The right trailer selection will make a significant difference in transporting goods safely and efficiently. Whether it’s the logistics, manufacturing, or construction industry, trailers are essential. The industry faces a dilemma of choosing between a flatbed and a skeletal trailer.
How to choose the right one? The answer is simple. Choose the one that best suits the type of cargo you’re planning to move. Understanding the strengths can help minimise delays and reduce transportation costs. With professional trailer hire in Lincoln, industries are choosing the right option for safe and functional movement of goods.
What is a flatbed trailer?
It is designed with a strong, durable, open platform without sides or a roof. It is one of the most versatile trailers, capable of accommodating a wide range of cargo. You can lift cargo from the sides, rear, or even from above with the help of cranes or forklifts in these trailers.
These trailers are commonly used for:
- Building materials
- Steel beams and timber
- Heavy machinery
- Pipes and industrial equipment
- Palletised goods
Since there are no enclosed sides, all types of oversized and unusual-shaped cargoes can be easily loaded into these trailers.
Benefits of flatbed trailers
Is this the right one for your business? Here’s a list of benefits that can help you decide.
- Offering flexibility for loading and transportation of different-sized and shaped cargoes
- Simple loading and unloading process that extends beyond standard dimensions
- Helps in loading and unloading of bulky items easily, especially for the construction, industrial, and agriculture sectors
What is a skeletal trailer?
This trailer is designed to carry only shipping containers. Unlike fully open flatbed trailers, these trailers have a lightweight steel frame that securely supports all standard shipping container sizes.
These trailers are used mainly in ports, freight terminals, and distribution centres. They are used for transporting containers between ships, railway terminals, warehouses, and customer locations.
Benefits of a skeletal trailer
Unlike flatbed trailers, these are purposefully built to handle shipping containers. Thus, the trailers also have the following benefits.
- They are lightweight and more fuel-efficient than flatbed trailers.
- They accommodate multiple container sizes for transportation
- They are designed flexibly for international cargo movement
- They are designed to speed up the loading and unloading process
- They have container locking mechanisms to keep the containers safe during transportation
Which trailer is a feasible choice?
The choice depends on the type of cargo that is being transported. For businesses moving
machinery, construction materials and oversized equipment regularly, flatbed trailers are the best option. Moreover, for industries dealing in the movement and transportation of irregularly shaped loads, flatbed trailers are a feasible choice.
On the contrary, a skeletal trailer is a viable option for industries that transport ISO shipping containers. These trailers are not designed to transport oversized industrial components.
GL Commercials offers comprehensive trailer hire and repair services. GL Commercials, we offer trailer hire with a huge range of options to hauliers and contractors. We have a huge range of trailers available, designed for many different purposes and in sizes to suit all needs. We can hire out single trailers or large numbers of trailers as required to complete a larger fleet.