There are a number of different types of truck trailers and rail
cars, in no small part because of the wide range of cargo types that can
be shipped. Some cargo requires special equipment to be shipped because
of things like the size or sensitive nature of the freight. When those
times arise, a variety of trailers or rail cars can be used.
Boxcar
Arguably the most basic of rail cars, this type features a roof and sides with doors at either end, the sides, or both. When you think of old movies and characters riding the rail with hobos, these are the type of car you're picturing.
Centerbeam Car
Specifically designed for the transport of lumber, this type of car features a support structure in the center of the car, hence the name.
Consestoga
This type of commercial trailer features a removable top, allowing for easy loading and unloading of freight. The top can be placed back in place to ensure that the freight is protected from the elements while in transit to its final destination.
Covered Hopper Car
Similar to a Gondola car except featuring bottom doors that make it easy to unload freight like coal, ore, grain, concrete, and ballast into another container.
Depressed Deck Car
Designed to handle freight that is over-weight or over-dimensional, these rail cars have a depression in the bed that helps deal with the increased size of the freight.
Flatbed
A trailer or car featuring just a platform without any sides or ends. These trailers and cars are particularly good at hauling freight that is over-length or over-width as the lack of sides and ends allows the freight to fit where it wouldn't fit in other trailers or rail cars.
Gondola
A type of rail car featuring sides and ends but no top. Commonly used to carry freight that can just be dumped in with no worry about exposure to the elements. Also good for bulk commodities that could slide off a car such as a flatbed.
Refrigerated Trailers and Rail Cars
A boxcar or enclosed trailer that features temperature control technology. Typically seen in use by food service companies to keep perishable food items at safe temperatures and for the use of transporting any freight that must be kept cool to preserve it.
More on the Way
These are just some of the types of trailers and rail cars that commercial companies use to move freight from one location to another. As new types of freight have to be moved, new types of trailers and cars will be introduced to allow them to be moved with ease.
Boxcar
Arguably the most basic of rail cars, this type features a roof and sides with doors at either end, the sides, or both. When you think of old movies and characters riding the rail with hobos, these are the type of car you're picturing.
Centerbeam Car
Specifically designed for the transport of lumber, this type of car features a support structure in the center of the car, hence the name.
Consestoga
This type of commercial trailer features a removable top, allowing for easy loading and unloading of freight. The top can be placed back in place to ensure that the freight is protected from the elements while in transit to its final destination.
Covered Hopper Car
Similar to a Gondola car except featuring bottom doors that make it easy to unload freight like coal, ore, grain, concrete, and ballast into another container.
Depressed Deck Car
Designed to handle freight that is over-weight or over-dimensional, these rail cars have a depression in the bed that helps deal with the increased size of the freight.
Flatbed
A trailer or car featuring just a platform without any sides or ends. These trailers and cars are particularly good at hauling freight that is over-length or over-width as the lack of sides and ends allows the freight to fit where it wouldn't fit in other trailers or rail cars.
Gondola
A type of rail car featuring sides and ends but no top. Commonly used to carry freight that can just be dumped in with no worry about exposure to the elements. Also good for bulk commodities that could slide off a car such as a flatbed.
Refrigerated Trailers and Rail Cars
A boxcar or enclosed trailer that features temperature control technology. Typically seen in use by food service companies to keep perishable food items at safe temperatures and for the use of transporting any freight that must be kept cool to preserve it.
More on the Way
These are just some of the types of trailers and rail cars that commercial companies use to move freight from one location to another. As new types of freight have to be moved, new types of trailers and cars will be introduced to allow them to be moved with ease.
