Flatbed trailer is a type of semi-trailer used to transport large and heavy loads with standardized dimensions for length, width and height. Standardizing these dimensions helps to avoid overloading and over-height problems, and also ensures that the trailer can pass through bridges and tunnels without any problems, thus improving transport efficiency and safety. It’s also an important part of transportation management, helping to standardize industry practices. So what exactly are the dimensions of a semi-flatbed trailer, which Truckman will discuss in more detail below?
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Flatbed Trailer Overview
Flatbed trailers are also known as flatbed trucks, full-trailer flatbed trucks, and full trailers. They are important tools for modern logistics and transportation. The use of flatbed trailers is an important means to improve economic efficiency effectively and simply. It has a high load-bearing capacity. The flatbed trailer train can be formed by a tractor pulling one or more full trailers. It has a simple structure and is easy to maintain. Maintenance costs are low, and general trucks can tow it without modification. You can take it off the hook and use it as a storage unit for a long time. The flatbed trailer itself has no power. It needs an available forklift or tractor for traction. It’s for factories, wharves, ports, and warehouses. They use it to move bulk cargo.
Flatbed trailers and van trailers differ significantly in their functions and use. Flatbed trailers mainly transport large machinery, steel, and construction materials. In contrast, van trailers are better for transporting delicate goods. These include electronics, food, and pharmaceuticals. Van trailers provide an enclosed space. This space better protects the cargo from the weather and outside environment.
Flatbed trailers are versatile and come in a variety of types to meet different cargo and transportation needs. In addition to standard flatbed trailers, there are several specialized trailers available:
Step Deck or Drop Deck Trailers
These trailers have two levels and provide the flexibility to transport higher cargo that standard flatbed trucks cannot carry. They are ideal for industrial equipment and large containers. The design offers extra height capacity, making it suitable for transporting taller loads safely.
Retractable Flatbed Trailers
These trailers come with an adjustable deck. This deck can telescope according to the length of the cargo. It is ideal for transporting long cargoes such as steel beams, pipes or construction materials. The flexible design ensures efficient transportation without taking up extra space.
Lowbed trailer or double drop trailer
These trailers are characterized by a low deck and are suitable for transporting heavy and oversized equipment. They are used to transport items such as excavators and large construction machinery. The lower deck reduces the overall height during transportation, ensuring stability and safety.
Removable Gooseneck Trailer (RGN Trailer)
The RGN trailer has a removable gooseneck that can be loaded from the front. This feature is ideal for large machinery such as bulldozers and cranes. It makes loading and unloading easier and more flexible, which is why it is widely used in construction and mining industries.
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Type of goods transported
A. Flatbed trailers are widely used to transport all kinds of construction machinery, including excavators, loaders, bulldozers, road rollers, and other large mechanical equipment. These machinery and equipment are heavy and bulky and require a solid chassis and reliable fixing measures for safe transportation.
B. Flatbed trailer is also an important tool for transporting steel, capable of transporting various specifications, shapes, and sizes of steel, including steel bars, steel plates, steel pipes, and so on. These steel materials need to be secured by tying and fixing to ensure that there will be no sliding, tilting, etc. in the transportation process, to ensure the safety of the goods.
C. Flatbed trailers can also transport all kinds of construction materials, such as cement, bricks, glass, tiles, and so on. These goods need standardized packaging and fixing methods to ensure that they will not be damaged during transportation.
D. Flatbed trailers can also transport all kinds of agricultural machinery, such as tractors, harvesters, and so on. These machines need to be protected from collision, damage, etc. during transportation, and thus require reliable tying and protection measures.
Flatbed Trailer Dimensions
Standard Flatbed Trailer
The Standard Flatbed Trailer is usually between 48 and 53 feet in length, 8.5 feet in width and 5 feet in height. It is capable of transporting cargo up to 8.5 feet and has a maximum load capacity of 30 tons. With a 4-axle design, its capacity can be increased to 70 tons, making it ideal for transporting heavy cargo. This model is suitable for transporting most regular cargo, especially if it meets the length and width criteria.
Step Deck Trailers
The Step Deck Trailer also has a length of 48 to 53 feet and a width of 8.5 feet. It has an upper deck height of 5 feet and a lower deck that drops to 3.6 feet. This design allows it to carry up to 10 feet of cargo, making it an ideal solution for transporting extra tall cargo. It is especially suited to equipment and structures that require more height space than a standard flatbed trailer.
Extendable Flatbed Trailer
The Extendable Flatbed Trailer can extend up to 80 feet in length, with a standard width of 8.5 feet and a height of 5 feet. The variable length design is ideal for transporting extra long cargo such as piping and long steel structural members. By adjusting the length, the trailer ensures that the cargo is adequately supported and stabilized during transportation.
Lowboy Trailer
Lowboy trailers are typically between 48 and 80 feet long, 8.5 feet wide, and have a minimum cabin height of 18 to 24 inches. Their lower deck design makes them suitable for transporting heavy and extra tall equipment, keeping the overall transport height low. This ensures stability and safety when transporting large machinery and equipment.
