5 Things to Know Before Buying curtain side van trailer

The protection of a van. The loading flexibility of a flatbed.

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Curtain sided transportation is suitable for almost all types of cargo, and as such it has become the most common type of transportation in Europe. There are numerous benefits that this type of transportation has in hand both for customers and for trucking companies as well.

Further in this article you can read everything about curtain sided transportation, starting from what a curtain side trailer is to what the most common cargo for curtain side truck are.

Let&#;s take a read!

1. What Is Curtain Sider Transportation

Curtain sided transportation is definitely IN this year.

There is no doubt why curtain sided s one of the most common types of transportation, and why it increases in popularity each year.

Thereupon, curtain sided transportation can offer your cargo the protection of a van and the loading flexibility of a flatbed. The benefits that this type of transportation has to offer are numerous.

Curtain sided transportation is a win-win choice both for customers as well as for trucking companies. Customers will enjoy a peace of mind by knowing that curtain sided trailers can protect their cargo as it would been a van or a box trailer, whereas truck drivers will enjoy the easy and quick loading and unloading from the sides and back of the trailer.

The numerous benefits that curtain sided transportation has in hand to offer not only that attracts more customers that choose this type of transportation, but as well it makes most trucking companies move forward with the curtain side concept.

2. What is a Curtain Side Trailer?

Curtain side trailers are achieving even bigger dominance in the Euro transportation market this year.

The European transportation market has been really quick in embracing the benefits of curtain side trailers thanks to its three unique features:

• Flexibility
• Safety
• Easy cargo accessibility

Thereupon, the flexibility that this type of trailers offer enables trucking companies to accept regular cargo in both small and large sizes, but as well enables them with the capacity to accept odd-shaped or non-standard freight.

Curtain sided trailers can simply handle whatever cargo challenges your daily schedule throws your way.

By including a curtain side trailer to your fleet you are saying yes to incorporate multiple loads in a single trailer without limitation on what the first or last load will be.

3. Most Common Cargo for Curtain Side Truck

We at Deni Internacional have often been asked, what type of cargo can be transported in a curtain side trailer?

The real answer is: with curtain sided trailer you can transport literally any type of cargo.

The protection that this type of trailer offers, makes its use appropriate for most goods.

In general, curtain sided transportation is used for cargo that is commonly carried on flatbed trailers, but the enclosed environment just widens the list of cargo that can be transported. Hence, this is just part of the cargo type that can be transported with curtain sided transportation:

Building Materials

• doors
• windows
• lumber
• laminates
• bricks
• other construction items

Industrial

• automotive components
• aircraft and aerospace components
• defence equipment
• chemicals

General Cargoes

•  agricultural equipment
• food
• seeds
• airfreight
• paper products

The list of items currently being hauled in curtain side trailers is exhaustive and, perhaps, too long to list completely.

4. Less Than Truckload and Full Truckload

Full truckload transportation and less than truckload transportation make the core of curtain sided transportation.

Curtain sided is the ideal transportation method for both types of shipment but especially for LTL.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit curtain side van trailer.

When we say LTL shipments, we refer to small packages up to shipments that are too large to considered small packages, but do not make up a full truckload.

Curtain sided transportation is the ideal method for LTL shipments because of trailers&#; accessibility.

We at Deni Internacional are specialized in LTL or also known as part load shipments. We are currently offering regular transport and collective cargo from Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo to all European counties and backwards.

5. Importance Of Curtain Sider Transportation

The first and foremost benefit from curtain sided transport is its versatility.

Curtain sided trailers combine the advantages of an enclosed trailers and of a flatbed trailer.

As such it enables quick loading and unloading, as well as an easy accessibility to all cargo that is being transported in the trailer.

The four-side access allows the driver to load and unloading from ground level where docks are occupied or non-existent. Likewise, curtain sided trailers&#; versatility enables the driver to load the cargo from the roof as well (with the help of a crane) .

Final Thoughts

All in all, if you have any of the above listed types of cargo, or cargo that was not listed but does fit in LTL, or full truckload but you want to protect it, then we strongly recommend you to go forward with curtain sided transportation.

Welcome back to our series on How to Buy the Best Flatbed Trailer. Today we&#;re reviewing the differences between a Curtainside and a Conestoga Flatbed Trailer. Both are great options to keep your cargo protected from harsh elements, and both are an easier, safer way of tarping your load than climbing on top and manually tarping it. 

Both curtainside and conestoga trailers are classified as flatbeds. So what is the difference between the two?

We&#;ll get into some of the similarities and differences here. Some of the questions we&#;ll ask are:

• What is the difference between a curtainside vs. flatbed trailer?
• What is a Conestoga flatbed trailer?
• What are curtainside trailers used for?
• What is a roll top trailer?

Curtainside Trailer

A curtainside trailer, or curtain van, is a dry van and a flatbed trailer combined into one trailer. It loads like a flatbed but protects like a van with a ceiling, front wall, and rear doors. The sides are open to allow access for loading, and the rear swing doors allow it to be dock loaded, similar to a dry van. 

Curtains hang from the roof on each side of the trailer, slide open, and close to provide an enclosed trailer. On the curtainside trailer, the frame does not move, and therefore top loading is not possible.

Curtainside trailers are a great option for loads that require more protection or when it&#;s more efficient to load from the side. It&#;s also a good option if you have multiple stops to make.

• A curtainside trailer has rear doors like a dry van.
• Typically has a support system for the roof, side and center supports, and a rear door frame.
• They can be retrofitted to any flatbed but requires more modification to the flatbed trailer than a Conestoga kit.
• It&#;s a heavier setup than the Conestoga kit because the system includes a roof, frame system, front bulkhead, and rear door.
• They give the option to side load or rear load the trailer.

Conestoga Kit

A Conestoga trailer, or roll-top trailer, uses a sliding tarp system where the entire system (tarp roof included) slides from the rear to front or front to rear. This accordion-like system maximizes your loading options allowing for rear loading, front loading, side loading, or even top-loading if needed.

The tarp system includes a rollup tarp door, rear support, and a stationary bulkhead in the front. You can retrofit a Conestoga Trailer Kit onto any flatbed trailer.

Keep in mind that with Conestoga Kits, there are many moving parts and should be on a regular maintenance schedule to keep it in good working order.

Pros: 

• More options for loading. 
• Kits can be retrofitted onto any flatbed trailer.

Cons: 

• The entire system is an accordion like system which presents an increased risk of mechanic problems. 
• The frame requires regular maintenance due to all the moving parts. 
• You are limited to the interior width of your tarp system. 

The Conestoga Kit is a great system if it&#;s well maintained and operates properly. You&#;ll defiantly want to have it on a regular maintenance program.

Available options on a Conestoga Kit:

• Man door for added accessibility
• Grab handles for safety
• Steps
• Front bulkhead clearance lights
• Inside lights to increase visibility
• Translucent roof
• Skylights

Ultimately both the Curtainside and Conestoga trailers are safer options than manually tarping flatbed loads. Tarping loads is more labor-intensive and adds increased risk while climbing on and off of loads.

Utility Keystone works hard at finding the best solution to meet the demands of your hauling requirements.

For more information, please visit Gooseneck Semi Trailer.

Read more in this series, How to Buy the Best Flatbed Trailer.