Conestoga trailers

Some places won't load a Conestoga, some places I wouldn't dream of taking my conestoga to. Forklift operators can be hard on the side rails. Conestogas limit you to legal height and width. Some cities are hard to get around with a conestoga(your are always 13.5 + ft), unless you get a short conestoga which would further limit what you can haul. It's a wind sail. If what I'm hauling is short and easy, I'd rather tarp it quick than have to worry about bridges and tree branches. They suck when there is a layer of ice on top of it.

 

I’m from New Zealand originally, and curtain side trailers with a refrigerated unit were common for chilled produce, but relatively short runs.

Curtainsides for general freight very common too. The general infrastructure was not set up with back in dock doors like the US. Mostly forklift load/unload from the ground. At least when I was there, 18 years ago.

I drove a 10 wheeler with curtainside, and full 8’ tail lift that was the cats meow for versatility in local P and D capacity.

Just my 2 cents.

 

These fall into specialized trailer category, If you have customer who wants/load a contestoga type than you will make nice bucks.

If you are planning to haul general freight than you will be deadheading a lot, getting rejection by lot of broker/shippers.

many do not have knowledge about these trailers.

There was a landstar BCO on youtube who made a video for landstar agents specifically showing this trailer features



Also another BCO who created the below site promoting the trailer.

Landstar Truck 556022 - Team Conestoga Step Deck

 

What do you do when there is ice on top?

 

I take a wide shop broom and bump the top from the inside to loosen up the ice. Hit reverse fast and jab the brakes. Try to make a hard turn away from any other vehicles. Open and close the tarp once if needed. Will still have a couple of chunks of ice that fall off going down the road.