If you are looking for a trailer (especially if you work in the transport/logistics industry), you are bound to be overwhelmed by the options and technical specifications available to you. To make this process a little easier, we at Trailers of Fudeng China have put together this guide to explain the difference between a semi-trailer and a full trailer (other people also call it a trailer trailer). We hope this helps you to work out which of these two options best suits your transport/logistics task. If you need more information, please come to our office in China and speak to our friendly staff or contact our sales department for more information.
Generally speaking, there are two types of trailers: full trailers and semi-trailers.
You know that a full trailer has front and rear axles and is permanently connected to the tractor by a drawbar. These commercial cargo trailers are usually 40 feet long and can move vertically relative to the tractor, which controls the steering of the front axle. Semi-trailers do not transfer much load to the tractor and are often used with farm tractors. These trailers are permanently attached to your tractor and are not easy to remove.
A full trailer, you guessed it? Its entire weight is supported by the trailer axles themselves.
That is the back of the tractor, positioned directly in front of the trailer, ready to be hitched to it. The trailer rests on a fifth wheel, which is mechanically connected to the trailer’s kingpin and supports the front of the trailer.
Semi-trailers, which you usually see behind trucks, only support half their weight on their own axles. The other half is carried on the back of the tractor.
A typical semi-trailer. Note that it only has rear trailer axles.
You already know that a semi-trailer has no front axle and most of its weight is carried by the road tractor. It usually has legs (chassis) that lower to keep the trailer upright when it is detached from the implement. The brakes on this detachable trailer are automatically activated when detached; only the truck’s air pump releases the brakes to move the trailer. This trailer cannot exceed 58 feet in length on the highway unless you get a special permit. If you have two smaller semi-trailers coupled together, their length cannot exceed 64 feet.
There are several styles and types of commercial trailers for semi trucks. Here’s a list of the most common trailers in use today.
Full trailers are typically used by companies that need to deliver to multiple locations where only a portion of the load is unloaded. They are primarily used for short-distance transportation to warehouses, factories, terminals, and seaports. In comparison, semi-trailers are often used to transport an entire load to a specific final destination. This also means that heavier and larger loads can be transported than with full trailers.
Moving semi-trailers through loading, unloading, and docking areas is easier with tugs, shunters, and shunters that are easier and less expensive to operate than law enforcement machinery. The detachable nature makes it easier and faster to use when loading or transporting between loading points. Since semi-trailers are detachable, they are easier to replace in the event of an accident, unlike full trailers, which as you know involve a lot of delay.
At Fudeng, we hope this guide will help you decide which trailer you need! If you have any questions or concerns, come to Trailers of China factory to speak with one of our experienced technicians. We are proud to serve all our customers from different countries around the world, Africa, Middle East, etc.
To gain additional load capacity, semi-trailers and complete trailers can be coupled to other semi-trailers, known as double or triple trailers. Semi-trailers can generally carry larger loads and have a better kerb weight to gross weight ratio. Their longer loading platform makes them ideal for transporting long materials. In terms of navigation, a semi-trailer has a smaller turning radius than a semi-trailer, making it more maneuverable. The single pivot point also makes it easier to reverse a semi-trailer. However, they have a higher center of gravity, meaning there is a greater risk of tipping than full trailers, which have a more rigid structure. Since semi-trailers are detachable, they are not securely attached to the tractor. Because of this, they can tip over if care is not taken. For this reason, since 1996, semi-trailers have been required to have anti-lock braking systems (ABS), which reduces the number of accidents involving scissors. If you have to travel on snowy roads, a semi-trailer provides better traction due to the weight on the tractor’s drive axles. Since full-fledged trailers have a cabin, they have their own commercial load capacity, and a semi-trailer requires a tractor to transport cargo.
Conclusion
Semi-trailers are a vital part of the China economy & worldwide. Without semi-trailers / trucks hauling freight, produce & goods around the clock our economy would suffer.
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