Trailers
Choosing the Right Trailer for Your Needs
Whether you are hauling wet waste or dry waste, scrap metal or construction debris, short hauls or long hauls, standard loads or over permitted loads, be sure to take the right steps to evaluate the best trailer to suit your needs.
Jim Reeves
In today’s changing market there are many options for haulers to accomplish their goals. One of these options is to use roll-off trailers instead of roll-off trucks. There are many models of roll-off trailers, from a very short 25’ 11” to 48’ long to help customers attack different markets and minimize their capital expenditures.
Short Roll-Off Trailers
The most popular of roll-off models is a short roll-off trailer that only measures 25’ 11” long. They are popular because they are short, maneuverable and a reasonable, cost-effective alternative to a roll-off truck. When hooked to a tractor it is only about a foot longer than a standard roll-off truck tip to tip. This allows the trailer to be more maneuverable than a roll-off truck because the tractor-trailer pivots. For those in need of fitting in tight spaces, a shorter roll-off trailer is a better option because it can carry more weight than a truck and can still get into the limited space required. Shorter roll-off trailers usually sell for a fraction of the price of a new roll-off truck and in today’s competitive market, spending less and being more productive is key for all businesses.
Longer Trailers
For those who need to maximize payload and do not have a space issue, a 40’ long trailer is a great option because it is capable of carrying up to 38’ long containers as well as the standard 22’ containers. A 40’ long trailer usually can payload more than 40,000lbs and these tandem axle trailers can be designed with a full frame for stability, maximizing payload while still operating at the 80,000 GVW maximum legal limit.
Oversize Trailers
Certain applications, such as scrap metal markets (up to 144,000 pounds) or off-road applications require haulers to pick up enormous amounts of weight and permit their trailers to haul over the legal limit or run off road. Conventional oversize trailers are built heavy and can haul more than 50 tons. These types of trailers are offered from 29’ in length to 47’ in length with two to eight axles. So, depending on container size and the State you operate in make sure you design a trailer to suit your needs. In some states like Michigan and New York these trailers can be permitted up to 144,000lb and 102,000lb GVW respectively with the correct axle configuration.
For oversize containers or those applications where a lower center of gravity is key drop deck trailers are a good option to consider. These trailers range from 32’ in length to 45’. Because they are lower to the ground than standard trailers or trucks drop deck trailers allow haulers to carry taller containers that would not be legal on a standard unit. These trailers also can be rated up to 80,000lb GVW depending on the length and axle configuration to allow haulers to maximize their payload.
Pup Trailers
Pup trailers are an option when haulers need to carry two containers at a time and want to use a standard roll-off truck and not a tractor. When a pup trailer is connected to a standard roll-off truck it allows a hauler to carry two containers at once, one on the truck and one on the trailer. Pup trailers are classified as either “a dead pup” or “a live pup”. The dead pup trailer has no hydraulics and is loaded and unloaded by the truck that is pulling it. The live pup has its own hydraulic cylinders and uses the hydraulic power of the truck that is pulling it to load and unload the container itself. For haulers that have a small number of local accounts that have multiple containers pup trailers can save them several trips, time, and money.It doesn’t take the place of a roll-off truck because you cannot carry too much weight with a pup trailer, however they are great for C&D companies when there is not a lot of weight.
Hauling Sludge or Hazardous Materials
When the application is hauling specialty waste such as sludge or hazardous materials, there are limited dumping facilities that take this material. In some cases, haulers may have to travel cross country to dispose of this waste. A 48’ long two box trailer is capable of carrying two containers up to 24’ long or a single container 24’ long if the material is very heavy. It is especially effective when hauling waste great distances because, for example, when you are hauling hazardous or specialty waste (sludge, contaminated dirt, etc.), there are only certain number of landfills in the country that accept that type of material. This type of trailer is an 80,000lb GVW that can payload up to 40,000lbs depending on the container and tractor weight.
Designing Your Own Trailers
When evaluating what type of trailer you would like to invest in, be sure to consider the size and dimensions of container—how big is the container you are going to be hauling? Another factor is looking at how much weight you will be hauling—will the material be scrap metal, dirt, sludge, C&D, liquids or something else? Finally, factor in the distance you will be hauling the material—is it local or do you need to travel to another county or city?
Whether you are hauling wet waste or dry waste, scrap metal or construction debris, short hauls or long hauls, standard loads or over permitted loads, be sure to take the right steps to evaluate the best trailer to suit your needs.
Jim Reeves is the marketing manager for BENLEE (Romulus, MI). He can be reached at (734) 476-4402, via e-mail at [email protected] or visit www.benlee.com.