available. Truckers, who spend a lot of their time on the road, might recognize that each of these trailers are useful for different product shipments.
Check out just a few of the typical trailers you may find at a semi trailer dealer.
Conestoga Trailers
Conestoga trailers are uniquely designed almost like a flatbed trailer. They have a flattened bed for cargo, but they have an integrated tarp system that carefully slips around the entire trailer to protect the cargo from the elements. Conestoga trailers are popular for hauling things like construction materials, lumber, and other fairly resilient materials that are not all that prone to theft but really do need protection from the rain and sunlight. Best of all, tarping one of these trailers is a one-man job; the tarp is on a sliding rail system that is easy to move and simple to secure in place.
Reefer Trailers
Reefer trailers are a fairly common implement in the trucking industry, but they have grown far more advanced than what they have ever been before. These trailers, obviously, have refrigerated interiors to hold perishable or temperature-sensitive goods at the proper temperatures. However, these days you can find reefer trailers that utilize solar energy for cooling, have build-ins to differentiate temperature according to the area, and all kinds of efficient features. For example, refrigerated produce could be hauled in the same trailer as frozen goods if needed.
Power Only Trailers
If another trailer needs to be towed, a trucker may use what is referred to in the industry as a power-only trailer. Power-only trailers are pretty cool because they can be adjusted to accommodate different trailer types. However, the usage of these trailers is governed differently from state to state, so they are not commonly used.
Sidekit Trailers
Sidekit trailers are not necessarily a type of trailer, but they are worthy of mentioning just the same. Side kits are actually installed on flatbeds and consist of panels and stakes that can protect the cargo from falling off. Many people have a flatbed and pretty much keep it permanently outfitted with a side kit because of what they haul. Topsoil and sawdust, for example, need the side-rail protection and can be tarped over the top after using a side kit.