If you are interested in becoming a professional truck driver or are just someone interested in big trucks, you might not know about all the different kinds of trailers out there. Each kind of load has a trailer designed specifically for whatever cargo needs to be transported. For example, you wouldn’t transport cows in the same kind of trailer that you would use to transport sand. Nor would you transport flammable hazardous waste in the same trailer you would use to ship the mail. Here’s a look at a few different kinds of trailers you might see while driving on the road.
Flatbeds
Perhaps the most common type of trailer you are likely to see out there is the flatbed trailer. It’s just a flat trailer bed with no top or sides, used to haul just about anything that can be stacked on it and strapped down, like lumber, or metal equipment.
Hopper Bottoms
You will see a lot of hopper bottom trailers in agricultural areas or areas with a lot of construction going on. Hopper bottom trucking services are used to transport things like grain, fertilizer, dirt, rocks, and sand. The materials are loaded in via the top and unloaded easily by one or two hoppers with hatches in the bottom of the bed. These are essential tools for farmers and construction companies alike because of their simple yet practical design.
Lowboys
A low-bed, or lowboy trailer, is also something you are likely to see around construction areas. These trailers are close to the ground compared to most trailers and are used to transport heavy equipment that is typically driven onto the trailer via a ramp. If you’ve ever seen a bulldozer or steamroller being transported before then chances are you’ve seen a lowboy.
There are many more trailers out there, but the flatbed, the hopper bottom, and the lowboy are some of the most common types. The next time you are cruising down the highway and see a big rig hauling a trailer, you might be able to guess the kind of trailer being used.
