What is an open deck trailer and what should you know about that? Before we answer those questions, a few facts.

It is estimated that the global transportation market will be worth roughly $7.8 billion by 2027. This goes to show that the transportation industry is still as popular as ever, but when it comes to shipping equipment, how can open deck trailers help?

When transporting goods you must know what type of freight shipping method to use. One of the most popular types of shipping is an open deck trailer.

While open deck trailers offer a lot of benefits, not everybody knows exactly what they are or how they work. This means they may avoid using freight trailers and instead use a more expensive method to ship their items.

At Kirsch Transportation, we have covered everything you need to know about open-deck trailers. So if you would like to learn about open-deck trailers and how they work, then keep reading.

What Are They?

Before we get into all of the different aspects of open deck trailers and how they can help you, let’s first cover what open deck trailers are. Simply put, these trailers are open and accessible from all sides.

The advantage of this is that it allows you to put bigger objects on the trailer without worrying about them fitting. Construction businesses and workers often need awkwardly shaped objects transported from one place to another.

However, this can be very difficult to do when you don’t have the right equipment. Open deck trailers are often long and can carry a lot of weight which helps when transporting heavy objects.

What Types of Goods Can Be Transported on Them?

If you are looking to transport a heavy object then you may be able to do it with an open-deck trailer. Generally, these trailers carry objects of all heights, sizes, and weights.

Most other trailers can’t support the weight of these heavy objects which is why they need an open deck trailer for transportation.

An example of some of the materials that can be transported on open deck trailers are:

• Wood
• Pipes
• Molds
• Tanks
• Machinery
• Aero parts
• Tractors

As well as the items listed above, there are more goods that can be transported with these trailers.

If you are considering using an open deck trailer, then it’s always a good idea to check the weight and dimensions of an object to ensure that it will fit on the trailer properly.

Each of the objects that are placed on the open deck trailer will also need to be fixed to the trailer to ensure that they don’t become unsecured. However, a professional can help you by recommending the best way to do this.

What Are The Differences? 

Open Deck Trailers vs. Enclosed Trailers? What are the differences?

Many people get confused about the differences between enclosed trailers and open-deck trailers. The most obvious difference with enclosed trailers is that they provide coverage from the elements. This can offer more protection for goods that are being transported.

While these types of trailers do not offer this, as long as the goods are properly secured this shouldn’t make much of a difference.

Enclosed trailers also have a limit to what they can carry on board in terms of dimensions and height. Whereas trailers have much more room to allow large items to fit on the trailer even if they do have unusual or awkward shapes.

It is worth noting that in general, these trailers are usually lighter and less protected which makes them better for shorter distances. However, enclosed trailers have more cover so they are better for longer distances.

The standard flatbeds are the most widely used open deck trailers in the industry. They can haul a variety of commodities, including steel, steel rebars, steel coils, lumbar, and other construction materials. These trailers are typically 48 feet in length but can be as long as 53 feet.

So, what are the benefits of using these types of trailers?

The Benefits

There are many benefits to using open deck trailers which is why they are so popular. We have covered some of the top benefits below.

Carry Heavy Loads

A big benefit of using open-deck trailers is that they can carry heavy loads. This means that heavy machinery and equipment can be transported from one place to another.

One problem that many people who are in construction or have heavy objects face is that they cannot move the items to new locations. However, open trailers can carry a lot more weight than many other transportation options.

Less Maintenance

When using a trailer to transport your items, the last thing you want to worry about is the trailer breaking. The good news is that open deck trailers often require less maintenance.

This means that if you buy this type of trailer or rent one you will be less likely to have to do maintenance on it. Maintenance on trailers can also cause stress and be expensive, however, you using a trailer should help you to avoid expensive maintenance issues.

Cost-Effective

No matter what type of transportation method you use, there will always be expenses included. When transporting heavy or awkwardly shaped objects the cost can be expensive.

However, these trailers, are often cost-effective. This means that if you are trying to choose a method to transport your items that won’t be overly expensive, then these trailers are a good choice for you.

In some cases, you can get them for half the price of enclosed trailers.

Experience Matters

Transporting your goods from one location to another can sound like a complicated process. However, it’s all about making sure that you choose the right form of transportation.

At Kirsch Transportation, we have five generations of logistics experience. We also ensure that every one of our loads is tracked so our customers can keep up to date with shipping progress.

If you would like to learn more about our open deck solutions, then why not connect with Kirsch today.