What is the Advantage and Disadvantage of side curtain trailer

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Transportation is an industry full of equipment types. So many equipment types, in fact, that it can sometimes be difficult to understand the use-case of each. 

Matching the right trailer to your load is important for facilitating your supply chain. 

Yet doing so only gets more challenging with so many options in the mix. 

Curtainside trailers are an example of this. This class of semi-trailers is designed for a specific purpose. And, when used correctly, curtainside trailers can become a sound transportation solution. 

But what is a curtainside trailer? What are they used most commonly for? And what, if anything, are the limitations of this specialized trailer type?

If you&#;re looking to add additional trailer options to your logistics procedures, curtainsides may fit the bill. However, it&#;s important to have all of the right information before making any decisions. 

So, let&#;s go over many of the key details you need to understand about curtainside trailers so you can decide, definitively, whether they will meet your company&#;s needs.

What is a Curtainside Trailer?

A curtainside trailer is a specialized semi-trailer that has a rigid framework mounted onto a flatbed or flat-deck trailer. 

Curtainside trailers are comprised of a firmly bolstered front, which features an entry door, horizontal roof supports running the trailer&#;s length, a metal constructed roof (similar to a dry van&#;s), two swing-open rear doors and a sliding tarp system &#; typically made from an 18-ounce (or similar) material. 

The tarps on either side of the curtainside trailer can be retracted for loading, sliding in a similar fashion as the tarps on a Conestoga trailer.

Not to be confused with a Conesoga (though they commonly are), curtainside trailers are different in a number of ways. Most notably, curtainsides only feature tarps on two sides (the left and right). Conestogas have a larger curtain system which creates its roof and rear as well.

Additionally, curtainside trailers feature a far more rigid framework than Conestogas do. The roof of a curtainside trailer is immobile and not retractable &#; the same cannot be said of Conestogas. 

Curtainside trailers come in both 48 and 53-foot variations. Here is a list of the maximum cargo dimensions for this trailer type. 

Maximum Cargo Dimensions For Curtainside Trailers

Note: Maximum cargo dimensions will change based on the make and model of the trailer on your load. Always consult a trusted transportation provider for your exact trailer's dimensions. 

How are Curtainside Trailers Commonly Used?

Curtainside trailers can be used for any freight that requires protection from the elements during transport &#; provided it can be loaded from the side or back. 

Products that fit this mold include, but are not limited to, many palletized commodities, raw materials (such as lumber, steel and iron) and moisture-sensitive machinery. 

Additionally, since these trailers provide such great protection, traditional dry van commodities like food and beverage freight, general retail goods and hospitality-industry items (to name a few) are also hauled in them. 

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using a Curtainside Trailer?

Like any other trailer type, curtainside trailers have a unique list of pros and cons users should be aware of. Compared to its closest alternative, the Conestoga trailer, curtainsides boast the following list of pros and cons:

Advantages of using a curtainside trailer over a Conestoga:

• Better protection from the elements thanks to its tight seams and hard top.
• The durability of an aluminum roof.

Disadvantages of using a curtainside trailer over a Conestoga:

• Curtainsides are heavier, which makes it more challenging to move high-weight, full truckload volumes. 
• Due to their rigid framework, curtainside trailers can only be loaded from the sides via forklift or from the back. Loading using an overhead crane won&#;t be possible.  

Looking For Protection From The Elements? Here&#;s Another Alternative!

Like Conestoga trailers, curtainsides are a relatively unique trailer type, making them difficult to find in some markets and driving up the cost of using one. Sure, curtainside trailers provide excellent protection from the elements and reduce instances of cargo damage during transit, but, in many situations, you simply don&#;t need one. 

Tarping your open-deck freight will leave you with far more solutions to source from, cutting down the rates you pay in many instances. 

Are you interested in learning more about side curtain trailer? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

That said, using tarps instead of one of these more specialized trailers will be a decision that is, once again, based on research. 

Read this article which provides all of the information needed for deciding whether tarping your freight makes the most sense for your company. 

And, after completing it, feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have. We&#;re always happy to help you in any way you need. 

The good news is that flatbed trailers are versatile and adaptable to loads that vary in both size and weight. The bad news? Over 60 percent of flatbed loads require comprehensive tarping. Manually tarping flatbeds is an ergonomic nightmare and a worker's comp attorney&#;s dream. The requirement to heave unwieldy tarps as heavy as 100 pounds while perched precariously atop a flatbed excludes many otherwise competent professional drivers from hauling flatbed jobs. It's also a major turn-off to potential new hires, as well. It is no wonder that curtain side trailers&#;which totally eliminate the need for manual tarping&#;have achieved major market penetration in the U.S. trucking industry, in a relatively short time.

Flatbed tarp systems attempt to make the job of tarping a flatbed more efficient, faster and safer than manual methods. Here are three common systems.

• Side kits incorporate arching metal bows that extend up and over the bed from side panels, attaching to corresponding panels on the other side. This forms a curved metal structure over the bed, on top of which the tarp can be secured&#;sort of resembling a pioneer covered wagon. A side kit saves time and simplifies tarping. However, the tarp still must be manhandled over the structure by the driver, who must climb onto the trailer and manually push/pull the heavy tarp across the framework. Studies show that effort required imposes substantial strain. Back injuries and rotator cuff injuries are common, as is the hazard of slip/fall injuries.
  
  
  
  
• Rolling tarps eliminate the need for a driver to climb up on the trailer. Think of a flatbed trailer covered with a box-like framework supporting a tarp. The tarped framework compresses like an accordion as it is pushed backwards on rollers, allowing access to the bed. After the freight is loaded or unloaded, the tarped frame is pushed forward again, expanding out to a full-length box that covers the entire bed. However, rolling tarps can be difficult to manipulate by one person if the rollers stick due to lack of lubrication, a dirty or damaged roller track or are jammed by ice and snow. Substantial force may be required to push the sliding structure far enough back to load, then all the way forward again.
  
  
• Overhead tarping systems installed at the loading dock or nearby utilize an electric motor to drag the tarp over the entire span of the flatbed front-to-back. The driver secures the bottom edge of the tarp at ground level. This eliminates both strenuous of manual tarping and the danger of climbing up and standing atop freight while doing it. The drawbacks are that many shipping facilities don&#;t invest in overhead tarping systems and, where they do exist, there may be a waiting time to gain access.

The Curtainside Alternative

A curtainside utilizes full-length gliding retractable curtains on both sides of a flatbed trailer, as well as conventional rear doors and a fixed roof. This configuration offers three-side load/unload access like a flatbed and also puts freight anywhere in the trailer within easy reach, at all times. When the curtains are closed and tensioned a curtainside provides optimum protection from the elements like an enclosed van, totally eliminating the need for tarping. For drivers, a curtainside trailer relegates the drudgery and hazards of heaving tarps to the past. For freight companies, the added efficiency of a curtainside opens up more profit opportunities from back-hauls, partial shipments and odd-shaped or oversized freight.
Curtainsides also add versatility to the fleet as a single trailer can instantly morph from flatbed-style access to conventional enclosed van as requirements change from day to day and hour to hour.

Here are a few samples of different types of curtainsiders to see the diversity offered, capability, and the ease of use.

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Not convinced? Click Here to read our latest case study. You will get a real world customer testimonial and a review of how adding curtainsiders to this client's fleet saved them time, money, and streamlined their workflow.

For more Shacman L 4x2 van box cargo truckinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.