Safe and efficient road transport of goods also requires knowledge of the appropriate regulations by those involved in it. Check the popular types and dimensions of truck trailers.
Standard semitrailer
A truck with a tarp covering the walls and roof.
Some can slide the roof and side walls are called curtains.
Standard tarpaulins allow for loading goods from the back and side. However, side loading is time-consuming because it requires manual tying of the tarpaulin.
The curtains, on the other hand, do not require manual preparation of the vehicle thanks to the possibility of automatic sliding of the side walls and roof.
Standard trailer dimensions:
Length - 13,6 m
Width - 2,45 m
Height - 2,65 - 2,8 m
This allows for the accommodation of 33 Europallets or 26 industrial pallets.
Mega semi-trailer
Structurally, they are similar to standard ones and offer a curtain wall sliding system. However, they are distinguished by the greater height of the cargo space, which can be up to 3 meters. Mega trailers are often used to transport tall goods.
It is worth mentioning that some of these vehicles are equipped with sliding side pillars, which allow side loading of bulky goods.
Mega trailers owe their internal dimensions to smaller diameter wheels and a lower vehicle floor suspension therefore they require low-deck tractor units, which also have smaller wheels and a lower fifth-wheel suspension than tractor units designed for use with standard trailers.
Refrigerated semi-trailer
Equipped with an isothermal body consisting of rigid side walls and a roof. This design provides insulation from the outside temperature. Due to the rigid body, loading of goods is possible only and exclusively through the rear doors.
An element of equipment found only in this type of semi-trailer is a refrigeration unit[,] ensuring a constant transport temperature, which can range from -30 to +30 degrees Celsius. Refrigerated trailers are often used to transport food, pharmaceutical, or industrial products.
Dimensions of the refrigerated semi-trailer:
Width- up to 2,6 m
Height - up to 2,6 m
It is worth noting that some of these types of trailers can maintain two temperatures at the same time. It allows the transport of goods requiring different temperatures simultaneously.
Some may also be equipped with a so-called double floor, thanks to which they can transport items on two levels, or with hooks, which make the transport of carcasses and half-carcasses in a vertical position possible.
Isotherm
They resemble refrigerated trucks but they do not have a [refrigeration unit] in their equipment. Therefore, it is not possible to set a constant transport temperature, only to maintain the initial temperature for a certain time. They are used mainly for short distances.
Tipper truck
Used for the transport of bulk goods. It has a uniform construction of the front wall, floor, and side walls. Being roofless, this facilitates loading but may require a cover to protect the goods from weather conditions. Thanks to the lifting system - easy unloading is possible.
Flatbed semi-trailer
It is characterized by a flat cargo area without side or rear body elements so loading can be done from any side of the vehicle.
At the front, there is a partition wall that separates the transported goods from the rear wall of the truck cab.
It is often used to transport goods that are resistant to weather conditions.
Low-floor semi-trailer
Its floor is close to the surface - this height usually does not exceed 100 cm. It is used for transporting machines, steel structures, or oversized goods. Some of these semi-trailers can be equipped with ramps.
Walking floor
A semi-trailer with a movable floor that facilitates the unloading of goods such as grain, feed, or waste paper. The movable floor system consists of slats that move a few centimeters. These vehicles usually have a rigid structure and a sliding roof.
Tank truck
They are characterized by a cylindrical tank that can transport fuels, gases, liquid food products, or liquid chemical products. Vehicles of this type are often adapted to transport dangerous goods under ADR regulations. Tank semi-trailers are equipped with special valve systems that protect the tank from generating too high pressure.
Silo
Silo trailers visually resemble [tank trucks] because they are also characterized by oval-shaped tanks. The key difference, however, is their application. Silos are mainly used for the transport of bulk materials, such as grain or flour.
What are the maximum dimensions of trailers?
The principle is specified in the provisions of the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of 31 December 2002 regarding the technical conditions of vehicles and the scope of their necessary equipment.
The maximum length of a vehicle combination consisting of a semi-trailer and a tractor unit may not exceed 16.5 m.
The width has been adjusted depending on the type of semi-trailer.
For a standard one, it is 2.55 m - for a refrigerated truck 2.6 m.
The internal length of the semi-trailer is usually 13.6 m.
However, the total external height of the vehicle set consisting of a tractor unit and a semi-trailer cannot exceed 4 m.
On the roads, you can find semi-trailers exceeding the above dimensions, but transporting such vehicles requires, among other things, obtaining special permits.
Comments