Numbering in the millions, box trucks crisscross North and Central America carrying goods from shipping ports and distribution centers to stores. These large trailers usually have aluminum siding to reduce weight. Box trailers generally come in two sizes: a 28-foot and a 45-foot wedge, the latter of which can hold a stunning 3,083 cubic feet. These types of trailers are taller in the rear than in front -- hence the title "wedge." To fill a wedge trailer properly, you must calculate its height in the front, rear and middle to determine an accurate capacity.
Container trucks are heavy metal containers used to ship items overseas. They can move easily from a freighter to a train, and they can attach to a semi truck as a trailer. Distinguished by their smaller size and corrugated outer walls, these durable containers travel the world with their contents. Often known as "ocean containers" due to their use overseas and durable construction, these containers often show the damaging effects of salt water and exposure to harsh weather conditions. They have an internal capacity of 1,172 square feet -- less than half that of a box truck.
"Reefer truck" is slang for a refrigerated tractor trailer. Built with the same dimensions as a wedge box trailer, these trailers have a refrigeration unit in front, directly behind the cabin of the truck. These trucks take more energy to operate but have the ability to keep their contents at a very low temperature for an indefinite period. These portable refrigeration units, which require special maintenance to keep their cargo from spoiling, have the same interior capacity as that of a box trailer: roughly 3,000 cubic feet.
Flatbeds and platform trucks simply consist of a long, flat trailer used to transport large items that would not normally fit inside of a trailer truck, such as construction equipment. These trucks often transport items loaded and unloaded by a crane. You can often see culverts and other oversize construction equipment on a flatbed tractor. You may also see these trucks carrying cars or trucks on their way to be scrapped or repaired.
Tanker trucks haul two kinds of fluids: toxic and food grade. They come in various sizes, with capacities ranging from 5,000 to 9,000 gallons. Some smaller tanker trucks come with as little as a 1,000-gallon capacity, usually for volatile the transporter has liquefied for easy transport, such as propane, oxygen or nitrogen. Operators of tanker trucks usually require a specialized license -- especially when transporting hazardous chemicals.