Variations In Flatbed Trailer Dimensions
A flatbed trailer is a common means of transportation that can carry a large number of goods when transporting products and can transport different types of goods such as lumber, bricks, freight containers, and so on. However, the sizes of different flatbed trailers are not the same, for example, the length of a flatbed trailer is usually around 48 feet, which is mainly used to transport 20FT and 40FT containers, some flatbed trailers’ lengths can reach 53 feet, while is used to transport 45 feet container. Some low-bed trailers can be lowered to about 3.6 feet, which is usually used to transport super-high mechanical equipment and goods with a high center of gravity. Some flatbed trailers can be telescoped to make the whole length of the trailer meet the needs of transporting extra-long cargo.
The Importance Of Trailer Size In Logistics
The dimensional parameters of the flatbed semi-trailer are of great importance for the safety and legality of transportation of goods, determining the type of goods that can be transported.
Different types of cargo may have different size and weight restrictions. For example, a low-bed semi-trailer transporting stone or construction materials needs to have a large load capacity and size adaptability, whereas a semi-trailer transporting agricultural products or light goods may be selected with a relatively small load capacity. Generally speaking, when the cargo is larger in size or heavier in weight, a longer and wider low-bed semi-trailer needs to be selected to provide sufficient space and stability.
Different countries have different requirements for flatbed trailer:
A. In China, the maximum length of a trailer is 59.4 feet. In addition, there will be different length limitations according to different header models and trailer models. For example, if it is a tractor-trailer, the maximum length with the front end is 54.1 feet, and if it is a dump trailer, the maximum length is 42.7 feet.
B. In the EU, there are also different restrictions on trailer length. The maximum length is 54.1 feet, which can be increased to 61.5 feet if there is an adapter (dolly) connecting the front end and the trailer.
C. In the Netherlands and Belgium, the maximum trailer length is also dependent on the use of a dolly adapter, although the Dutch-Belgian limit is slightly higher, reaching a maximum of around 72.2 ft.
D. In Australia, the trailer length limit is based on the type of connection between the front end and the trailer. If a standard connector is used, the maximum length is 82 feet. If a specially tailored connector is used, the maximum length can be 119.8 feet.
E. In the U.S., federal law states that trailer length cannot exceed 28.5 feet , but this may vary from state to state and region to region. In California, the maximum trailer length is 53 feet.
How To Choose Suitable Flatbed Trailer?
Flatbed transportation trailers are a common type of logistics and transportation equipment, mainly used for moving and storing goods between different locations. When choosing a flatbed transportation trailer, the following factors need to be considered:
From flatbed trailer structure.
a. The flatbed area is large enough to be able to place enough cargo.
b. The flatbed should have a certain height to ensure the stability of the cargo.
c. The trailer frame should be strong enough to ensure the stability and safety of the flatbed.
d. The wheels and axles should be of good quality to ensure a smooth ride of the trailer.
Secondly, when choosing a flatbed transportation trailer, you need to consider the following points:
a. The nature and weight of the cargo. If the goods to be transported are heavy or fragile, then you need to choose a more robust flatbed trailer.
b. Road conditions and distance. If you need to travel on poor road conditions or long-distance transportation, then you need to choose a more durable flatbed trailer.
Third, the flatbed transportation trailer should have the following advantages:
a. Flatbed trailers can be more flexible to shuttle between cities and highways, free from vehicle and road restrictions.
b. Compared with other transportation modes, flatbed trailers can save time and cost.
c. Flatbed trailers can be more convenient to load and unload goods, and can quickly complete the movement and storage of goods.
Finally, flatbed transportation trailers are suitable for the following scenes:
a. Logistics transportation: flatbed trailers can be used for logistics transportation, transporting goods from one place to another.
b. Industrial transportation: flatbed trailers can be used for transportation and transfer of materials in the industrial production process.
Summary
latbed trailer dimensions are critical to ensuring safe and efficient transportation. By adhering to standard sizes, risks like overloading and height restrictions are minimized. These standards also make it easier to meet a variety of transportation needs. Customers can choose the right trailer based on these established dimensions to ensure efficient and safe transportation of their goods. If you need help, Truckman’s engineers are on hand to provide expert advice and support.
FAQ
The load capacity of a flatbed trailer refers to the weight of the goods it carries, depending on its structure and model. Generally speaking, the capacity of flatbed trailers can reach 30 to 70 tons, but it should be judged according to the technical parameters of the vehicle.
Yes. We can customize the flatbed trailer to the dimensions of your shipment to ensure safety and compliance with laws and regulations, and to produce a flatbed trailer in the size that will transport your goods.
First, the state sets the maximum length of a semi-trailer based on roadway design and standards. It is stipulated that the overall length of a semi-trailer (i.e., the entire length of the vehicle after the combination of the tractor and trailer) must not exceed 59.4 feet. This length is based on a combination of factors such as road traffic conditions and the stability of the vehicle’s movement and is designed to avoid excessive lengths of vehicles causing confusion and safety hazards to road traffic.
Secondly, the trailer part of the semi-trailer also has specific length requirements. It is stipulated that the length of the trailer section of a semi-trailer shall not exceed 45.9 feet. This requirement is mainly to ensure the stability and controllability of the semi-trailer in the highway driving process.
The standard flatbed trailer has a clearance height of 5 feet.
Step deck trailers have two loading heights: 5 feet for the upper deck and 3.6 feet for the lower deck.