If you are an amateur house builder like me, sometimes you need to call in the big guns to help you with your construction project. If you need to excavate a large hole, dig a trench or to drill boreholes on your property, you will probably need to hire some heavy equipment. I will be posting lots of useful tips on this blog which I hope will help you to get the best deal when it comes to hiring heavy construction gear. I will review the best types of kit for different jobs, transporting the gear to your site, and providing you with information which will help you to keep your workforce safe.
Semi-trailers are used mostly in the transport and logistics industry because of various advantages they offer over full trailers. This is not to say that full trailers are not beneficial, but there are sometimes you may require particular benefits that only semi-trailers can provide. Here are some of those benefits and other important aspects you need to know about semi-trailers:
Detachable
Semi-trailers are detachable while full trailers aren't. This feature provides two main benefits. First, it offers flexibility when it comes to loading and offloading. The trailer can be detached from the truck head or tractor unit and moved around easily for effective and efficient loading and offloading. It can even help in reducing the amount of space taken up by the tractor unit.
Secondly, if during transit the tractor unit or driver cabin was to malfunction, another one can be sent and attached to the trailer. This ensures that your goods do not get delayed.
Attaching More Than One Trailer
You can attach more than one trailer to a tractor unit. However, the second trailer is attached to the first trailer with the help of a dolly. You might hear these kinds of trailers being referred to as B-doubles.
Semi-Trailer/B-Double Operators
You should know that not just any driver can drive a semi-trailer or B-double. Physically, they are not very stable, and care has to be taken. Only a driver with an MC licence is allowed to drive such a truck.
Design Flexibility
You may come across a fully closed trailer or a flat-top trailer. Different people have different needs, and you can choose any of the two trailers. The flat trailer offers more flexibility since you can transport a wide variety of commodities, including those that are irregularly shaped. Don't worry about your goods falling off; the trailers can be customised to help you fasten your commodities or cover them with a trailer cover in case of bad weather or privacy.
Buying or Hiring Semi-Trailers
You might realise that the initial cost of semi-trailers is quite high. Most people interested in starting a transport and logistics business might find this cost high. In the beginning, you can hire semi-trailers; you might realise over time that you cannot continue hiring because you would be eating into your profits. Save up and buy your semi-trailers slowly. There is no need to rush because owning a semi-trailer has some costs as well. These costs may include insurance, repair and maintenance. You will notice the difference between hiring and owning once you buy your first semi-trailer.