Full Truckload (FTL) Trucks & Trailers | Types, Uses & Freight Solutions

At ULS Freight, we specialize in reliable and efficient Full Truckload (FTL) shipping solutions across Canada and the USA. Full Truckload services are ideal when a single shipper requires the entire truck for their cargo, ensuring faster transit, reduced handling, and enhanced security for valuable or large shipments. FTL shipping eliminates the need to share space with other shipments, giving businesses full control over delivery schedules and routing.

ULS Freight offers a comprehensive range of FTL trucks and trailers to meet diverse shipping needs. Our fleet includes Dry Vans (53 ft Box Trailers) for general cargo, Refrigerated Trucks (Reefers) for temperature-sensitive goods, and Flatbed Trailers for oversized or irregular loads. We also provide specialized equipment such as Step Deck / Drop Deck Trailers, Lowboy / Lowbed Trailers, Conestoga Trailers, Curtain Side Trailers, Tanker Trucks, and Intermodal Container Chassis, along with Power Only Trucks, Straight Trucks, and Gooseneck / Hotshot Trucks for unique transport requirements.

With ULS Freight, businesses benefit from professional freight handling, nationwide coverage, and compliance with all safety and transportation regulations. Whether you are shipping heavy machinery, perishables, liquids, or oversized cargo, our team ensures timely and secure delivery. We prioritize transparency, tracking, and customer satisfaction, making FTL shipping seamless and hassle-free.

Trust ULS Freight for all your full truckload transportation needs. Explore our range of trucks and trailers, and let our experts design a shipping solution tailored to your cargo type, volume, and destination. Book your FTL shipment today and experience the efficiency and reliability that countless businesses already rely on.

Types of Full Truckload (FTL) Trucks & Trailers

ULS Freight offers a wide range of FTL trucks and trailers to handle every type of cargo. From dry vans and reefers to flatbeds and specialized trailers, we have the right solution for your shipping needs.

Dry Van (53 ft Box Trailer)

A 53 ft dry van is a 53-foot-long, enclosed trailer designed to haul palletized, boxed, or loose freight that does not require climate control. It is the standard trailer for FTL and LTL shipping, holding up to 26 standard pallets. These trailers provide maximum protection from weather and theft, making them the most common, versatile, and secure option for transporting non-perishable goods, such as consumer products, electronics, machinery, and non-perishable food.

Key Features and Specifications:

• Dimensions: Approximately 53 ft long, 102 inches wide, up to 9 ft high

• Capacity: Holds up to 26 standard pallets (48″ x 40″) or 45,000 lbs of cargo

• Structure: Aluminum or composite walls with a secure box structure

• Doors: Swing doors or roll-up doors

• Usage: Operated with Class 8 semi-trucks for regional and long-haul shipments

Common Uses:

• Retail & Consumer Goods: Clothing, furniture, electronics, household items

• Dry Goods/Packaged Foods: Non-refrigerated food products

• Industrial/Manufacturing: Machinery, auto parts, paper, raw materials

Advantages:

• Protection: Keeps cargo dry and secure

• Capacity: Maximizes cost-effective space for large shipments

• Flexibility: Easy loading/unloading at standard docks, suitable for FTL and LTL

Refrigerated Truck (Reefer)

A Refrigerated Truck, commonly called a Reefer, is a specialized transport vehicle equipped with an active cooling system and an insulated cargo area to safely transport perishable and temperature-sensitive goods. These trucks maintain precise temperatures—from chilled to frozen—to preserve items like food, medicine, and flowers, ensuring quality and compliance throughout the cold chain. Reefers are essential for industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, and floriculture, supporting both long-haul shipping and last-mile delivery.

Key Features and Functions:

• Active Cooling: Uses a diesel-powered or cryogenic system to actively cool or heat cargo

• Types: Ranges from large 53-foot semi-trailers to smaller box trucks or straight trucks

• Applications: Critical for transporting produce, dairy, meat, seafood, pharmaceuticals, plants, and art

• Distinction: Different from freezer trucks, which maintain consistent sub-zero temperatures for long-term freezing

Advantages:

• Ensures freshness and quality of temperature-sensitive goods

• Supports both long-haul shipping and last-mile delivery

• Compliant with cold chain standards, reducing spoilage and loss

ULS Freight offers a complete range of Reefer and other FTL shipping services, providing reliable, secure, and on-time delivery for all types of cargo. Explore all our services at ULS Freight and find the perfect solution for your shipping needs.

Flatbed Trailer

A Flatbed Trailer is an open-deck trailer with no roof, sides, or doors, designed for carrying large, heavy, or irregularly shaped cargo. Its open design allows for easy loading and unloading from all angles, making it ideal for construction, manufacturing, and logistics industries. Flatbeds are perfect for transporting steel beams, machinery, lumber, and oversized loads that cannot fit in enclosed trailers.

