Flatbed vs Curtain-Side Trailer: Which Should You Use?

Flatbed trailers

A flatbed has an open, flat deck with no sides or roof, so it can be loaded from the top, sides or rear — ideal for heavy machinery, steel, pipes and construction materials. A standard 40ft flatbed typically carries up to around 24 tonnes.

Because the deck is open, cargo must be properly secured and, when needed, tarped for weather protection.

Curtain-side trailers

A curtain-side combines the easy side access of a flatbed with the weather protection of a box trailer, using sliding fabric curtains. It suits palletised and general cargo that needs quick side loading and protection from rain and dust.

Curtain-siders are less suited to very heavy point loads or out-of-gauge cargo that needs crane loading.

Lowbed and step-deck

For tall or very heavy loads that exceed height or weight limits on a standard flatbed, a lowbed (or step-deck) sits closer to the ground — essential for equipment, transformers and abnormal loads that need oversize permits and sometimes escorts.

Which one for your cargo?

Use a flatbed or lowbed for heavy, oversized or crane-loaded cargo; use a curtain-side for palletised general freight that needs protection and fast loading. NAQL offers all of these from an owned fleet, with the right securing, permits and tracking for each move.