The logistics and supply chain industries demand a lot from its equipment. When renting or adding vehicles to your fleet, you need trailers with floors that can handle heavy loads, frequent use, and various cargo types. Choosing the right dry van or reefer trailer flooring type is essential for your trailer's lifespan and the safe transport of your goods. Let's discuss different commercial trailer flooring types to help you make an informed choice for your transportation requirements.
When spec'ing out the types of trailer for rent, you must understand the different trailer flooring types on the market today. Selecting the right trailers will determine a trailer floor's overall performance and lifespan.
Hardwood has always been a staple for trailer flooring because of its strength and resilience. Oak flooring has been a common choice due to its durability, affordability, and availability in most lumber-producing regions. Apitong, a tropical hardwood, is also gaining popularity for its incredible strength and natural resistance to decay and moisture.
This robust wood can handle heavier loads and tougher conditions, making it a favorite for the transportation industry. However, when choosing hardwood flooring, remember that not all hardwood species are suitable for trailer decking.
Woods with adequate hardness and density for high-traffic environments, like Oak and Apitong, should be top priorities during selection. Transportation industries rely on Apitong and Oak, which exhibit superior strength and long-lasting durability.
Many customers now choose laminated truck flooring as an affordable and reliable alternative to traditional Oak. The advancements in engineered wood flooring offer several advantages, including dimensional stability and affordability over solid hardwood flooring. Engineered wood comprises layers of wood veneers laminated together.
This makes them exceptionally stable and less prone to expanding, contracting, or warping due to changes in humidity and temperature. Additionally, you'll find engineered wood flooring at a lower price point than hardwood, which is appealing for tighter budgets.
This makes them a suitable flooring solution for dry vans. Some manufacturers offer engineered wood options with special coatings for superior wear resistance, extending your trailer floor's lifespan. You can also find this type of flooring for flatbed trailers.
While less common than wood, innovative trailer flooring types like bamboo, aluminum, and steel could be surprisingly effective alternatives. Bamboo, although technically a grass, boasts comparable strength to hardwood while being a rapidly renewable resource. With a growing interest in eco-friendly choices, Bamboo is a solid option for wood trailer flooring.
Aluminum and steel dry van trailer flooring offer durability and easy maintenance but come at a premium. Aluminum, known for its corrosion resistance and lightweight properties, could increase your trailer's payload capacity.
While known for its high strength and suitability for extremely heavy loads, steel requires more diligent maintenance due to its susceptibility to rust and corrosion. Steel is a popular option for shiplap trailer flooring because of its strength.
When choosing between dry van trailer flooring types, consider several factors aligning with your business needs. Understanding these elements and how they apply to your operation will help determine the right trailer flooring type.
First, what cargo will your trailer haul, and how often? High-traffic dry van trailer flooring types requiring constant loading and unloading, particularly heavy freight like machinery or building supplies, may need the toughness of Apitong hardwood. A lighter-duty engineered wood option could be sufficient if you haul less demanding cargo, such as packaged goods.
You should consider the lifespan of each trailer flooring type and how well it holds up under stress. Apitong is an excellent choice for wood flooring because it's strong in high-wear environments, extending the life of your trailer. Factor this in if you anticipate long-term use and want to reduce future replacement costs.
While wood flooring remains the most common option for dry van trailers, certain industries and applications tend to prefer aluminum flooring:
The food and beverage industry often prefers aluminum flooring for several reasons:
Refrigerated trailers (reefers) commonly use aluminum flooring:
Industries transporting weight-sensitive cargo may opt for aluminum flooring:
Some chemical transport applications prefer aluminum flooring:
While these industries often prefer aluminum flooring, it's important to note that wood flooring still dominates the dry van market. The choice between wood and aluminum ultimately depends on specific cargo needs, cleaning requirements, and weight considerations for each shipment or fleet.
Choosing low-maintenance flooring saves time and resources. For example, hardwood generally requires basic upkeep; you must be careful with your cleaning materials. Harsh chemicals can damage and deteriorate the protective sealers on most hardwoods, causing drying, cracking, and discoloration.
Damaged sealers mean your floor is vulnerable to damage from moisture and everyday wear. Gentle cleaning solutions protect your trailer flooring while keeping it clean. Some engineered wood varieties come pre-treated for easier maintenance, making them desirable to owner-operators or small-scale operations.
When working with more robust materials, remember that while their inherent strength offers resilience against high traffic, proper cleaning is essential. Trapped debris can accelerate wear on these surfaces, potentially reducing their lifespan.
Beyond durability and cost, safety is critical when considering dry van trailer flooring. A safe floor means cargo security and efficient loading and unloading. Consider moisture-resistant dry van trailer flooring. Not only does this increase the lifespan of the materials, but it creates a safer working environment free of slippery surfaces.
Choosing slip-resistant finishes for wood surfaces or opting for naturally slip-resistant aluminum or steel should be essential safety factors in your decision-making. Incorporating these elements enhances safety within your logistical operations. This focus on safe, dependable, and efficient transportation adds value and dependability for your customers.
The "best" trailer flooring depends on your needs. Apitong hardwood is known for its robustness, handling heavy cargo, and frequent use, while engineered wood offers excellent durability. Ultimately, consider factors like traffic type, desired lifespan, and maintenance needs to make the best choice for your dry van.
Oak floors have been the go-to for many years because of its strength, widespread availability, and affordability. This explains why it's so prevalent in the industry. However, Apitong, a high-quality and durable alternative, has become a mainstay for many transportation companies. You can use oak for both rough trailer decking and trailer decking in general.
Choosing suitable dry van flooring involves balancing practicality with your business's unique needs. Evaluate traffic, cargo, desired lifespan, maintenance requirements, and safety to determine the ideal fit. Making informed choices ensures your trailer goes the distance and contributes to the safe, efficient delivery of your goods, solidifying your reputation as a reliable partner in the transportation industry.
With COOP by Ryder, our flexible trailer rental solutions lets your business unlock the ability to rent and list standard and specialized trailers all in one place. Backed by Ryder’s team of experts and years of extensive knowledge in the industry, we’re empowering companies to maximize the potential of their fleet operations. Contact us to request a personalized quote for on-demand trailer rentals near you.
Atlantic Trailer Leasing found itself at a pivotal crossroads, they sought innovative ways to enhance profitability without the expense of a large sales team. Enter COOP by Ryder—an innovative fleet optimization and rental platform that allowed Atlantic Trailer Leasing to increase trailer utilization tenfold.
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