Plate Trailer

Some shippers will not load plywood lined trailer (food, empty cans) due to possible contamination.
It is little easier to keep that type of trailer clean.Also another option is sheet and post trailer, in that case instead of solid plates between posts You have plastic liners (i have that type).For broker and shipper purpose I always say that my trailer is plated because sheet and post is beyond their comprehence skills LOL

 

I always thought plate trailers were the ones with the ribs going down the side like old Schneider and Werner trailers

 

Plate trailers are able to haul freight at 101" width. Sheet and post are 98.5" width. Some lighter freight requires plate trailer. Examples would be new empty bottles for Coca Cola, Pepsi, etc or new aluminum cans for beer. Sometimes loads like that will cube out a trailer requiring that extra 2.5". That is the advantage. The disadvantage is they are not as well built and sturdy as typical sheet and post trailer. Utility doesn't even make a plate trailer. I was told by a salesman it was because no-one had figured out how to build one that didn't get some sort of stress crack that all plate trailers eventually get over time. He said when their engineers figured it out Utility would build them but not before. I had no idea what he was talking about. I have no need for a plate trailer and have sheet and post.

 

Not true, below is mine 101' lining to lining:


http://www.translead.com/php/2_pro/HT_hycube.pdf

 

Maybe plate is 101.5? Not sure of exact numbers. Plate is wider opening an inch or half inch to load than sheet and post.

 

They are cheaper, lighter and have a slightly higher cube capacity. Those companies that use them know that it is not as robust a design as other trailers, but everything is a trade off in this business.

 

Plate trailers have very smooth inside walls so shippers are less likely to damage product when loading something that is going to rub the wall:


This opens the door to lightweight loads that cube out -- like Styrofoam cups & aluminum cans:





At the narrowest part, the lower forklift skid rails, my trailer measures 101.25"


It is 101.5" between the walls:


But the outside is not as smooth as other trailers:



Anyway, I don't believe there is anything inherently weaker about plate trailers compared to wood or plastic -- my previous plate trailer, a 1998 Monon, is still on the road hauling carpet -- snag free:


Plastic composite trailer (smoother outside than in):


Plywood walls:

 

He said there was a certain area of all plate trailers that develop a stress crack over time. Something that could be repaired but all of them do it eventually and no-one has engineered one yet that wouldn't.

 

so what is the best plate trailer today ?