Freight

Quick Guide to Trailer Equipment Types

May 1, 2024

When it comes to moving freight, trucking reigns supreme, accounting for over 70% of all goods moved. And with so many different types of goods to move, it’s important to partner with a transportation provider that has the right equipment to haul even your toughest load. 

Bridgeway helps ship more than half a million loads per year, servicing all 48 contiguous states, plus Canada and Mexico. We have fully trained and qualified drivers, trucks, and trailer options to load and carry any type of commodity on any platform–including high, wide, and heavy loads. In this guide, we’ll detail all of the trailer types, equipment, and services we have available to move your freight quickly and efficiently.

Bridgeway Trailer Types

We boast an impressive fleet capable of trailers accommodating a diverse range of cargo types, making us a one-stop solution for all your freight needs. From regular flatbeds to reefers, Bridgeway has the equipment and expertise to handle it all. Here are some of the trailer types we offer: 

  • Flatbed Trailers. One of the most commonly used types of trailers, flatbeds offer  great flexibility. Bridgeway offers both standard open flatbeds and multi-axle options with the ability to handle any type of commodity, including lumber, steel, pipe, heavy or oversized loads, and much more. 

We also offer about 250 specialized covered Conestoga and Curtain Side flatbed trailers for easy loading and unloading while still providing cargo protection comparable to a dry van. Our Conestoga trailers enable you to load from anywhere–front, back, side, and even from the top. 

  • Step Deck Trailers. Bridgeway’s step deck trailers allow you to haul tall machinery and oversized loads. We offer varying base heights to accommodate different cargo requirements, including 18” Lo-Pro Step Decks for taller construction equipment and machinery. 

Our step deck trailers ensure compliance with height regulations, minimizing additional costs in permits for customers while maximizing safety and efficiency.

  • Temperature-Controlled. Refrigerated trailers (also called reefers) can handle any load requiring a temperature-controlled environment, such as fruits and vegetables and other perishables. . Bridgeway’s fleet of refrigerated trucks are operated by fully-trained and certified drivers capable of safely transporting temperature-sensitive cargo and complying with all federal regulations for temperature reporting. 
  • Self-Unloading. Bridgeway offers two types of self-unloading trailers. The first is the Moffett, a forklift mounted to the back of a flatbed for easy loading and unloading without the need for a separate forklift or operator onsite. 

The second option we offer is a crane attached to a tractor for self-unloading of long cargo like utility poles. This allows for easy delivery to remote locations.

Heavy Haul and Specialized Equipment Trailers

Some cargo requires more specialized trailers than the average flatbed, step deck, or reefer. Bridgeway top in transporting high, wide, and heavy loads. With over 40 years of experience and multi-axle and heavy haul trailers across different platforms, we can tackle your overdimensional and heavy loads with ease–and we love it! 

We’ll assemble the most experienced team to haul your load, secure all the necessary permits and escorts, and ensure your heavy haul job is completed legally, professionally, and on time. These are some of the specialized and heavy haul trailers we provide:

  • RGNs. When you have very heavy equipment that can’t be safely craned onto a trailer, we have you covered with RGNs (removable goosenecks) – allowing you to drive the equipment directly onto the trailer instead. Bridgeway has everything from 2-axle RGNs to 5-axle RGN trailers, allowing you to haul the maximum amount of weight safely and legally.  
  • Multi-Axle Open Deck Trailers. We offer a fleet of multi-axle options across the entire spectrum of open deck trailers – from flatbeds to step decks to stretch trailers. Our certified and highly experienced heavy haul drivers will ensure your high, wide, or heavy loads are moved in compliance with all regulations.
  • Schnabel Trailers. For extremely long or oversized loads like very heavy industrial equipment, wind turbines, or bridge beams, we offer multi-axle Schnabel trailers. Our Schnabel-certified drivers will coordinate your shipment with precision to make sure your oversized cargo is moved safely. 

Our Trailer Services

In addition to a wide variety of trailer types, Bridgeway has several unique services to help solve your toughest transport problems. 

  • Power-Only. We have power-only specialized drivers qualified to haul trailers of every size in every sector. From vans to heavy haul specialty trailers like Schnabels, our drivers have the skill and knowledge to pick up any trailer you have and transport your freight with precision.
  • Drive-Away. Bridgeway can also   provide our customers with 80 dedicated Drive-Away service drivers. All our drivers hold a CDL license and are capable of moving everything from Class A vehicles down to passenger vans. All cargo and liability are fully covered and protected, giving you peace of mind in addition to innovative solutions for rolling equipment transportation.
  • Vans and Drop & Hook. We offer drop-van and preload services to fit any customer need. With a virtually unlimited supply of vans, we have the flexibility to keep your cargo moving around the clock – saving you time and dollars. 

We also provide Drop & Hook services. Our drivers will drop empty trailers to your yard for preloading. Once loaded, we’ll drop another empty trailer, hook onto the loaded trailer, and haul your load, keeping your cargo flowing constantly without waiting on a driver to live load.

  • Cross-Border Freight. Operating out of Laredo, Texas, less than a mile from the border, we specialize in single-source nearshoring transportation and logistics solutions. Working with our customs clearance partner in Mexico, we handle all paperwork, taxes, and information needed to clear your load in or out of Mexico. We then receive, consolidate, and transport shipments at our secure, C-TPAT certified and customs-bonded 75-acre facility – ensuring seamless and timely handling of cross-border freight.

With our expansive reach, diverse fleet of trailers, and specialized services, Bridgeway is the right partner for all your transportation needs. Ready to haul? Connect with us.

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