Trailer types
Trailer types and dimensions.
Inside size, payload and pallet capacity of the 9 road units built into Cargo Marshal, from the 13.6 m curtainsider to the 3.5 t van.
The standard European semi-trailer, a 13.6 m curtainsider, measures 13.62 × 2.48 × 2.70 m inside and carries up to 24,000 kg. The US 53 ft dry van is longer, at 16.00 × 2.49 × 2.77 m inside. Box trucks and vans are smaller and carry less, so weight often limits them before space does.
All road units compared
Click a column to sort. Sizes are inside the unit, in metres. Open a unit for door size, weights and pallet counts.
| 13.6 m curtainsider trailer | 13.62 | 2.48 | 2.70 | 91.2 | 24,000 | 34 / 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.6 m box trailer | 13.62 | 2.48 | 2.70 | 91.2 | 24,000 | 34 / 60 |
| 13.6 m mega trailer | 13.62 | 2.48 | 3.00 | 101.3 | 24,000 | 34 / 60 |
| 53 ft dry van trailer | 16.00 | 2.49 | 2.77 | 110.3 | 20,000 | 40 / 50 |
| 7.5 t box truck | 6.10 | 2.44 | 2.40 | 35.7 | 2,800 | 7 |
| 26 ft box truck | 7.98 | 2.46 | 2.52 | 49.4 | 5,833 | 14 |
| 3.5 t panel van | 4.41 | 1.79 | 2.01 | 15.8 | 1,100 | 2 |
| 7.45 m BDF swap body | 7.30 | 2.47 | 2.56 | 46.1 | 14,740 | 18 / 36 |
| 7.82 m BDF swap body | 7.70 | 2.48 | 2.70 | 51.6 | 13,000 | 18 / 32 |
Curtainsider (Planensattel)
A curtainsider is a semi-trailer with sliding curtains instead of fixed side walls. A forklift can load it from the side or through the rear doors.
- 13.6 m curtainsider trailer inside 13.62 × 2.48 × 2.70 m, payload 24,000 kg
Box trailer (Koffer)
A box trailer is a semi-trailer with fixed walls and a roof. Cargo goes in through the rear doors only.
- 13.6 m box trailer inside 13.62 × 2.48 × 2.70 m, payload 24,000 kg
Mega trailer
A mega trailer is a curtainsider about 3.0 m high inside, against 2.7 m for a standard trailer. It is made for light, bulky freight that fills the space before it reaches the weight limit.
- 13.6 m mega trailer inside 13.62 × 2.48 × 3.00 m, payload 24,000 kg
Swap body (Wechselbrücke)
A swap body (Wechselbrücke) is a demountable box with support legs that moves between truck and trailer. It is common in European road freight. It has no axles of its own, so what it may carry depends on the vehicle under it.
- 7.45 m BDF swap body inside 7.30 × 2.47 × 2.56 m, payload 14,740 kg
- 7.82 m BDF swap body inside 7.70 × 2.48 × 2.70 m, payload 13,000 kg
Box trucks
A box truck is a rigid truck with a fixed cargo box, typical for regional distribution. Cargo Marshal has the European 7.5 t class and the US 26 ft truck. Their payload is small next to a semi-trailer, so weight can limit the load before space does.
- 7.5 t box truck inside 6.10 × 2.44 × 2.40 m, payload 2,800 kg
- 26 ft box truck inside 7.98 × 2.46 × 2.52 m, payload 5,833 kg
Panel van
A 3.5 t panel van is a long-wheelbase van for parcels and small shipments. Its payload is small, so a few pallets reach the limit.
- 3.5 t panel van inside 4.41 × 1.79 × 2.01 m, payload 1,100 kg
US dry van trailers
The 53 ft dry van is the standard long-haul trailer in North America. It is closed, loads through the rear doors and is longer than a European 13.6 m trailer.
- 53 ft dry van trailer inside 16.00 × 2.49 × 2.77 m, payload 20,000 kg
Where the numbers come from
The sizes are typical values from builder and carrier specification sheets, which each unit page lists with its date. On the road the payload also depends on the tractor, the axle loads and local rules. The pallet counts on each unit page come from the engine that plans your loads.
Plan your own load.
Paste a packing list, press Calculate and see how every piece goes in.