Increasing fleet efficiency requires both purchasing more efficient trailers and making better use of current trailers. One option for addressing these issues is to purchase curtain side from curtain manufacturers. Flexibility and making the most of what you already have are required when fine-tuning the fleet mix to suit the freight demands of any given day&#;let alone the unknown future. You're not operating at optimal efficiency if your fleet includes too many flatbeds merely taking up space on the lot waiting for a rare big cargo or a conventional van trailer that sits idle because shipments require side-loading.
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Types of efficiency offered by curtain side trailer
Time efficiency
Efficiency is mostly measured in terms of time. At each stop, tarping open flatbed loads adds roughly an hour of non-driving time. Purchasing a curtain side from a fabric curtain manufacturer eliminates the need for tarping. It allows for quick handling of flatbed-style freight. A curtain side trailer has expanded access, making ordinary freight loading and unloading time-saving, simplified procedure, allowing for simultaneous entry from the dock through the back door.
Use efficiency
Efficiency also depends on the use of trucks when they're on the road. After a long journey, deadheading an empty trailer home wastes fuel money for every mile travelled. It's also a hint of profit potential you passed up early in the process. These choices are possible with curtain side trailers since your drivers have constant access to the full trailer. When the retractable curtain is pulled back, all shipments are accessible from the front, back, and both sides of the trailer, allowing the driver to add backhauls without hindering access to shipments awaiting delivery.
On paper efficiency
Paying for maintenance and insurance on equipment that does not pay you back is not an efficient plan; investing in curtain side trailers that can transition from open flatbed loads to enclosed van goods and back in a matter of seconds improves your bottom line. It also allows you to service a wider range of customers while also reducing the total size of your fleet by combining many flatbeds and vans into a smaller number of curtain side trailers. This lowers your maintenance and insurance costs while also giving you more yard space. To add on paper efficiency, ensure you buy a quality curtain from a curtain manufacturer.
Benefits of using curtain side trailers:
No tarp is required
Federal authorities demand cargo carried by curtain sides trailers to be tied down, most loads can be secured using straps. Drivers spend more time driving than dealing with a tarp, and they work in a safer environment.
Easy partial shipments
The tarp trailers had a limitation of first on and final of which is no longer an issue with curtain side trailers. Multiple drop loads can be easily done from a single trailer due to independent access to all load sections at any point along a route.
Quick loading and unloading
When the curtains are drawn back, numerous forklifts can simultaneously access the trailer from all sides as well as the back door. Drivers are in and out in a flash and back on the road.
Curtainside trailers are more effective than tarpaulin trailers. Purchasing a quality curtain from a fabric curtain manufacturer will help save time, money and optimize your trailer usage.
Purchasing the right flatbed trailer for your business can enhance productivity, reduce lengthy pickup and delivery times, increase safety, and make it easier for your drivers to handle their loads.
Follow along in this trailer buying guide as we explain what a flatbed trailer is used for and why you should buy one (or a bunch) for your fleet.
To determine if you should buy a flatbed trailer, you need to know what it&#;s used for.
Flatbed trailers are the workhorses of the trucking industry. They are designed to haul cargo that cannot be loaded onto a standard trailer like a semi-trailer.
They&#;re used to haul a wide range of cargo and come in handy for many situations, like shipping heavy machinery or transporting irregular equipment. They can often handle oversized loads too.
Flatbed trailers don&#;t have side walls or a roof and are often lower to the ground. This makes loading items onto the trailer easier for an efficient delivery.
A curtain side trailer combines a dry van and a flatbed trailer. It is loaded like a flatbed but is protected by an enclosed frame like a dry van.
A curtain side trailer can tow anything from pipes to steel and iron. When enclosed, the trailer allows you to move things like fruits and vegetables as well.
If you&#;re deciding between a dry van and a flatbed trailer, consider whether you need covered protection for the cargo. If so, buying a trailer with a curtain side is a reasonable option.
