Types and classifications of trucks

In Russia, annually more than half of all freight transport is carried out by road transport - 68.1% in 2022 according to Rosstat. Unlike other types of transport, trucks are more maneuverable and are able to deliver cargo “door to door.” When transporting in certain directions, road transport is not only the cheapest and fastest, but also the only delivery method.

In order for transportation to be economically profitable and the cargo to remain safe throughout the entire route, it is necessary to use suitable equipment. Let's look at the main types of trucks and semi-trailers to determine what kind of transport is needed for a particular type of cargo transportation.

Classification of trucks by composition

Trucks are divided into:

• Singles
• Hitches, or road trains.

Single vehicles are vehicles in which the cab and body are combined and mounted on the same frame.

The coupling, as the name suggests, consists of several components that, like carriages, are disconnected from each other. A hitch is considered to be a van with a trailer or a truck tractor with a semi-trailer (truck). There are more complex configurations - for example, a truck tractor with a semi-trailer and trailer. The useful volume of such a car is up to 120 cubic meters. m. Russian legislation limits the length of road trains to 20 meters.

Types of trailers and semi-trailers

A trailer is an independent vehicle, as it can maintain balance without support, unlike a semi-trailer.

A semi-trailer is a type of trailer that rests on the front of the towing vehicle. It is connected to the truck by a fifth wheel coupling.

Types of trailers

• tilt
• tipper
• all-metal container
• isothermal
• refrigerated
• onboard.

Types of semi-trailers

• tilt
• dump trucks
• containers
• low loader trawls
• platforms
• tanks and tank containers
• refrigerated.

There are also special types of semi-trailers:

• Timber trucks
• Car transporters
• Livestock trucks - semi-trailers for transporting animals
• Container ships - platforms for transporting sea containers
• Tractor - dump, onboard, bulk. Used in agriculture.

Semi-trailers or trucks differ in size and characteristics:

• Eurotruck is the standard and most popular type of semi-trailer. It has a length of 13.6 meters. The height can vary from 2.45 to 2.7 m. Therefore, the volume varies from 82 to 90 cubic meters. m. Loading capacity is 20-24 tons.
• Jumbo is a semi-trailer with a length of 13.8 meters and a useful volume of 96 cubic meters. m. The main differences from the Eurotruck are the L-shaped floor and the reduced diameter of the rear wheels. Thanks to this, the height of the truck is increased to 3 meters. Hence the additional 6 cubic meters. meters of useful volume. Due to the uneven floor, the Jumbo is not suitable for transporting long solid loads such as pipes.
• Mega is a semi-trailer with a standard length of 13.6 meters and a height of 3 m. Unlike Jumbo, the Mega semi-trailer has a flat floor. Therefore, the volume of the truck is 100 cubic meters. m. Loading capacity - up to 25 tons.

As a rule, semi-trailers are purchased separately from the tractor unit.

Classification of trucks by body type

The largest category in the truck classification. There are vehicles with 3 body types:

• Open
• Closed
• Special purpose body.

It is also necessary to highlight cars without a body. These include tractor-trailers, or “heads,” as truckers call them. Instead of a body, they are equipped with a fifth wheel coupling for securing a semi-trailer. A striking example of such a tractor is the Foton Auman BJ4189.

Types of trucks with open body type

They come in several types:

• Onboard
• Platforms
• Trawls.

Onboard

The first type of car has a low side that acts as a fence. The advantage of this technique is the ease of loading and unloading. However, if the height of the load is higher than the side itself, it must be securely secured. In such a body they transport substances and objects that are not afraid of precipitation, dust and wind. Flatbed vehicles are often used to transport construction materials over short distances.

Some flatbeds, such as the Auman TX1625 (BJ1163) and Aumark BJ 1129, are equipped with a loader crane. The KMU facilitates the loading and unloading of heavy loads. Control is carried out by the driver from the cab. Combining a truck crane and a truck, this equipment saves time and money on loading and unloading operations.

Platforms

An open type of body without sides, which is designed for transporting large and oversized cargo. These include machine tools, large containers, construction equipment, transformers and cable reels, bridge beams, columns, large pipes and other objects. This type of body does not have platforms, so loading is done using cranes.

Trawls

The main purpose of trawls is to transport special equipment and heavy vehicles. Crawler excavators are often transported on trawls, since they are prohibited from traveling on public roads. For ease of entry, low-loader trawls are equipped with special platforms or a folding platform. Such machines, as a rule, have more than 4 axles and a large load capacity.

Trucks with a closed body type

They are divided into several types:

• Tilt
• All metal
• Manufactured goods
• Isothermal
• Refrigerators
• Tanks.