Key Features and Functions:

• Design: A simple flat, open platform, typically 48 to 53 feet in length and 8.5 feet wide

• Access: Unrestricted access from top, sides, or rear for loading by cranes or forklifts

• Capacity: Standard flatbeds can legally carry up to 48,000 pounds

• Cargo Security: Loads must be secured using straps, chains, or tarps

• Material: Often constructed from steel, aluminum, or a combination

Common Types:

• Standard Flatbed: Straight-frame trailer with no drops

• Step Deck (Drop Deck): Lower deck to accommodate taller cargo

• Lowboy: Very low deck for extremely heavy or tall equipment

• Removable Gooseneck (RGN): Front detaches to create a ramp for self-propelled machinery

Advantages:

• Handles oversized or irregularly shaped cargo efficiently

• Easy loading/unloading from multiple angles

• Suitable for construction, agricultural, and industrial freight

ULS Freight provides a full range of Flatbed and other FTL shipping services, ensuring safe and on-time delivery for all types of cargo. Explore all our services at ULS Freight and get the right solution for your shipping needs.

Step Deck / Drop Deck Trailer

A Step Deck (Drop Deck) Trailer is an open-deck trailer with two levels—a short upper deck and a longer lower rear deck—designed to transport taller cargo while staying within legal height limits. It is ideal for heavy machinery, construction equipment, and industrial loads that are too tall for standard flatbeds but don’t require a lowboy trailer. Step decks provide extra loading height flexibility, making them essential for oversized freight.

Key Features and Functions:

• Design: “Step” behind the tractor’s fifth wheel lowers the main deck to roughly 38–40 inches from the ground

• Dimensions: Common lengths are 48 or 53 feet; upper deck 10–11 ft, lower deck 37–43 ft

• Loading: Lower deck allows loading via ramps or driving vehicles onto the trailer

• Weight Capacity: Around 48,000 lbs, depending on the number of axles

Common Cargo Types:

• Construction equipment (bulldozers, forklifts, excavators)

• Industrial machinery (generators, HVAC units)

• Agricultural machinery

• Large pipes and structural materials

Types of Step Decks:

• Single-Drop Deck: Standard two-level design

• Double-Drop Deck: Second drop for exceptionally tall items

• Low-Profile Step Deck: Extra clearance, about 3 ft off the ground

Advantages:

• Legal height compliance for loads up to 10 feet

• Versatile loading from sides, top, or rear

• Easier machinery loading via ramps

ULS Freight provides Step Deck and other FTL trailer services, ensuring safe, timely, and compliant delivery of all types of cargo. Explore all our services at ULS Freight for the right shipping solution.

Lowboy / Lowbed Trailer

A Lowboy (Lowbed) Trailer is a specialized heavy-duty semi-trailer with a dual-drop deck design that sits much lower to the ground than standard flatbeds. It is engineered for hauling exceptionally tall and heavy machinery—such as excavators, bulldozers, and cranes—providing a lower center of gravity for stability. Lowboys can accommodate loads up to 12 feet tall, making them essential for oversized construction and industrial freight.

Key Features and Functions:

• Double-Drop Deck: Deck drops behind the gooseneck and again before the rear wheels, lowering the load to 18–24 inches above the ground

• Removable Gooseneck (RGN): Front detaches for safe, drive-on loading of heavy machinery

• Weight Capacity: Handles 40,000 to 80,000+ lbs depending on axle configurations (2–8+ axles)

• Stability: Low-to-the-ground design reduces tipping risk and ensures compliance with height restrictions

Common Uses:

• Construction Equipment: Bulldozers, excavators, backhoes, wheel loaders

• Industrial Machinery: Heavy transformers, large tanks, agricultural machinery

• Oversized Loads: Cargo exceeding standard height limits (up to 12 feet)

Types of Lowboys:

• Fixed Neck (FGN): Non-detachable, lightweight option for rear ramp loading

• Removable Gooseneck (RGN): Most common type, allows drive-on loading from the front

• Stretch/Extendable Lowboy: Hauls extra-long items not fitting on standard decks

Advantages:

• Safely transports exceptionally tall or heavy equipment

• Provides enhanced stability for oversized loads

• Complies with legal height and road regulations

ULS Freight offers Lowboy and other FTL trailer services, providing secure, reliable, and timely delivery for heavy machinery and oversized cargo. Explore all our services at ULS Freight for the perfect shipping solution.

