With the trucking industry in the USA being worth over $700 billion, it is one of the largest industries out there. Not only does it make a lot of money, but it is very important to help businesses and customers alike get the products, equipment, and materials that they need. Trucking helps the country operate, and if these trucks stopped delivering, our lives would change dramatically.
Every day, thousands of trucks drive on American roads transporting billions of dollars of goods to all corners of the country. However, not all trucks are created equally. Depending on what needs to be shipped or moved, there are a variety of different trucks that can do the job. This article is going to go over everything you need to know about the different kinds of truck shipping.
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Intermodal
Having options and flexibility when transporting goods across the country is incredibly important. One of the best ways to maintain this flexibility is to use intermodal shipping. This is when goods are shipped using two or more methods, without needing to be repackaged and have their container changed.
The container will easily be able to be put on a truck or attached to a train, depending on which mode of transportation makes each leg of the journey easier. This versatility ensures shipments can be delivered in a timely manner to meet demands. If you need this type of trucking, be sure to reach out to a company that can meet your specific intermodal needs and get the job done right.
Over the Road
Over the road trucking is certainly one of most common ways for items to be transported and moved throughout the country. These trucks are endlessly driven from one side of the country delivering a variety of different things. If you see an enclosed truck transporting goods, that is an example of over the road (OTR) trucking.
You will often see these trucks driven along highways, but they frequently make stops in cities and towns where they need to drop off their cargo.
Flatbed
Many shipments are simply too big or oddly-shaped to fit in traditional shipping containers that are generally used. If this is the situation you find yourself in, a flatbed truck might be the way to go. These offer a ton more space to transport just about anything you could imagine.
These are often dozens of feet long and many can be extended if need be. It is also often easier to unload from these flatbeds, as it can be done from the top or side. All in all, there are many things that these trucks carry that range from transporting vehicles, to heavy machinery, to lumber, and so many others. In addition to transport, there are also other common uses for flatbed trucks like farming or construction.
Less-Than-Truckload
If you have something that needs shipping, but spending money on an entire truck would be overkill, less-than-truckload shipping might be for you. This method allows you to split the space of a truck with other companies or individuals who are shipping their items.
This is more cost effective as you only pay for the space on the truck that you need, and not the whole thing. Your items are treated the same and should arrive at the same time, only you will save a lot of money in the process.
In conclusion, we hope this blog post has been able to help you learn everything you need to know about the different kinds of truck shipping.