There are various types of freight in the trucking industry. However, there are those types of freight that only a few have heard about.
Probably, the only familiar with the freight are those involved in the trucking industry.
Correspondingly, there is freight that you may have never heard about, and they are all different in complexity and management.
However, you never know, you may want to get involved in the trucking industry and start running a trucking business of that particular freight type.
There is the freight which is making much more profit than the other types in the trucking business.
Moreover, some of them are much easier to transport and some of them are more complex.
The trucking industry is a tricky business, and choosing the freight is not easy like searching for the best trucker hats or picking truck tires.
Types of Freight In The Trucking Industry
There are millions of truck drivers on the roads and they are the heroes of the highways. Further, they are considered the saviors of the America’s economy.
The drivers are doing an amazing job for the United States in and out of the country while driving on the most dangerous roads.
Continually, they are making millions of miles while transporting different types of freight each day and in different countries or cities.
To continue with, the truck drivers may all drive different freight types but they certainly have one thing in common – heroism.
Having said this, they are facing the over the road challenges that truck driving involves. Furthermore, there are various methods and modes involved in the transportation process.
In other words, the trucking companies in New York are using GPS systems in order to provide better transportation services.
Moreover, for the heavier types of freight, the trucking businesses are making sure that they master the art of cargo securement.
Correspondingly, they also must respect specific Government rules, some of them referring to driving and some to the laws, for instance:
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
- Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA)
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- United States Department of Labor (DOL)
- Freight Transportation Rules
- The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
In addition, there are hundreds of freight classes, you just need to write the perfect truck driver resume, and hit the roads.
1. TL or Truckload
Truckload or TL is a type of freight which is available for small to enterprise trucking businesses. Furthermore, there are the supply chains as well as for Government services.
To continue with, this particular type of freight also involves shipments internationally. Furthermore, the capacity of truckload services is wide.
The truckload types of freight have a capacity to handle 5,000 to 10,000 pounds which normally depends on the commodities.
Besides the fact that it involves climate controlled, overweight or other specialized kinds of transportation, it is one of the fastest shipments.
How is it possible?
Well, to emphasize, it does not require truck transfers like unloading or reloading the cargo which is an advantage for the trucking company.
However, it can be a little more expensive than the LTL. Continually, the TL services include the following types of freight:
- Flatbed Loads
- Enclosed Trailers
- Reefer Trailers
- Rail Freight
- Dry Van Trailers
- RGNs
- Step Deck Trailers
- Oversized Loads
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Dry Van
Dry van carriers are the load types which are best suited with the normal cargo. The dry van shipments are the most common types of freight.
In particular, the dry van trucking shipments usually involve big containers. Furthermore, they do not need to involve refrigerated trailers.
Having said this, dry vans are types of loads which are chosen conveniently. Moreover, they are one of the best transportation types of freight because they can be shipped in an organized manner at once.
Refrigerated/ Reefer
Refrigerated transportation can also be referred as reefer transport. As the name says, this transportation consists of temperature controlled freight.
Refrigerated types of freight normally consist of sensitive cargo which involves water or air cooling systems in the trailer.
The reefer type of freight is the best way for countries to get fresh products in a fast and reliable way of transportation.
Flatbed Trailers
When you are in need of a larger or construction equipment transportation the flatbed freight is the best option for your trucking business.
The flatbed trailers are made of large or wide cargo which usually needs to be loaded with a forklift or crane.
The flatbeds can handle a maximum of 48,000 pounds. Continually, they have a length of 48 to 53 feet.
Step Deck
On the contrary, there are the step deck trailers types of freight in the trucking industry.
The step deck and flatbed trailers may be the same in length (48 to 53 feet) and weight (48,000) but yet they are different.
To put it in another way, the step deck trailers differ from the rest of the trailer in height. In other words, they are lower than the other types of freight.
Further, with the help of the step deck transportation, your trucking business can benefit and still keep the logistics to the minimum.
2. LTL or Less Than Truckload
Less than load or less than truckload is another type of transportation which normally includes relatively small cargo.
The truck drivers involved in this freight type are transporting small packages than can be broken down into specific units.
To put it in another way, there are units including less than 150 lb.
Particularly, LTL or less than truckload cargos are types of freight which involve weight varying between 200 and 20,000 pounds.
In these freight types, the intermodal trucking companies are also involved.
