What Types Of Trucks Are Used In Freight Shipping?
Four types of trucks are commonly seen when shipping freight: Semi-Trailer Trucks, Box Trucks, Flatbed Trucks, and Refrigerator Trucks. At Shipping Discounts, we ordinarily ship freight in Semi-Trailer Trucks as most of our customers have LTL and FTL freight. Below are the types of trucks and their descriptions.
A semi-trailer truck is commonly known as a “semi” or an “18-wheeler”. These are the large freight trucks we see on the highway. The trailer has a set or several sets of wheels at the rear only, with the forward portion being supported by the truck tractor or towing vehicle. The placement of the wheels allows for the truck to make turns. The trailers on these trucks are typically 53 feet in length, however, shorter trailers do exist. Semi-trailers typically range from 40 feet to 53 feet. These trucks are generally used for FTL and LTL loads.
Box Truck:
A box truck has a separate, box-like cargo area that sits on a frame. Box trucks are generally used by companies that need to haul large items such as furniture, appliances, and large boxes. Box trucks come in all sizes. They can be seen on the road everyday as most moving companies use box trucks to transport furniture and household items.
Flatbed Truck:
A flatbed truck has an entirely flat, level body. The truck also lacks sides and a roof. This allows for quick and easy loading of goods. Consequently flatbed trucks are used to transport heavy loads that are not delicate or vulnerable to wet conditions, such as construction equipment, and also for abnormal loads that require more space than is available on a closed body.
Refrigerator Truck:
A refrigerator truck is designed to carry perishable freight at specific low temperatures. Refrigerator trucks can be ice-cooled, equipped with any one of a variety of mechanical refrigeration systems powered by small displacement diesel engines, or utilize carbon dioxide as a cooling agent. Most of the long-distance refrigerated transport by truck is done by trucks pulling refrigerated semi-trailers.
