When you see supermarkets, malls, etc., you think of the retail industry; when you see fruits and vegetables you think of the agriculture industry; when you see houses and buildings you think of the construction industry. There is one industry that supports all industries-the transportation industry. Each industry uses various types of trailers, but today we will focus on the types of trailers used in the following industries:
- Retail industry
- Agriculture industry
- Construction industry
- Energy/Utility industry
- Manufacturing industry
What trailers are used in the retail industry?
The food we eat, the beverages we drink, the clothes we wear, and other finished goods are often transported in dry van and refrigerated trailers. Since a large portion of these goods are palletized, 53-foot dry van trailers and refrigerated trailer decks provide a cost effective solution for hauling them from A to B. In addition, refrigerated trailers provide refrigeration capability for frozen food products, such as ice cream and meat.
What trailers are used in agriculture?
There are many types of trailers that transport fresh fruits and vegetables picked from various farms to various storage bins and points of sale, as well as transporting the large machinery used to grow, cultivate and harvest crops, and the raw materials themselves.
Equipment such as tractors and other agricultural components are transported to and from the fields on countless open trailers, including:
- 48-foot and 53-foot flatbed trailers
- Lowboy trailers
- Step trailers
- 2 to 3 axle removable gooseneck (RGN) trailers
In addition, fertilizers, seeds, vegetables and fruits are often transported in dry vans and refrigerated trailers.
What trailers are used in the construction industry?
Everything from assembled steel, lumber, roofing products and everything in between can be transported by trailers.
Many types of raw materials and unfinished construction materials are transported in traditional open trailers, such as:
- 48-foot and 53-foot flatbed trailers
- Lowboy trailers
- Step trailers
- Expandable trailers (flatbed, RGN, etc.)
- Standard RGN (for highly sensitive, heavy, freight)
Finished goods, on the other hand, need to be protected during transport. To meet these needs, trailers like dry vans (for small items) and Conestoga are used in the construction industry.
What trailers are used in the energy/utilities industry?
The energy and utilities industry is responsible for keeping your lights on, your phone ringing, your car moving, your refrigerator running, and more. These services are provided by power plants, refineries, wind farms, etc. around the world and are often transported between these utilities by these trailers:
- 48-foot and 53-foot flatbed trailers
- Step trailers
- Standard and expandable RGNS
- Low-profile trailers
- Dry van trailers
- Blade trailers
- Multi-axle Schnabel trailers (for wind turbines)
- Wind turbine tower trailers
What trailers are used in the manufacturing industry?
Whether it’s a flatbed filled with I-beams, a dwarf carrying a tractor, a dry van carrying textiles or a refrigerated truck loaded with chemicals, the transportation industry is designed to meet manufacturing needs. Whether it’s inbound raw materials or outbound finished goods, the most common types of trailers used in manufacturing are:
- 48-foot and 53-foot flatbed trailers
- 53-foot dry van trailers
- Step trailers
- Reefer trailers
- Expandable trailers (RGN, flatbed, lowboy)