Width of a semi trailer is an important factor in selecting the trailer for your product to be transported. There are different types of semi trailers available in market for tranportation and dimensions of each is different from other. There are seven different types of trailer discussed in this article.
Most people why buying a car, SUV, Truck or a semi trailer only look for their specifications like engine type, size, horsepower, vehicle top speed and other feature including looks. Rearly any one go for the semi trailer width when its the most important thing to consider when buying a semi trailer.
These semi trailers are an important part of todays world transportation and are responsible to deliver each and everything we have surrounding us. Large size semi trails are used to deliver products between cities whereas medium to small size trials are used to deliver items within city or being used for by individual personaly.
Before you buy a semi trailer for your personal or business use, its important to know the semi trailer type, and dimensions specially width. This article is all about How Wide is a Semi-Trailer? and their Different Types with width of each.
Different types of semi-trailer
There is wide varity of semi trailer available for your need. there is literably one specific semi trailer type for you specific need. Based on their design and who or why load they transport, there are seven different types of semi trailer.
- Flatbed
- StepDeck
- Lowboys
- Reefer
- Dump
- Dry Van
- Tanker
And the companies that manufacture these semi-trailers in the USA are Ford, Kenworth, Volvo, Peterbilt, Mack, and others.
How Wide is a Semi-Trailer?
Its all depends on the type of the semi trailer truck and then on the size range you are dealing with. Each type of semi trailers can have a minimum and maximum dimensions or can say size variation depending on the work type and load rating.
Flatbed Trailers
As their name say these are simplest type of semi trialers with a single flatbed that runs the entire length of the vehicle. These trailers are one of the most used trialers type and can transport anything that fits and can be placed over their bed. They can transport boxes, furnitures and all sort of good that can fit over their bed.
An average of Maximum dimensions of a Flatbed trailer are as follow
- Maximum lenght 53 feet
- Maximum Width 8.5 feet
- Maximum Legal Freight Height 8.5 feet
StepDeck Trailer
As per their name these semi trailers deck has a step like design and they are also known as the drop deck trailers. Their deck design is very similar to the flatbed trailer but has a step in it. Step divides the trailer in to parts, upper deck that the 10 to 12 feet long and lower dect that is about 38 to 40 feet long.
Application of these trailer are also very much similar to that of the flatbed trialers. Only different between two is the height of the deck as step deck trailers deck height is lower as compared to flatbed. This give better control with height weight.
An average of Maximum dimensions of a stepdeck trailer are as follow
- Maximum lenght 53 feet
- Maximum Width 8.5 feet
- Maximum Legal Freight Height 10 feet
Lowboy Trailer
From looking at the body of the lowboy, one can say its an upgraded form of stepdeck trailer as it has two steps in its dect design. These two steps reduce the height of the deck even lower than stepdeck trailers enabling them to transport even more heavy load safely.
Lowboy are designed and used to tranport Heavy machinery like Bulldozers, Backhoe loaders, and Excavators. They are pretty much combination of flatbed and stepdeck trailers with extremely low deck height. Steped section of deck is also called well and its dimensions are extremenly important.
An average of Maximum dimensions of a lowboy trailer are as follow
- Maximum well lenght 30 feet
- Maximum well height 24 inch
- Maximum Width 8.5 feet
- Maximum Legal Freight Height 12 feet
Reefer Trailer
This is a refrigeration trailer, its a specially designed trialer with insulated wall and refrigeration setup inside. These trialer are designed and used to deliver food product specially frozen food products like meat and fishes. There overall shape is just like a rectangular box on wheels.
An average of Maximum dimensions of a Reefer trailer are as follow
- Maximum lenght 53 feet
- Maximum Width 8.2 feet
- Maximum Legal trailer Height 8 feet
Dump Trailers
As their name says these trialers are used to transport and dump things like sand, mud, stones and other contruction related material. Their shape is like reefer trailers but they top section is open for droping thing in trailer container. Other than this they have a mechanism to lift the front side of the trailer to enable force dumping of sand from rear end of trailer.
An average of Maximum dimensions of a dump trailer are as follow
- Maximum lenght 45 feet
- Maximum Width 8.5 feet
- Maximum Legal Freight Height 13 feet 6 inches
Dry Van Trailer
Dry Van Trailer are just Reefer trailer just without refrigeration and insulated walls. They are designed and used to transport all those items that cannot go bad due to heat. Other than this all these trailer can offer is exactly the same as of reefer trailer.
An average of Maximum dimensions of a Dry Van trailer are as follow
- Maximum lenght 53 feet
- Maximum Width 8.2 feet
- Maximum Legal trailer Height 8 feet
Tanker Trailer
As per their name these are tanker trailers and they are design and used to deliver liquid items like oil, chemicals, and water. They are cylinderical in shap and have completely fluid tight seal joints.
An average of Maximum dimensions of a Tanker trailer are as follow
- Maximum lenght 53 feet
- Maximum Width 8.5 feet
- Maximum Legal trailer Height 13.5 feet
Conclusion
Now, you know how wide each type of semi-trailer is and can they fit into your local parking lot.
You also know how wide semi-trucks are allowed in the USA. This will make you avoid breaking any sort of rules regarding the size of your semi-trucks.
So, be careful when you drive or park your semi-trailers.
