Trailer Sizes and Types (Haulage)

The essential trailers for UK road transport and their capacities

Moving goods by road in the UK involves a variety of trailer types, each with standard dimensions and specialised uses. The most common semi-trailer for general haulage is about 13.6 metres long, paired with a tractor unit for a total articulated length around 16.5 metres. These trailers typically measure ~2.5m wide and ~4.0m tall (in mainland Europe height is capped at 4.0m, whereas in the UK there’s no fixed legal limit – practical max is about 5.03m clearance under bridges). The UK has recently introduced Longer Semi-Trailers (LSTs) up to 15.65m in length (18.55m combined), which increase capacity ~15% without exceeding the 44-tonne weight limit.

Common Trailer Types in UK & Europe:

• Curtainside (Tautliner): The workhorse for palletised goods. Features tarpaulin side curtains that slide open for easy forklift loading. Standard size ~13.6m (45ft) length, 2.5m width, 2.6m height, carrying up to ~24–28 tonnes (about 26 standard pallets). Offers good weather protection while allowing side loading/unloading.
• Box Van Trailer: A rigid-sided enclosed trailer (no curtains) for extra security and weatherproofing. Similar dimensions to a curtainsider (typically 13–16m long) but slightly heavier construction, yielding ~24–25t payload. Ideal for high-value or fragile goods that need full enclosure.
• Flatbed Trailer: An open platform with no sides or roof. Used for oversized or irregular cargo (machinery, construction materials) that can’t fit in a van trailer. Loading is done from the sides or above. Flatbeds can carry heavy loads (up to ~30 tonnes on multi-axle configurations) but cargo must be well-secured with straps or chains and often covered with tarps.
• Low-Loader: A specialised flatbed with a dropped deck height, allowing transport of very tall or heavy equipment (e.g. industrial machinery, vehicles). By lowering the trailer bed close to the ground, low-loaders stay within height limits when hauling oversize items.
• Skeletal Container Trailer (Skelly): A bare chassis frame designed to secure standard shipping containers (20ft or 40ft). These are used in intermodal transport – e.g. picking up containers from ports or rail and hauling by road.
• Double-Decker Trailer: A trailer with two levels (often with a step-frame design) to increase capacity for lighter, bulky goods. Within UK height allowances (up to ~4.9m on select routes), a double-deck trailer can take significantly more pallets (often 40+ pallets on two decks). Common in retail and parcel delivery, it maximises volume (though payload may be ~23t max due to weight distribution).
• Refrigerated Trailer (Reefer): An insulated box trailer equipped with a refrigeration unit. Maintains cold or frozen temperatures for perishable goods (food, pharmaceuticals). Standard length ~13.6m, usually ~2.6–2.7m internal height (insulation reduces interior space). Reefers typically handle up to ~25 tonnes payload while keeping cargo within a set temperature range.
• Tail-Lift Trailers: Any of the above trailer types can be fitted with a hydraulic tail lift at the rear, enabling forklifts or pallet trolleys to load/unload when no loading bay is available. This is useful for deliveries to sites without docks or for heavy items that need mechanical lifting at drop-off.

Each trailer type serves different freight needs. For example, a curtainsider is ideal for general consumer goods on pallets, whereas a flatbed or low-loader is chosen for steel beams or construction machines. Choosing the right trailer ensures the cargo can be transported safely, legally, and efficiently. In the UK, articulated lorries are limited to 44 tonnes gross weight (including the load, trailer and tractor) on 6 axles, and standard artics can haul far more than smaller rigid lorries. Thanks to the UK’s more generous height allowance (no blanket height limit, unlike the EU’s 4m rule), operators here also employ high-capacity options like double-deck trailers to move more goods per journey.

How X2 Can Help

X2 (UK) has access to a full range of trailers and vehicle types to match any haulage requirement – from standard curtain-sided and box trailers for general goods, to flatbeds, low-loaders, and temperature-controlled fridge trailers for specialised loads. Our team will advise you on the optimal trailer type and handle all compliance (weight limits, loading, securing) so your shipment is moved safely and cost-effectively. With our nationwide network and mix of equipment, X2 can source the right trailer at the right time, even during peak demand. Contact us today to discuss your cargo needs – whether it’s a single pallet or an oversize machine – and we’ll provide the ideal transport solution along with a competitive quote.