{"id":3472,"date":"2021-01-21T15:02:03","date_gmt":"2021-01-21T04:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/?p=3472"},"modified":"2021-01-21T15:02:03","modified_gmt":"2021-01-21T04:02:03","slug":"the-abcs-of-trailers-and-rig-configuration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/truckdealers.com.au\/editorial\/the-abcs-of-trailers-and-rig-configuration\/","title":{"rendered":"The ABCs of Trailers and Rig Configurations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you aware of the defining characteristics of <\/span>A trailers<\/span> and <\/span>B trailers<\/span>? This article is here to help.<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s not uncommon for truck drivers to confuse the type of trailer they\u2019re hauling. Different configurations, recent trailer developments, and manufacturer updates can be cumbersome to follow.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, Byford Equipment had a significant breakthrough in trailer design that\u2019s known as A-Doubles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does an A-Double truck ring a bell?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If so, you know it\u2019s a tractor-trailer with a semi-trailer that hauls a drawbar trailer.<\/span><\/p>\n

More often than not, however, this doesn\u2019t ring the bell of a good number of truckers. Why is this the case?<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to <\/span>truck configurations<\/span>, there seems to be widespread confusion about the different combinations. Among them, A and B trailers are common but not exactly clearcut.<\/span><\/p>\n

This article will attempt to disambiguate A, B, and C trailer configurations for you and point out the potential sources of confusion.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is an A Trailer?<\/span><\/h3>\n

A trailers<\/span> connect to a truck via a dolly, which further attaches to a pintle hook located at the rear of the forward trailer. The dolly may be single or double-axled and it\u2019s licensed as a separate unit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, if you\u2019re hauling a single or double-axle <\/span>truck trailer<\/span>, there are specific differences you should know about.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a rule, single-axle A trailers are used to move between terminals and thus, very common in LTL shipping. For example, transportation companies like Con-way, Estes, and UPS use this <\/span>trailer configuration<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In comparison, double-axle A trailers are for long combination vehicles where a couple of 53\u2019 or 48\u2019 trailers can be connected together. As you may know, these rigs are typically used for hauling enclosed trailers.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is the B-Double?<\/span><\/h3>\n

The B-Double trailer is a combination of two semi-trailers. And it\u2019s believed that there are more than 10,000 of these rigs in Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

With <\/span>B trailers<\/span>, the lead trailer\u2019s axles stick out and there\u2019s a fifth wheel that adds stability to the bulky configuration.<\/span><\/p>\n

LTL shipping companies sometimes use this combination, as the lead trailer\u2019s axle slide can make it easier to back up to the loading dock.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, American food products and distribution company Sysco uses this type of <\/span>truck trailer<\/span> in its extended distribution network.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how the logistics usually works at Sysco:<\/span><\/p>\n

Overnight, a trucker would haul a set of 2 trailers to a location about 800km from the distribution centre. The trailers are to be broken up upon arrival and two other drivers would take over and make the final delivery to Sysco customers on the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Canada and the US, B-Double trailers are frequently used for pulling flatbeds, liquid, and bulk merchandise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to note that you don\u2019t even have to back up to the loading dock with this type of rig. Most of the time, truckers only go forward with these rigs and this makes the handling much more manageable.<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, usually, only experienced truckers who are capable of backing giant rigs up to a dock get to work with B-Double trailers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking of giant rigs, how big are they?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Canada, the standard 8-axle B-Double truck is rated at a maximum weight 63,500kg. But in Australia, this is raised up to a limit of 68,000kg and the rigs can have 7, 8, or 9 axles.<\/span><\/p>\n

What About C?<\/span><\/h3>\n

C trailers are a rather rare double-trailer configuration in most parts of the world, including Australia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Similar to <\/span>A trailers<\/span>, the lead trailer hauls a dolly on which the second trailer is attached. Except that with C trailers, there are two pintle hooks instead of one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As such, the second trailer in a C configuration would have fewer points of articulation and are more stable as a result.<\/span><\/p>\n

The catch is that connecting the dolly becomes trickier for the limited articulation. As a result of these rigs\u2019 stiffer cornering, the tires on the dolly will also wear out sooner.<\/span><\/p>\n

C trailers may be rarer, but they\u2019re often used when you need something to pull a long combination vehicle in certain areas. They\u2019re most common in Western Canada.<\/span><\/p>\n

So\u2026 Where\u2019s the Confusion?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Quite often, you might hear something like:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hauled off the B trailer and now I\u2019m delivering the stuff in the A-trailer.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

It should be obvious that this driver is referring to a B-Double, but it\u2019s erroneous to call the lead trailer an A trailer. If you recall, B-Double trailers don\u2019t include any A trailers, which is an international convention.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regulators and truck engineers define <\/span>A trailers<\/span> as any trailers that have a drawbar coupling.<\/span><\/p>\n

With an A configuration, the dolly is part of the coupling system and not a separate trailer as defined. This applies even if the dolly has a fifth wheel or turntable.<\/span><\/p>\n

By contrast, <\/span>B trailers<\/span> have a fifth-wheel coupling that can be a greased plate or a turntable. The B-Double designation is used to reflect the fact that there are two B-type trailers in the rig. This actually started in Canada where the configuration is called a B Train.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Australia, the name was changed to B-Double, reputedly because it was hard to sell the idea of road trains travelling around the metro areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

And this, dear readers, could very well be the source of confusion going from within to outside Australia, or the other way around.<\/span><\/p>\n

Happy Hauling<\/span><\/h3>\n

Be it A, B, or C, these are all <\/span>quality trailers<\/span> that have particular usage. Technical specifications and truck configurations can make all the difference. Of course, the freight also plays a part in the choice of configuration.<\/span><\/p>\n

Preferably, any trucker should be able to make the right choice every single time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a quick recap of the main characteristics.<\/span><\/p>\n