Tilt

The basis is taken as an onboard body type, on which a frame covered with an awning is installed. The advantage of such a body is its lightness. Unlike all-metal and other types of bodywork, the awning does not weigh down the structure, so the carrying capacity of such a vehicle is higher. There are side and curtain awnings. The cargo in such vehicles is protected from the effects of precipitation and dust. There are options for a tilt body with both rear, vertical and side unloading.

All metal

The entire body, including partitions and frame, is made of solid metal. The walls are impact-resistant, and unloading is carried out only through curtains or gates provided for this purpose, so it is almost impossible to penetrate into the body and steal the cargo. Unlike an awning, the metal will not tear, and bulk substances will not be lost along the way. However, this type of body is heavier, which increases the curb weight of the equipment and reduces the carrying capacity. The all-metal body is suitable for transporting objects and substances that do not require special conditions.

Manufactured goods

Manufactured goods vans are used to transport food products that do not require special storage conditions, as well as industrial goods and other cargo. Such vehicles are often used to deliver baked goods. Foton manufactured goods vans of generations C and S provide better protection from dust and precipitation than an awning, but at the same time weigh less than all-metal bodies. The body, made of thin sheet metal, plastic or plywood, ensures the safety of the contents without sacrificing load capacity.

Isothermal

The body is made of metal sheets covered with thermal insulation materials. Thanks to this, a constant temperature is maintained inside, which is necessary for the preservation of perishable products. Unlike refrigerators, an isothermal body cannot regulate the temperature by lowering or raising it. For the transportation of large and heavy loads, Foton offers an insulated van Auman TX1625 (BJ1163) with a load capacity of 10.5 tons. It is suitable for transporting large quantities, both within the city and to neighboring settlements.

Refrigerated

As in an isothermal truck, the body of the refrigerator is lined with thermal insulation materials. But unlike it, the van is also equipped with refrigeration equipment. Thanks to this, it can transport meat, fish, dairy products, frozen semi-finished products and other perishable products.

Refrigerators are divided into several classes:

• “A” - permissible temperature from 0 to +12 degrees
• "B" - from -10 to +12
• "C" - from -20 to +12
• “D” - temperature in the body is not higher than +2
• "E" - no higher than -10
• "F" - no higher than -20 degrees.

Tanks

Serve for delivery of overflow cargo. The tanks are made of steel or aluminum. Some tanks have sections to transport different types of substances without mixing them. Some bodies are equipped with a device for continuous mixing of substances, while others are equipped with a special casing for heating the mixture. Thanks to this, any substances, be they liquids or gases, are delivered safely and do not lose their properties.

One of the varieties is tank containers.

Trucks with a special body type

These include:

• Dump trucks
• Garbage trucks
• Tow trucks
• Onboard with CMU.

Cars with curtains

Home → Cars with curtains

Curtainsider vans are an integral part of the cargo transportation industry. It is impossible to imagine international trade or construction without them, because they are the driving force in the process of delivering products to their owners. Curtainsider vans differ in body structure. They are installed on an onboard platform made of bent steel welded profile. The use of an onboard platform together with an awning is especially popular in our climatic conditions, no matter what type of transportation your company carries out.

Sort by: default price name

• Curtain side vehicle MAN TGL 12.180 4×2 BLS-WW

  A tilt car MAN TGL 12.180 4×2 BLS-WW with a van volume of about 51 cubic meters;
  van length 7200 mm, aluminum sides 600 mm, awning made of imported fabric (special material weighing 900g/m²). wheelbase 5550 mm, 180 hp Euro-5, air conditioning, 180 hp engine. Euro-5, air conditioning, spoiler, 1 berth Price 90,000 Euro

• Curtain side vehicle MAN TGL 12.180 4×2 BLS-WW

  Covered vehicle MAN TGL 12.180 4×2 BLS-WW with a van volume of about 51 cubic meters;
  van length 7200 mm, aluminum sides 600 mm, awning made of imported fabric (special material weighing 900g/m²). wheelbase 5550 mm, 180 hp Euro-5, air conditioning, 180 hp engine. Euro-5, air conditioning, spoiler, 1 berth Price 90,000 Euro

• Door side awning "Eurotruck" Ford Transit 460EF D/C 3227AN

  Awning side door "Eurofur" Ford Transit 460EF double cab rear-wheel drive, power (hp) 155, wheelbase (mm) 3954, volume 14.7 cubic meters. van length 3460 mm, load capacity 2079 kg, engine preheater, enhanced visibility package, rear twin wheels

• Curtainside Ford Transit 460EF double cab 3227AN

  Tent side Ford Transit 460EF double cab rear-wheel drive, power (hp) 155, wheelbase (mm) 3954, volume 14.8 cubic meters. van length 3460 mm, load capacity 2194 kg, engine preheater, enhanced visibility package, rear twin wheels

