Tarpaulin transportation: what it is, advantages and when to choose a tarpaulin

Covered vehicles are the most common type of road freight delivery in Ukraine and Europe. About 70–80% of all land shipments are transported in curtain-sided trucks, as this body is suitable for most standard commercial cargo and pallets. In this article, we will analyze what curtain-sided transportation is, how a curtain-sided semi-trailer is arranged, what its advantages and limitations are, and how to quickly find a vehicle for your cargo.

What is curtain-sided transportation

Covered vehicles are the delivery of goods in a semi-trailer, the sides and roof of which are covered with a durable fabric (awning) on a metal frame. Unlike an all-metal van, the awning can be opened or moved, which makes loading and unloading convenient from any side. It is the versatility that has made the tilted truck an industry standard: one truck today carries building materials, tomorrow household appliances, and the day after tomorrow pallets with products for export.

What is transported by a tilt

A tilt semi-trailer is suitable for almost any dry cargo that does not require temperature control:

palletized goods (33 euro pallets in a standard euro truck);
building materials, furniture, household appliances;
packaged products, packaged and piece goods;
equipment and components in factory packaging;
long-term food products (cereals, canned goods, beverages). If the cargo requires cold, choose refrigerated transportation, and for heavy equipment or large structures — oversized transportation.

Structure of a tilt semi-trailer

A classic tilted truck consists of a metal frame, a removable awning, a wooden or plywood floor and a gate. It can be loaded in three ways:

rear loading — through a swing gate, convenient for a forklift;
side loading — the awning slides like a curtain (curtain-side semi-trailer), which speeds up work with pallets;
top loading — the roof is removed for loading with a crane. The ability to open the car from three sides significantly saves time in the warehouse — this is one of the main reasons for the popularity of tilt transportation.

Technical characteristics of a standard Euro truck

Parameter	Typical value
Load capacity	20–22 tons
Body volume	82–92 m³
Length / width / height	13.6 × 2.45 × 2.7 m
Number of euro pallets	33 pcs (in the floor)
Loading type	rear, side, top
For smaller batches, low-tonnage tented trucks are used (from 1 to 10 tons) - read about partial loading in the article about pallets and groupage cargo.

Advantages of tented transportation

Versatility - one body for most types of cargo.
Fast loading from any side.
Affordable price - tented trucks are the most common, so competition on the market is high, and tariffs are lower.
Protection from precipitation and dust thanks to a dense tent.
Customs sealing - the tent can be sealed for international and export transportation (TIR system).

When a tarpaulin is not suitable

Despite its versatility, tarpaulin transportation has limitations. The tarpaulin does not provide temperature control, so it is not suitable for perishable products and medicines. It is also not designed for cargo that exceeds the dimensions of the body or requires a reinforced platform. In such cases, specialized transport is chosen.

What determines the price of tarpaulin transportation

The cost of tarpaulin transportation is formed by several factors:

Distance and route — the basic price per kilometer.
Cargo weight and volume — full or partial load.
Urgency — delivery "in the morning" is more expensive.
Seasonality and traffic of the direction — a return flight (additional load) is always more profitable.
Additional services — loading and unloading operations, fastening, insurance. The best way to get a market price is to compare offers from several carriers at the same time.

How to order a tarpaulin transport on SAMO-TRANS

On the freight exchange SAMO-TRANS you can find a carrier with tarpaulin transport in a few minutes:

place a request for cargo or use the search for available transport;
specify the route, type of "tarpaulin" body, weight and volume;
get reviews from carriers and choose the best offer by price and rating;
negotiate directly - without unnecessary intermediaries.

Frequently asked questions about tarpaulin transport

How many pallets can a tarpaulin truck hold?

A standard Euro truck can hold 33 Euro pallets (1200×800 mm in size) in one tier. If stacking is possible - up to 66.

Does the tarpaulin protect the cargo from rain?

Yes, a high-quality tarpaulin protects against precipitation, wind and dust. However, for moisture-sensitive cargo, film packaging is additionally recommended.

How does a curtain-side truck differ from a curtain-side truck?

A curtain-side semi-trailer (curtain-side) is a type of curtain-side truck in which the side fabric slides like a curtain for quick side loading of pallets.

Which is cheaper - a curtain or a refrigerator?

Curtain-side transportation is usually 15–30% cheaper than refrigerator transportation, since it does not require a refrigeration unit and fuel for it.

Conclusion

Tented transportation is the optimal choice for standard commercial cargo and pallets, when versatility, fast loading and a reasonable price are important. If your cargo does not require refrigeration and fits into standard dimensions, a curtain-side truck will cover most logistical tasks. And you can find proven transport for your trip on the SAMO-TRANS exchange.