Conestoga Trailer

A Conestoga Trailer is a specialized flatbed trailer equipped with a rolling, retractable tarp-on-frame system, also called a “curtainside” or “rolling tarp” trailer. It combines the flexibility of a flatbed with the protection of an enclosed trailer, allowing for side, rear, or top loading without manual tarping. Conestogas are ideal for hauling machinery, steel, and sensitive, high-value freight that needs to stay dry during transport.

Key Features and Functions:

• Protection: Accordion-style tarp system shields cargo from weather and road debris

• Loading Efficiency: Fully retractable tarp allows forklifts to load from the side, speeding up operations

• Dimensions & Capacity: Typically 48–53 ft long, 8′ 4″ wide, 96″ high, carrying up to 44,000 lbs

• Safety: Eliminates the need for drivers to climb onto the trailer, reducing injury risk

Common Uses:

• Machinery and industrial equipment

• Steel, lumber, and construction materials

• High-value or sensitive freight requiring weather protection

Advantages:

• Combines flatbed versatility with dry van protection

• Faster and safer loading/unloading compared to traditional flatbeds

• Ideal for industries needing secure, weather-protected transport

ULS Freight provides Conestoga and other FTL trailer services, ensuring reliable, secure, and timely delivery for all types of cargo. Explore all our services at ULS Freight to find the perfect shipping solution.

Conestoga Trailer

A Conestoga Trailer is a specialized flatbed trailer equipped with a rolling, retractable tarp-on-frame system, often called a “curtainside” or “rolling tarp” trailer. It is designed for efficiency and cargo protection, allowing easy side, rear, or top loading without manual tarping. Conestogas are ideal for transporting machinery, steel, and sensitive, high-value freight that must remain dry during transit.

Key Features and Functions:

• Protection: Built-in accordion-style tarp keeps goods safe from weather and road debris

• Loading Efficiency: Fully retractable tarp allows forklifts to load from the side quickly and safely

• Dimensions & Capacity: Typically 48–53 ft long, 8′ 4″ wide, 96″ high, carrying up to 44,000 lbs

• Safety: Eliminates the need for drivers to climb onto the trailer to secure tarps

Common Uses:

• Machinery and industrial equipment

• Steel, lumber, and construction materials

• Sensitive or high-value cargo needing protection from the elements

Advantages:

• Combines flatbed flexibility with dry van protection

• Faster and safer loading/unloading than traditional flatbeds

• Versatile for industries requiring secure, weather-protected transport

ULS Freight offers Conestoga and other FTL trailer services, providing reliable, secure, and on-time delivery for all types of cargo. Explore all our services at ULS Freight to find the perfect shipping solution.

Power Only Truck

A Power Only Truck is a trucking service where the carrier provides only the tractor (power unit) and driver to pull a trailer owned or leased by a shipper, 3PL, or another carrier. This setup is ideal for “drop-and-hook” freight, allowing shippers to manage their own trailers while carriers reduce downtime and increase efficiency. Power-only trucks are commonly used for regional, long-haul, or specialized freight needs.

Key Features and Functions:

• How it Works: Driver connects to a pre-loaded trailer, transports it, drops it at the destination, and often immediately picks up another load

• Common Applications: Seasonal surges, dedicated lanes, and moving containers or trailers efficiently

• Benefits for Shippers: Instant access to capacity without managing a fleet, enabling rapid response to last-minute shipping needs

• Benefits for Carriers: Maximizes drive time by eliminating live loading/unloading delays for higher efficiency

• Types of Trailers: Can haul dry vans, flatbeds, refrigerated units, and other trailer types

Advantages:

• Provides flexibility for shippers without managing drivers or fleets

• Reduces downtime for carriers, increasing operational efficiency

• Ideal for rapid, reliable, and last-minute freight movement

ULS Freight offers Power Only Truck services along with a full range of FTL shipping solutions, ensuring your trailers are moved safely, efficiently, and on time. Explore all our services at ULS Freight to find the perfect shipping solution.

Intermodal Container Chassis

An Intermodal Container Chassis (also called a skeletal trailer) is a specialized trailer designed to carry ISO-standard shipping containers over the road. It serves as a crucial link in intermodal transport, allowing containers to move seamlessly between ships, trains, and trucks without unloading their cargo.

Key Features and Functions:

• Purpose: Transports standard shipping containers (20 ft, 40 ft, 45 ft, 53 ft) from ports, rail yards, or depots to final destinations.

• Components: Lightweight steel frame, axles (2-axle standard, 3-axle for heavy loads), suspension system, braking system, and twist locks to secure container corners.

• Intermodal Efficiency: Enables quick “drop-and-hook” loading/unloading of containers without touching the cargo inside.

• Types:

  • Standard 2-axle chassis

  • Tri-axle chassis for heavier loads

  • Extendable chassis for different container lengths

Why They Are Essential:

• Provide safe, secure transport of containers on roads.