• Awning+side+gate Ford Transit 350EF double cabin 3227AR

  Tent with gate Ford Transit 350EF D/C double cab , rear-wheel drive, power (hp) 155, wheelbase (mm) 3954, volume 14.7 cubic meters. van length 3460 mm, load capacity 960...1102 kg, engine preheater, enhanced visibility package, rear twin wheels

• Curtainsider Ford Transit 350EF double cab 3227AR

  Tilted Ford Transit 350EF D/C double cab rear-wheel drive, power (hp) 155, wheelbase (mm) 3954, volume 14.8 cubic meters. van length 3460 mm, load capacity 960...1312 kg, engine preheater, enhanced visibility package, rear twin wheels

• Curtainsider "Eurofur" Ford Transit 460EF 3227AM

  Curtains cars Ford Transit 460EF rear-wheel drive, power (hp) 155, wheelbase (mm) 3954, van length 4200 mm, volume 18.0 cubic meters; load capacity 2205 kg, engine preheater, enhanced visibility package, rear twin wheels

• Curtainside flatbed cars Ford Transit 460EF 3227AM

  Curtains cars Ford Transit 460EF rear-wheel drive, power (hp) 155, wheelbase (mm) 3954, van length 4200 mm, volume 18.1 cubic meters; load capacity 2210 kg, engine preheater, enhanced visibility package, rear twin wheels

• Ford Transit 350EF with Eurofur cover

  Ford Transit 350EF tilted "Eurofur" rear-wheel drive, power (hp) 155, wheelbase (mm) 3954, volume 18.0 cubic meters. van length 4200 mm, load capacity 960...1165 kg, engine preheater, enhanced visibility package, rear twin wheels

• Ford Transit 350EF tilted car

  Ford Transit 350EF tilt rear-wheel drive, power (hp) 155, wheelbase (mm) 3954, volume 18.1 cubic meters. van length 4200 mm, load capacity 960...1275 kg, engine preheater, enhanced visibility package, rear twin wheels

• Car board with awning gate Ford Transit 350MWB

  Flatbed platform with awning and gate Ford Transit 350MWB rear-wheel drive, power (hp) 155, wheelbase (mm) 3504, van volume 14.8 cubic meters, van length 3460 mm, load capacity 960...1317 kg, engine preheater, package improved visibility, rear twin wheels

• Flatbed platform with awning Ford Transit 350MWB 3227AP

  Flatbed platform with awning Ford Transit 350MWB rear-wheel drive, power (hp) 155, wheelbase (mm) 3504, van volume 14.8 cubic meters, van length 3460 mm, load capacity 960...1260 kg, engine preheater, improved visibility package , rear twin wheels

• Flatbed platform with awning Ford Transit 300SWB 3227AP

  Flatbed platform with awning Ford Transit 300SWB Ford Transit 300SWB front-wheel drive, power (hp) 100, wheelbase (mm) 3137, van volume 12.0 cubic meters, van length 3060 mm, load capacity 960...1155 kg, engine preheater, enhanced visibility package

• Onboard platform "Eurofur" doors Ford Transit 300SWB 3227AP

  Onboard platform "Eurofur" + doors Ford Transit 300SWB Ford Transit 300SWB front-wheel drive, power (hp) 100, wheelbase (mm) 3137, van volume 11.9 cubic meters, van length 3060 mm, load capacity 960...1092 kg, pre-launch engine heater, enhanced visibility package

Classification of freight transport by operational characteristics

By number of axes

By the number of axes there are:

• 2-axle
• 3-axle
• 4-axle
• 5-axis
• 6-axle.

The number of axles directly affects the load capacity, since each axle can “accept” a limited number of tons. The more axles, the heavier the loads.

According to the wheel formula

The wheel formula is indicated by 2 numbers. For example, 4x2 or 6x4. The first number is the total number of wheels, and the second is the number of drive wheels.

If you do not deliver goods through sand pits, taiga swamps or snowy deserts of the North, but move mainly on asphalt, a 2-axle van with a 4x2 wheel arrangement is quite enough for you. A car with a more powerful chassis will be more expensive and more difficult to maintain. In addition, fuel consumption on such vans will also be higher.

By load capacity

According to their carrying capacity, trucks are divided into 4 classes:

• Small (from 500 kg to 2 tons). A striking example of a light-duty van is Foton Aumark BJ1039
• Medium (from 2 to 5 tons). Examples - Foton S models: S065, S085.
• Large (from 5 to 16 tons). Representatives of the large class in the Foton line are Aurmark BJ1089, BJ1129, Auman BJ1163 and the Foton Auman BJ4189 truck tractor.
• Extra-heavy or large-tonnage (from 16 tons and above).

