What is the Advantage and Disadvantage of side curtain trailer

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 Conestoga (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

• Maximum Cargo Width: 8 feet, 4 inches (100")
• Maximum Cargo Height: 8 feet (96")
• Maximum Cargo Length: 48 and 53 feet
• Maximum Cargo Weight: 40,000-43,000 pounds

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.

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Comparing a curtain side trailer to flatbed tarp systems

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. 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.

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.

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