The Uses of Flatbed Trucks
A flatbed semi is a kind of truck that is both rigid or articulated. As the name implies, its bodywork consists of a flat, level bed with no roof or sides. This bed serves to carry heavy loads and is capable of bearing the weight goods that carried. Flatbed are widely used by companies to carry goods that have to be moved on a regular basis from one location to another.
Normal flatbeds
The term flatbed refer flat surface which the goods carried. These flatbed trucks differ from the normal flatbeds in that the latter’s body lies over the bed, while the former’s body lies underneath the bed. Most of the time flatbeds used for lighter loads. However, there is some instance when used for heavy loads. One of the advantages that these flatbed trucks offer is that they save space that would otherwise have been occupied by stacking pallets. This means that when a company needs to store goods for a long period it saves the company a lot of space that would otherwise required.
Storing Products
The flatbed’s flat surface makes it ideal for storing products that have sharp edges. These trucks are also ideal for carrying delicate and expensive goods because the flatbed’s sides are wider than its bottom. In fact, these kinds of trucks are so wide that they can easily carry two fully loaded pallets on their sides. Trucks come with a side skirt that prevents the product being scratched carried.
Cargo Transportation
These types of trucks are ideal for all kinds of cargo transportation, such as road construction and earth moving. Flatbed trucking is the most popular form of cargo transportation in the United States and in the United Kingdom. These trucks highly valued by many truck drivers because of the comfort that they provide to their passengers. Some people also consider the comfort of the flatbed to be one of the trucking’s many advantages.
Versatility of Flatbed
The versatility of flatbed trucks is another advantage that makes them so popular with companies and truck drivers. Flatbeds are also great for transporting oversize loads. Oversize loads tend to be larger in size. Because of the truck’s extend width easy for oversize loads to carry without too much difficulty.
Some Disadvantages
Although flatbed shipping does have some disadvantages, they are relatively small when compared to other forms of transportation. Some of the disadvantages include a higher cost for hiring a driver, more time when loading and unloading the cargo, and having to make multiple trips between pick-up and delivery of the cargo. In order to reduce the cost of flatbed transportation, some companies choose to do some of their own truck driving instead of hiring out. This is also an effective way for companies to cut down on costs, but they should still hire a professional truck driver for the transport of their cargo in case of any problems.
Transported via road
Flatbed transportation of goods that loaded on flatbeds transported via road. However other ways that flatbeds can be used such as cargo that is a load on tarpaulins. Other goods that sent through flatbeds frozen freight hazardous goods asbestos gas and food that need freezing. Tarps and oversize mats can sometimes be this type of transport.
The rear side of the flatbed
Flatbed trucks typically identified by looking flatbed in front of them. When not in use, the rear side of the flatbed will flip up so that the driver can access the contents of the bed. Some flatbed trucks have a door on the side opposite of the driver which allows for easier access to the goods that need to be load. The sides of the bed made for loading or unload good. This allows the driver to quickly move from one spot to another.