8 common types of freight trucks and what they carry

Freight is a broad term covering almost anything moved by professional transportation services around the world. Although many people immediately picture an 18-wheeler, freight trucks come in many different forms and serve a wide range of purposes.

If you are preparing a shipment, it helps to understand which type of truck is right for the job. Here are eight freight truck types and the cargo they are best suited to carry.

1. Box trucks

Apart from tractor-trailers, box trucks may be the trucks you see most often on the road. Many parcel delivery services use them, and they are also the basic vehicles people rent when moving.

These smaller trucks have a large, enclosed cargo box. They protect freight from the weather but are intended for goods that do not require refrigeration.

They are most commonly used for smaller local deliveries—for example, a supplier bringing ingredients to a bakery early in the morning or delivering goods to a neighborhood store.

2. Dry van tractor-trailers

The workhorse of freight transportation, this is the standard semi-truck you see on the highway. Its enclosed trailer makes loading straightforward and protects cargo from the weather, but provides no temperature or humidity control.

That makes it unsuitable for some cargo. Even so, its versatility and substantial carrying capacity explain why it is so common.

Dry van tractor-trailers commonly deliver products and supplies to stores, warehouses and similar facilities. They are a core part of the supply chain.

3. Refrigerated trucks

Larger refrigerated trucks look much like standard dry van tractor-trailers, with one important difference: their trailers are refrigerated.

Clothing delivered to a department store does not need refrigeration. Food, beverages and other perishable products that must stay cool to avoid spoilage do. These trucks also use enclosed cargo compartments.

Although they look similar to other freight trucks, you probably see them regularly. Their refrigeration units are visible on the outside of the trailer.

Some refrigerated vehicles are designed for smaller deliveries and resemble cargo vans or box trucks, with parts of the refrigeration system visible from outside.

4. Flatbed trucks

Flatbeds are much easier to recognize. Instead of an enclosed trailer, they have a long, open deck that makes them well suited to certain specialized hauling tasks.

They are primarily used for oversized freight. Such cargo may not fit safely inside a standard dry van trailer, whereas a flatbed can accommodate much larger items and offers several ways to secure them. The trade-off is that the freight is exposed to the weather.

Typical loads include heavy landscaping equipment, construction materials and similar freight.

5. Tanker trucks

Tankers are specialized trucks designed to carry liquids. You may not see them often in many locations, but fuel stations are a common exception. Tankers regularly deliver fuel there, and you have probably seen one unloading.

They also transport many other kinds of liquids to a wide variety of customers.

6. Car carriers

Car carriers are among the most specialized freight vehicles. They move cars from one place to another: manufacturers send inventory to dealerships, vehicles travel to auction sites, and many dealers use them to deliver cars directly to customers.

They typically use multi-level, open trailers. Vehicles are driven aboard using ramps that extend to the ground.

7. Curtain-side trucks

Curtain-side trucks are one of the more distinctive, less familiar freight truck types. They resemble enclosed trucks, but the sides consist of curtains suspended from tracks along the top of the trailer.

Their main advantage is efficient loading and unloading. The curtains offer some protection for cargo and can be pulled back when the truck reaches a shipping or receiving dock.

Forklifts can then reach the entire load much as they would on an open flatbed. This speeds handling and can substantially reduce turnaround time.

8. Step-deck trucks

A step deck is a variation on a flatbed used for similar loads. It has a distinctive two-level deck: a lower section and a shorter, higher section near the front.

The design helps accommodate cargo height limits. A standard flatbed may not provide enough clearance for taller loads such as industrial equipment and machinery.

Step decks make it easier to stay within those legal clearance limits.

Which freight truck do you need?

There are more truck types than the eight listed here, but these are among the most common on the road. If you ship freight, it will very likely travel on one of them.

How do you choose the right one? In practice, you may not have to make that decision on your own.

A professional freight service provider can help determine which truck best fits your cargo. The important thing is to choose a company that values your business and puts your needs first.

That is where the original publisher, Diversified Transportation Services, says it can help. From logistics management to clear communication throughout delivery, the company describes its role as making freight shipping easier.

The original article closes by inviting readers to contact Diversified Transportation Services for a straightforward freight shipping experience.