• Bridge the gap between maritime, rail, and trucking networks.

• Built to withstand repeated loading/unloading cycles and heavy-duty operations.

ULS Freight offers intermodal chassis services for seamless container movement, helping businesses manage port, rail, and regional deliveries efficiently while maintaining compliance and safety.

Straight Truck (Dedicated FTL)

A Straight Truck Dedicated FTL (Full Truckload) uses a rigid box truck (cab and cargo area on one frame) that is exclusively reserved for one client’s freight, moving directly from pickup to delivery without intermediate stops. It is ideal for smaller, urgent, or high-value shipments that don’t require a full 53-foot tractor-trailer.

Key Features

• Exclusive Use: Entire truck is dedicated to one shipment; no other freight is loaded.

• Direct Delivery: Moves straight from origin to destination with no hub stops.

• Vehicle Specs: Usually 22–26 ft box trucks; maneuverable for urban or low-clearance areas.

• Capacity: Typically 10,000–14,000 lbs or 10–12 standard pallets.

• Optional Equipment: Liftgates for locations without docks.

• Driver Requirements: Often under 26,000 lbs, which may not require a CDL, allowing flexible, local operations.

When to Use

• Time-sensitive shipments: Same-day or next-day delivery.

• High-value or fragile items: Medical equipment, electronics, or retail displays.

• Difficult-to-access locations: Narrow streets, urban areas, residential deliveries.

• Final-mile / White glove service: Direct-to-site, specialized handling.

Benefits Compared to Other Methods

A Dedicated Straight Truck FTL gives shippers the speed, security, and exclusivity of a dedicated truck, without needing a massive tractor-trailer. Perfect for urgent, valuable, or hard-to-access shipments.

Gooseneck / Hotshot Truck

A Gooseneck Hotshot Truck is a heavy-duty pickup (typically Class 3–5, such as a Ram 3500/5500 or Ford F-350/450) equipped with a gooseneck ball hitch in the truck bed. This setup allows the truck to tow 20–40+ foot gooseneck trailers for time-sensitive or specialized transport, commonly known as “hotshotting.” These trucks are widely used for hauling construction equipment, vehicles, oilfield materials, and other heavy loads that require fast delivery.

Key Features and Benefits:

• Superior Weight Distribution: The gooseneck hitch mounts over the rear axle, offering greater stability and allowing for heavier loads (often 15,000+ lbs) than standard bumper-pull trailers.

• Enhanced Maneuverability: Tighter turning radius than semi-trailers, easier navigation for owner-operators, though commercial licensing and training are recommended.

• Versatile Trailer Options: Compatible with flatbeds, dovetails (sloped rear decks), and tilt-deck trailers, usually around 40 feet in length.

• Cost-Effective Operations: Lower upfront costs, fuel consumption, and insurance compared to full-sized Class 8 semi-trucks, making them ideal for small fleets or independent operators.

• Fast, Time-Sensitive Delivery: Perfect for hauling machinery, vehicles, livestock, or other freight requiring prompt delivery.

Common Uses:

• Construction and earthmoving equipment transport

• Vehicle delivery and towing

• Oilfield and industrial material transport

• Livestock and agricultural equipment

ULS Freight provides hotshot trucking and gooseneck trailer services, offering reliable, on-time delivery for urgent freight shipments.

Conclusion — Full Truckload (FTL) Trucks & Trailers

Understanding the wide range of Full Truckload (FTL) trucks and trailers is essential for selecting the right equipment to move your freight efficiently and securely. Whether you’re shipping standard dry goods with a Dry Van, temperature‑sensitive products with a Reefer, oversized or irregular loads with Flatbeds, Step Decks, or Lowboys, or specialized cargo like liquids in Tankers, each truck and trailer type is designed to solve a specific logistical challenge.

At ULS Freight, we provide comprehensive FTL shipping solutions using a diverse fleet that includes everything from Dry Vans and Refrigerated Trucks to Conestoga and Curtain Side trailers, Power Only services, Intermodal Container Chassis, and agile Gooseneck/Hotshot Trucks for time‑sensitive deliveries. Our team works with you to match the right equipment to your cargo type, size, and delivery requirements, ensuring maximum protection, compliance, and cost‑effective transit.

By leveraging the correct truck or trailer, you can enhance loading efficiency, reduce transit times, maintain cargo integrity, and streamline your supply chain operations. With reliable trucks, optimized routing, and professional handling, ULS Freight delivers peace of mind with every shipment.

Explore all our FTL trucks and trailer services at ulsfreight.ca and let our experts help you choose the perfect transport solution for your full truckload needs.