No, a plate trailer does not exclusively ship plates. Rather, the word plated describes the construction of the trailer. While plate trailers were once not as common as traditional trailers, they have many uses, which we will examine, and are becoming the new standard.
What is a plated trailer: A plated trailer has very thin, smooth sides to it. While the total width of the trailer may be 102 inches, the inside will be an impressive 101 inches. Plate trailers make it easier to load objects on pallets as there are no posts in the way. Furthermore, the smooth surface of the walls is easier to clean and thus your trailer can be used to transport food.
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What is a plate trailer?
A plate trailer gets its name because of its construction. The inside of the trailer is smooth, like a plate.
With a plate trailer, you get more space in the interior. Even though the outside width of trailers may be the same, how the walls are constructed will determine the inside width, and thus how much you can store inside.
A plate trailer can be made from plastic or aluminum siding. The surface is smooth and while it is thin, it is still durable.
Sheet and post trailer or plate trailer? Which is better?
As always when talking about different trucks and trailers, there is no clear winner over what is best. Instead, you need to examine the types of jobs you do and what is required for them.
If you are looking to add a new trailer to your fleet, and aren’t sure if you should get a plate trailer or a sheet and post trailer, here are the pros and cons of each.
Sheet and post trailers
A sheet and post trailer gets its name from how the walls inside the trailer are constructed. Basically, there are wooden posts with sheets of wood or metal between them.
Pro: Strength
The added posts in this type of trailer offer more strength and durability. The walls won’t cave in and if you happen to hit the walls with a forklift, there will be minimal damage.
Pro: Easier to find
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While plate trailers are becoming more common, traditional trailers will have the sheet and post design. If you are looking to purchase a used trailer, there will be more options in this style.
Furthermore, you might be able to find a deal with this style, which will save you money.
Con: Less inside width
The main consideration with sheet and post trailers is that you have to sacrifice the inside space of your trailer. While the difference of a few inches may not seem like a lot to people outside the trucking industry, those with experience know how valuable that extra space is.
Some products, especially empty beer bottles, will only ship on a plate trailer because they need the extra width. Even if you don’t have specific products in mind, having a sheet and post trailer can stop you from hauling various goods in the future.
Con: Harder to load pallets
The wooden posts in a sheet and post trailer stick out from the sides, which makes it harder to neatly stack pallets. Forklifts can have a harder time moving them around, which can result in more time taken on the activity.
Almost everything that is loaded in a trailer is placed on a pallet, so this is a major concern. While forklift drivers have been fine with the system in the past, many welcome newer plate trailers.
Plate Trailers
With a thin, smooth surface, the walls of plate trailers allow for easier access and more products inside the trailer.
Pro: Food-grade trucking
If you want to be able to transport food in your trailer, then you will need a plate trailer. Companies that ship food won’t even consider a post and sheet trailer.
This is because the smooth surface of a plate trailer is easy to clean. Furthermore, the exposed wood posts of the alternate trailer can lead to contamination.
Pro: More space
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As we’ve already mentioned, the biggest advantage of a plate trailer is you get more internal space. Even though this is just a few extra inches, it can make a big difference when companies are doing everything they can to cut costs.
Con: Not as stable
While you can find some plate trailers that are more durable than others, it all comes down to how they are constructed. Plate trailers don’t have the extra support that post and sheet trailers do, so the walls can be flimsier.
Con: Plastic construction
When you are looking at a plate trailer, always check out the scuff guard. If it is made from plastic, it won’t be as durable.
The good thing is that this is an easy fix and you can ask the trailer manufacturer to replace it with a metal one. Still, if this isn’t on your radar at first, it can cause a lot of headaches later.
What is a 102-plated trailer?
A 102-plated trailer refers to the width of the trailer. In the United States, the maximum width a trailer can be is 102 inches.
With a plated trailer, the walls are thinner, which means you can store more cargo inside. Not only is this more efficient, but it is necessary if certain larger loads need to be shipped.
Even though the walls of a 102-plated trailer are thin, you won’t be able to carry loads that are 102 inches wide. The walls will still be an inch or two thick, and this will need to be factored into your load capacity.
Most plate trailers have an internal width of 101 inches, and if you do the math, you will realize each wall is only 0.5 inches thick. This is in contrast to sheet and post trailers that may only have an internal width of 98 inches.
Conclusion
A plate trailer has smooth surfaced sides. The sides are also thin and thus you can load more cargo into a trailer.
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