Understanding freight cargo and different types of freight trucks

You often find trucks carrying huge containers on the highway or around significant city roads. Or if you own a business or recently relocated, you might have had a chance to deal with freight companies. Regardless of the kind of shipment or logistics services you look at, freight trucks form the network’s backbone. These feeders make logistics efficient and reachable to the most remote or crowded destinations, regardless of place or season.

But, not all freight trucks are the same, nor are their hauling needs and payloads. Look at some of the most common and essential freight truck types and their loads.

1. Box truck / Cube freight truck
   The most common ones driving around the city all day are the small box trucks used for cargo. These small freight trucks are used for local deliveries and are perfect for minor streets and busy neighbourhoods. They have less capacity and are famous for short-distance deliveries. Box trucks are ideal for last-mile deliveries for food, furniture, or moving your house.
2. Dry van truck
   Taking it up a notch, we have the dry van trucks perfect for those long hauls and oversized loads. These enclosed trailer trucks are long and heavy-load haulers ideal for transporting long-distance, non-perishable goods. These do not have temperature-controlled units, so a dry van truck just protects the products from dirt and weather. It is versatile and a common choice for a wide range of industries.
3. Reefers
   Have you ever thought of how the veggies and food growing in one part of the country make it to the other side? Or how do those perishable and temperature-sensitive items stay fresh despite the long transportation? You have the reefers and their refrigerated temperature-controlled trailers to thank for that. These specifically designed truck trailers have insulated construction and are fitted with temperature-controlled units. Moreover, they usually have a generator to keep the goods fresh and independent of the truck’s drive train.

1. Flatbed freight trucks
   Flatbed trucks are for you if you want to move something bulkier, like wooden planks, industrial goods, or machinery. These trailer trucks can carry oversized loads across long distances without any top and sides. The flatbed freight trucks are top-rated for construction and manufacturing customers to move machinery and raw materials.
2. Semi Trailers
   Have you ever seen those big trucks transporting shipping containers on the highway? These big rig container trucks blend dry van and flatbed trucks, mainly designed for moving shipping containers. The Semi trucks have specific towing beds that lock in the shipping containers and carry them from the docks to their financial destination.
3. Tankers
   The tankers are cylinder-back trucks that carry gasoline, milk, and other commercial products. These special trucks have a tank with different specifications to ship dry or liquid products. They can have different categories like partitioned, pressurized, insulated, refrigerated, etc. Each of these is aligned with other industries and products.

While these are the main categories for freight containers, the list doesn’t end here. Transporters have designed custom haulers with different capacities and capabilities based on the needs and shipping needs. Moreover, these trucks come in different sizes, truck cabin hauling load sizes, engine capacities, etc. Additionally, based on the kinds of goods they transport, each category can have complex variations and adaptations. Although no one truck fits all your needs, the freight industry has the solution for all your moving needs. Also, picking a truck that is right and safe for your use can be a tricky decision. Freight companies like M&S Cargo Express and others have various freight options for different goods. You can find suitable freight services for every industry, region, and goods.

Infographic Provided by Logistics Services Company, GP Transco