When it comes to hauling freight, choosing the right type of truck is essential to ensuring the safe, efficient transport of your goods. From heavy machinery to temperature-sensitive cargo, different types of trailers are designed to handle specific cargo. Here are some of the most common types of freight trailers and the types of freight they are best suited to haul.
Flatbed Trailers
Flatbeds are some of the most versatile trailers in the trucking industry. Their open design allows for easy loading and unloading of many different types of cargo across a wide range of industries. Flatbeds are commonly used for transporting:
- Construction materials like steel beams, lumber, and roofing materials
- Heavy machinery and equipment such as excavators, generators, and vehicles
- Agricultural goods like hay bales and farm equipment
- Industrial products like pipes, tubing, and coils
- Manufactured and consumer goods like furniture, appliances, and household goods
- And much more.
Bridgeway has a vast fleet of multi-axle flatbeds capable of handling even the most challenging cargo, including heavy and oversized loads.
Step Deck Trailers
Step deck trailers, also known as drop decks, are similar to flatbeds but with a two-tiered design that allows you to haul very tall loads without exceeding legal height limits. Bridgeway’s 18” Lo-Pro Step Decks are ideal for freight like:
Heavy industrial machinery or construction equipment that is too tall for standard flatbeds
Aircraft components like fuselages and wings
Prefabricated buildings or oversized shipping containers
Dry Van Trailers
Dry vans are fully enclosed trailers, perfect for hauling freight that needs protection from the weather but doesn’t require temperature control. They’re a go-to for:
Consumer goods like electronics, clothing, and furniture
Non-perishable food products and packaged goods
Paper products like office supplies, packaging materials, and printing paper
Building materials like lumber, drywall, and insulation
And more
As one of the most common and versatile trailer types, Bridgeway maintains a virtually unlimited supply of dry vans to safely transport your packaged and palletized freight.
Reefer Trailers
Refrigerated trailers, or reefers, are temperature-controlled units used to transport perishable or temperature-sensitive goods. Reefers are commonly used to haul a wide range of goods that require specific temperature conditions in transit, such as:
Perishable foods, such as dairy, fruits, and frozen goods like ice cream
Beverages, including soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Pharmaceuticals like medications, vaccines, and medical devices
Biological materials like blood, plasma, or samples
Chemicals and laboratory reagents
Flowers and plants
Reefers are essential for industries that deal with goods that spoil or degrade without proper temperature management. Bridgeway’s fleet of refrigerated trucks and temperature-controlled trailers are operated by fully-trained and certified drivers capable of safely transporting temperature-sensitive cargo.
Tanker Trailers
Tankers are specialized trailers designed to haul liquids, gases, and other bulk materials. They are most often seen transporting:
Chemicals and fuels, such as gasoline or propane
Food-grade liquids like milk or juice
Industrial liquids such as water or oil
Depending on the cargo, tankers can be insulated, pressurized, or equipped with compartments for different liquids.
Specialty Trailers
When it comes to oversized, overweight, or unusually shaped freight, you may need a special type of trailer to move your cargo. At Bridgeway, we specialize in moving high, wide, heavy, or otherwise difficult to transport freight. We have an extensive fleet of specialty heavy haul and self-unloading trailers, including:
Schnabel Trailers. Used for transporting very heavy, oversized loads like wind turbine blades, power plant components, or large industrial equipment. They support the load with lifting arms rather than resting the cargo on a platform.
RGN (Removable Gooseneck) Trailers. These are ideal for heavy equipment and machinery, as the gooseneck detaches to allow equipment to be driven onto the trailer.
Moffits. Equipped with a forklift mounted to the back of a flatbed, Moffits can easily handle materials like landscaping supplies, utility poles, and building materials for delivery to hard-to-reach locations.
Selecting the right freight truck for your haul can make all the difference in getting your cargo delivered safely and on time. At Bridgeway, we’re experts in matching the right equipment to the job. Whether you’re moving construction materials, machinery, or sensitive goods, we’ve got the expertise and fleet to handle it all.
Ready to move your freight? Contact us to find the perfect solution for your hauling needs. Connect with us.
