Essential Flatbed Trailer Features for Heavy Hauling

When you’re in the transportation business, having the right equipment for the job is absolutely essential. Whether you manage a fleet of several hundred commercial trucks or you’re a single owner/operator, you must ensure your tractor-trailer rig complies with the Department of Transportation and is prepared to meet deadlines. In this post, our team at Carolina International Trucks will share a few of the essential features to consider if you’re shopping for a large flatbed trailer. 

Weight Capacity and Special Equipment

When you’re shopping for any trailer, one of the first things to determine is what your anticipated heaviest cargo will be. If you’re hauling large construction or agricultural machinery, weight capacity and design will be crucial deciding factors as you shop for a flatbed trailer. 

The weight capacity of your trailer often goes hand-in-hand with your hauling requirements. You may need to be prepared with special equipment to safely move cargo across the country or the county. Some flatbed trailers are specifically designed to carry forklifts to move cargo at the destination and starting point. Knowing the details of your cargo and hauling guidelines can make the purchasing decision simpler because you’ll know the number of axles and load capacity you’re looking for.

Load Style

Another factor to consider as you look into different flatbed trailers is the loading style. Larger flatbed trailers may be equipped with hydraulic ramps or tilting elements to load your cargo. However, you may also frequently use forklifts or cranes to assist in cargo loading, so you’ll want to take note of the trailer height and functionality loading. Loading and unloading can eat into your overall transportation time, so if you can look for more efficient loading features, you can improve your delivery time, enhance your safety on the job, and get more out of your investment.

Material

Finally, you’ll want to pay close attention to the materials that are used in the construction of the flatbed trailer, especially the deck and the frame. You’ll want a material that is durable but doesn’t add too much to the total weight of the load. Aluminum, steel, and carbon fiber are common materials you might notice for the frame. Wood is still one of the most used materials for the deck of a flatbed trailer, but you can find metal decks as well. You can ask a member of our team for more information about the materials used in flatbed trailer construction and the flatbed trailers for sale.

Making the right equipment decisions for your transportation business can be taxing, but we are here to help. We specialize in flatbed trailer sales and commercial transportation in Columbia, SC. Call or visit us today to learn more about our available inventory.