By gross weight

When choosing a truck, in addition to the carrying capacity, you also need to take into account the total weight. This is the maximum permissible curb weight of the vehicle including cargo, driver and additional equipment. It is calculated based on the load on the individual axles of the truck.

Based on gross weight, trucks are divided into 7 categories:

1. up to 1.2 tons
2. from 1.2 to 2 tons
3. from 2 to 8 tons
4. from 8 to 14 tons
5. from 14 to 20 tons
6. from 20 to 40 tons
7. over 40 tons.

The vehicle's load capacity and gross vehicle weight must be selected according to the load being transported. If you exceed the weight, the vehicle may not be able to withstand the load. Therefore, there is a fine for exceeding the permissible values. If the load capacity characteristics significantly exceed the weight of the cargo being transported, the vehicle will not justify itself.

By engine type

Based on the type of power unit, vehicles are divided into:

• Gasoline
• Diesel
• Gas.

Gas -powered trucks

, are the most profitable in terms of fuel consumption. However, such machines are rare. Few gas stations are capable of refueling gas engines of vans and tractors, which is why there are few such vehicles in our country.

Gasoline

motors are lighter and quieter. They start easier in cold weather and do not need to warm up for a long time. Unlike diesel units, gasoline engines have better dynamic characteristics and provide faster acceleration. The main disadvantage of cars with gasoline internal combustion engines is not the greatest torque, which affects the load capacity. Therefore, as a rule, such vehicles are used for intracity transportation of small and medium-class cargo.

Heavy-duty tractors predominantly use diesel

fuel. Such engines are economical and productive. Previously, the disadvantages of such engines were a high noise level and a large volume of exhaust gases. However, modern diesel engines are almost no different from gasoline engines in terms of noise. Moreover, most power units installed on Foton cars meet Euro 5 requirements.

Curtains truck brands

A curtainsider truck is chosen by many carriers because it has significant advantages. Firstly, it is cheaper because its body is lighter than that of a van. Secondly, it is easy to operate, maintain and convenient in its design. Various types of tilt trucks are suitable for transporting any cargo that does not require temperature control, but is “capricious” to weather conditions. The body of the tilt truck is covered with a waterproof rubberized awning made of PVC material. This insures the transported cargo from dirt, dust, rain and snow. The awning is attached using a cable or special hooks. There are rings for securing the load on the strapping profile. The material from which the awnings are made is very convenient, as it is not subject to corrosion, like metal bodies, and is able to withstand large temperature changes.

The floor of a curtainsider truck is a platform with or without sides. The metal frame of the body can be easily dismantled if desired and provides access to free loading or unloading of the vehicle. In addition, a tilt truck is suitable for international cargo transportation: at customs, the body of such a truck is easily sealed and does not cause unnecessary hassle when crossing borders.

Often, fleet owners equip their trucks with sidewalls, thereby turning them into flatbed trucks. And sometimes, on the contrary, a metal frame is installed on a flatbed truck, an awning is pulled up, and it becomes covered. Modern manufacturers of tilt trucks present on the market vehicles with a carrying capacity of three to twenty-five tons. The suspension of tilt trucks can be spring, pneumatic and hybrid (spring-pneumatic).

The wheel arrangement of tilt trucks is most often 4x2 or 6x2, but you can also find trucks with a 4x4, 6x4 and even 8x2 wheel arrangement. There are either two or three axes. The engines in various types of curtainsider trucks are usually diesel with a power of up to six hundred and twenty horsepower. Drum or disc brakes, depending on the vehicle’s load capacity and the financial capabilities of its owner.

In Russia, tilt trucks of the brands Man, Daf, Mercedes Benz, Renault, Volvo, Iveco, Scania, Nissan, Avia, MAZ, GAZ and KamAZ are common. In recent years, there has been noticeable interest in Japanese and Chinese brands of tilt trucks on the Russian market. Chinese ones are valued for their cheapness, and Japanese ones for the quality of parts and design of components.

What type of truck should I choose?

The choice of truck depends on several factors:

• Type of cargo transported, its weight, volume and other characteristics
• Transportation distances
• Depends on weather conditions
• Terrain features, including relief and road quality
• Budget.

If the vehicle's performance is greatly inflated relative to the amount of cargo, you will incur unnecessary fuel and maintenance costs. In this case, the equipment will not pay for itself. However, it is not worth purchasing a car right next to the weight of the cargo. The van or tractor must have a small reserve of carrying capacity so that the components do not wear out.

The Foton line of trucks offers a large selection of models and body configurations with various characteristics. If you need advice on choosing equipment, leave a request on our website or call 8 (800) 100-88-43.