Transporting goods from A to B is rarely as easy as it sounds, is it? Oversized, heavy, or irregularly shaped cargo provides challenges that a standard truck or trailer may have difficulty contending with.
Flat rack containers are the workhorse of the transport industry, and provide a reliable and efficient solution to your business’ shipping needs.
So let’s take a closer look at flat rack containers, and what they can help you achieve.
The flat rack container: a versatile addition to your fleet
Flat rack containers, or flat rack trailers, are an essential part of every modern supply chain. And you’ve definitely seen them around.
They’re an open-deck container, featuring a steel-framed flat bed with collapsible, or removable, end walls. They come in two general sizes, the 20-foot and 40-foot versions, which allow for compatibility with most standard shipping infrastructure.
They sound simple, and that’s because they are. But in their simplicity lies their genius.
Flat rack trailers are designed to handle a wide range of cargo types, including heavy machinery, construction materials, vehicles, and large equipment that exceed the height or width limitations of standard containers.
The collapsible nature of their end walls is a key feature, too, which makes them easy to load and unload your cargo, regardless of size. It also means that when they’re collapsed, you can stack three or four flat rack containers on top of each other, and they only take up the space of one standard shipping container.
A more secure way to deliver cargo
A flat rack container is the Swiss Army knife of trailers. And with their versatility comes their safety.
Flat rack containers make it easy to safely secure your loads, and their open nature allows for easy access from all sides. They come with plenty of anchor points from which to secure your loads. You can use a variety of methods to secure your cargo, such as lashing or strapping—whichever suits your needs—and the end walls (if used) provide an added measure of support and containment. This ensures your loads remain safe and stable throughout your entire journey.
Flat rack containers aren’t big pieces of equipment, but what you transport may be—so it’s important that you load them right. It’s crucial that you distribute your load evenly, to reduce the risk of tipping or shifting during transport. After all, they don’t have walls, so any errors can see your load roll right off the back.
Proper load balancing ensures better handling and maneuverability of your trucks, making control easier during turns, braking, and a range of weather conditions. There’s a flow-on effect too; evenly distributed weight prevents excessive strain on any one part of your trailer, reducing wear and tear and extending its lifespan.
Easily transport loads of all shapes and sizes
Flat rack trailers are designed to easily carry unconventionally-shaped loads. Machinery like heavy mining vehicles, tractors, or bulldozers. Long materials, like large concrete piping, or lumber. Or tall stacks of materials, that don’t fit in a standard truck. The open deck and flexible dimensions make it easy to load and secure these items, and safely get them where they need to go.
Looking back at the point of easy access, it becomes particularly important when loading this unconventionally-sized cargo on and off your trailer. The open design of flat rack trailers allows for easy access from all sides, including from above. You can access your goods easily, whether it’s by crane, forklift, or in some cases, even driving it directly onto the rack.
Safety at every turn
Flat rack containers create a safer environment at every stage of your supply journey.
Easy, all-sides access makes it safer for your teams loading your materials onto the trailer. Safe, secure loading provides a more secure and better-balanced load for your drivers. This in turn allows for better handling and stopping, ensuring safer use out on the roads. And with a well-secured load, it makes it safer to unload for your crews at the other end of the journey.
So when you’re looking for a supremely safe transport option, flat rack trailers get the job done.
High quality flat rack container and transport equipment hire
Rentco provides a wide range of flat rack containers ready to integrate into your fleet. Each one is regularly maintained to ensure ease and safety of use, and help you get your goods where they need to go. And with our 24/7 national breakdown service, you’re covered, no matter where you are on the roads.
So get in touch with your nearest Rentco depot to discuss how we can help you integrate a flat rack containers into your operations.
