If you own any business, you know the importance of company
vehicles, especially if you rely on vehicles for transporting materials or
hauling heavy equipment. However, with so many types of truck bodies from which
to choose, getting the right vehicles for your business can seem overwhelming.
If you're ready to start truck shopping, but you aren't sure what you need,
check out these four common types of truck body types to see if one is right
for you.
1. Flatbed
As then name suggests, flatbed trucks have a flat bed, which
allows for more space for hauling items. They also have a high towing capacity,
which refers to how much extra weight the truck can pull. This is important
because hauling items that are too heavy for your vehicle can drastically
destroy it.
For this reason, flatbed trucks are great for businesses
that have to haul a lot of equipment frequently, such as contractors.
Similarly, if you have oddly shaped cargo, a flatbed truck may be your best
choice. Plus, flatbed trucks can be loaded and unloaded from any side. Of
course, because there are no walls, you'll need to secure the load yourself.
2. Box Trailer
A box trailer is different from a flatbed truck because it
has walls and a ceiling. For this reason, you may have less flexibility on what
you can haul, but everything you do haul is better protected from elements and
potential criminals. Plus, many businesses have docks for box trailers to make
it easy to remove the cargo.
One drawback to box trailers is that they can only be
unloaded and loaded from the back, and some of these trucks can be huge.
Therefore, if a customer needs something from the very front of the box
trailer, you may have to remove a lot of other stuff first.
3. Dump
When hauling certain materials, there are different hazards
to consider. For example, if you own a landscaping company, and nee to
transport gravel or dirt to someone's property, a dump truck is the best
choice. These items can easily fly off other types of trucks to cover the road
or hit other cars, which can lead to car accidents and lawsuits.
Dump trucks have walls, and you can usually install some
type of tarp system over the top during transit. This tarp system allows you to
easily remove the top of the truck to dump your load. Dump trucks also have
lifts that allow them to actually "dump" the entire load at once,
making it much easier to spread dirt, gravel, bark dust, etc.
4. Tankers
If you need to transport some type of liquid, such as
gasoline or oil, you'll want to consider a tanker truck body. Some tankers also
transport gases or some bulk dry loads like sand. Plus, one tanker can actually
transport more than one material, while keeping different materials
separated.
The size of your tanker largely depends on how much you need
to haul. If you are hauling up to 9,000 gallons with a weight of 26,000 pounds
or more, you'll need a heavy-duty tanker truck. On the other hand, if you only
haul 1,000 gallons, with a weight below 12,000 pounds,
a light-duty tanker truck could be all you need.
For some businesses, a few cars or small trucks is enough,
but if you have to haul or transport items, materials, etc. regularly, it's
time to invest in some heavy-duty trucks that can really get the job done.
Whether you just need a small flatbed truck or a huge tanker, there is a
solution for your needs. For more information, contact us at Diamond Truck Body
MFG Inc. today.
