Most Common Trailers in the USA: The Basics of Trucking

In the USA, the freight and logistics industry uses many different types of 18 wheeler trailers to haul different types of cargo. Here’s a list of the most common:

Dry Van Trailers: These are the most common type of trailer, used to haul non perishable goods. They’re fully enclosed to protect the cargo from the elements.

Flatbed Trailers: These open deck trailers are used for cargo that’s too big or too weird to fit in a standard trailer. They’re used for heavy equipment, construction materials and other oversized loads..

Refrigerated Trailers (Reefers): These are temperature controlled trailers used to haul perishable goods like food, plants and pharmaceuticals.

Lowboy Trailers: These are specialized trailers with two drops in deck height: one right after the gooseneck and another right before the wheels. This allows them to haul tall loads (like construction equipment) that wouldn’t fit under bridges on a flatbed.

Step Deck (or Drop Deck) Trailers: Similar to flatbeds but with a top and bottom deck, these trailers are used to haul items that are too tall for a flatbed but not tall enough to need a lowboy.

Conestoga Trailers: These have a flexible retractable roof and sides that can be moved out of the way to load and unload goods, like a dry van but with the loading ease of a flatbed.

Tanker Trailers: Used for liquid cargo, these trailers can haul water and milk to hazardous chemicals.

Bulk Commodity Trailers (Hoppers): Used for bulk cargo like grain, feed and fertilizer. They have a bottom opening for easy unloading.

Car Carriers: These specialized trailers are used to haul vehicles, with built in ramps for loading and multiple levels to haul several vehicles at once.