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Flatbed trailers are one of the most popular vehicles in the trucking industry, and there are many different types to choose from. The common types of flatbeds include:
Aluminum flatbed trailers are often the lightest option, as they are lighter than steel or composite trailers. They are made entirely of aluminum, from the beam and side rails to the flooring.
These trailers are more expensive than composite and steel trailers but have a higher market value. Aluminum flatbed trailers are designed with an arch (camber) that allows the beam to level as weight is added since they bend more easily than steel.
Composite flatbeds cost less than aluminum trailers and slightly more than steel trailers due to the materials used for their structure: a steel beam, an aluminum floor, and aluminum side rails.
This combination of aluminum&#;s weight makes the trailer lighter, but the strength of the steel beam is a strong foundation.
Steel flatbeds are made entirely of steel, from the beam and side rails to the suspension hangers, which makes them heavier than aluminum trailers.
They are a lower upfront cost investment, but their resale value is also lower. It&#;s a trailer made for the long haul and makes an excellent work trailer.
Flatbed models are available at different price points. Before you buy a flatbed trailer, you should examine your budget. Look at what you want to spend and how much you can afford. You can find a flatbed that fits your budget and your needs.
Your tow vehicle significantly impacts the flatbed trailers you can select.
Start with reviewing the towing vehicle&#;s towing capacity. Remember that this covers both the weight of the flatbed trailer and any contents.
Avoid purchasing a flatbed trailer that is oversized for your needs. A heavy trailer will limit the cargo capacity that a tow vehicle can move per haul.
The average weight allowance for most flatbed trailers is around 48,000 lbs for trucks with trailer lengths ranging from 48 to 53 feet. This might vary depending on the flatbed trailer dimensions, like the number of axles in the truck.
The type of cargo you can carry also depends on the flatbed configuration. For example, spread axle flatbed trailers (like the one pictured below) can carry more concentrated weight. Their closed tandem axle counterparts typically need to have the weight more evenly distributed to haul well.
Knowing this information before buying a flatbed trailer will help determine how much you can haul in a single trip. You&#;ll also see what you need to secure your load to ensure maximum cargo protection.
Flatbed trailers are available in various sizes and hauling capacities, allowing you to transport materials of all sizes and weights.
We&#;ve highlighted three reasons why buying a flatbed trailer might benefit your fleet:
Renting a flatbed trailer has its benefits &#; for starters, it&#;s cheaper than buying a trailer.
You won&#;t have to worry about maintenance costs or a decrease in value. The flatbed&#;s owner will take care of those things. Renting is the perfect way to ease into ownership if you just want to try out a flatbed before buying a trailer.
Just make sure that when you&#;re renting, you have a plan for scheduling your deliveries ahead of time. If you want to use the same trailer repeatedly, you&#;ll have to pay each time because it belongs to someone else. Sometimes, rental companies only allow short-term rentals (e.g., six months), limiting your ability to plan and get precisely what you need.
If renting sounds like the right option for your company, check out our tips for renting a trailer.
If you&#;ve ever noticed bowing in a flatbed trailer, especially one that&#;s empty or lightly loaded, you are looking at an aluminum trailer. They are lighter and less rigid in steel, resulting in much more flex. Aluminum trailers are intentionally built with a camber (convex arch), allowing flexing. They flatten out as load is added.
To get into flatbed shipping, you&#;ll need to know how much of an investment to make when buying a trailer. Several factors determine the cost of a flatbed trailer.
The first thing to consider is whether you want to buy a new or used flatbed trailer. Buying used equipment may be a more budget-friendly option. Buying a used flatbed trailer can save on upfront costs when you&#;re first getting into flatbed shipping.
Hale Trailer can help you find the perfect flatbed to transport your products, ensuring everything arrives on time. Our experts are the answer if you need a reliable partner to transfer heavy or oversized items.
Our trailers are ready for the long haul, whether you&#;re looking to rent or buy one of our used flatbed trailers. Browse our line-up online or at one of the&#;trailer rental locations&#;to learn more about how we can work for you.
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