Joe McGovern Transport · Haulage, Transport & Storage · Ireland

Curtainsider, rigid or artic: matching the vehicle to the load

The right truck for the job, and why it matters

The main choice is rigid versus articulated. A rigid truck is a single unit - more manoeuvrable, better for smaller loads and tight urban or restricted-access deliveries. An articulated lorry (a tractor unit pulling a trailer) carries much more and suits full loads and longer runs, but needs room to access. The trailer type then matches the load: a curtainsider has retractable side curtains for easy side loading and is the versatile default for palletised and general freight; a flatbed suits loads craned or forklifted on from the side or top, or oversized items; a box trailer or temperature-controlled trailer suits goods needing protection. Matching size, weight, access and loading method to the vehicle is what makes a delivery go smoothly.

A haulage job is only as good as the vehicle it goes on. Send a load on the wrong truck and you get access problems at delivery, wasted space, or a trailer that cannot be loaded the way the goods need. Knowing the main vehicle and trailer types - and what each suits - helps you brief a haulier and get the right truck first time.

Rigid or articulated?

The first decision is the vehicle size and configuration. A rigid truck carries its body on a single chassis - it is more manoeuvrable and better suited to smaller loads, multi-drop work and deliveries into tight or urban locations where a big trailer cannot go. An articulated lorry, with a separate tractor unit and trailer, carries far more and is the workhorse for full loads and trunk routes, but it needs adequate access and turning room at both ends. Matching the load size and the delivery access to rigid or artic avoids problems on the day.

Trailer types

• 1
  Curtainsider: retractable curtains on the sides for easy forklift side-loading; the versatile default for pallets and general freight.
• 2
  Flatbed: an open platform for loads craned or lifted on from the side or top, and for oversized or awkward items.
• 3
  Box / dry van: enclosed and secure, for goods needing protection from weather and handling.
• 4
  Temperature-controlled: refrigerated trailers for chilled or frozen goods.

What decides the match

Beyond size, three things drive the choice: weight (staying within the vehicle's payload and axle limits), access (can the vehicle physically reach and manoeuvre at collection and delivery), and loading method (is the load put on by forklift from the side, craned from above, or hand-loaded from the rear). A palletised load that is forklifted on suits a curtainsider; a steel section craned on suits a flatbed; chilled goods need a fridge trailer. Getting these right is the difference between a smooth job and a stuck truck.

Getting it right

A good haulier with a varied fleet matches the vehicle to your load rather than forcing the load onto whatever is available. Describe the goods, the weight, how they load, and the access at both ends, and the right truck can be assigned. Joe McGovern runs a varied fleet of over 40 trucks across Ireland and matches the vehicle to the job - see how to choose a haulage company and groupage or full load.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a curtainsider used for?

  A curtainsider has retractable side curtains that open up the sides of the trailer for easy forklift loading, making it the versatile default for palletised and general freight. It combines the security of an enclosed trailer with the side access of a flatbed.
• What is the difference between a rigid and an articulated truck?

  A rigid truck is a single unit on one chassis - more manoeuvrable and better for smaller loads and tight-access deliveries. An articulated lorry is a tractor unit pulling a separate trailer, carrying much more and suiting full loads and longer runs, but needing more room to access.
• How do I know which vehicle my load needs?

  Match the vehicle to the load's size and weight, the access at collection and delivery, and how it is loaded - forklifted from the side (curtainsider), craned from above (flatbed), or needing protection or temperature control (box or fridge trailer). A haulier with a varied fleet will match it for you.