Finding a Conestoga trailer can be a real challenge for shippers — and for good reason. Thanks to their unique retractable tarping systems, these specialized trailers offer the perfect blend of accessibility and protection for a wide range of freight.
But their relative rarity among carriers means they are often harder to procure than standard dry vans or flatbeds. This limited availability, coupled with their higher cost and dimensional limitations, leaves many freight shippers searching for viable alternatives.
As a shipper, you may find yourself frustrated by the hunt for a Conestoga trailer and concerned about the implications for your logistics.
At Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), we understand that the need for reliable, versatile, and protective transportation solutions doesn't go away simply because Conestogas are scarce.
We spend our days helping shippers identify their shipping needs and explore trailer options that can meet their requirements without compromising on efficiency or safety.
Recognizing this, it's essential to explore other trailer options that can meet your shipping requirements without compromising on efficiency or safety.
In this article, we’ll delve into five practical alternatives to Conestoga trailers. You'll discover the unique benefits of each alternative, understand their best use cases, and walk away equipped to navigate shipping challenges and optimize your transportation strategy.
- What are Conestoga trailers good for?
- Why use a Conestoga alternative?
- What are some alternatives to Conestoga trailers?
What are Conestoga Trailers Good For?
While at first glance a Conestoga trailer may appear to be a standard dry van, its sides are actually tarps on a fixed rail system that can be retracted for easy top- and side-loading.
This makes Conestogas good for hauling large freight that requires both the open access of a flatbed for loading and unloading and the protection of a dry van during transit. Conestogas are ideal for:
- Large, heavy, or irregularly shaped machinery and equipment
- Steel and metal products
- Building materials, like lumber or drywall
- Electronic equipment that can’t be crated due to external sensors
- Automotive parts, like engines, transmissions, and chassis components
- Aerospace and aviation parts and equipment
- Glass products and other fragile items
A Conestoga trailer also effectively conceals the cargo within, which makes it well-suited to transporting secure and high-value freight.
Why Use a Conestoga Alternative?
Conestogas sound like the best of both worlds — so why don’t shippers use them all the time?
The biggest issue is trailer capacity. Conestogas are a specialized trailer type, which makes them harder to find.
Carriers simply don’t have as many Conestogas in their fleets (if they have any at all) as they do standard dry vans and flatbeds.
Due to this lack of availability, Conestogas can also be more expensive to procure than a standard trailer option.
Obtaining one often requires relocation, which takes more miles than a standard trailer because there are fewer of them on the market. Providers can therefore charge more for their use.
There may also be an additional maintenance fee, as Conestogas require more upkeep than standard trailers.
What’s more, carriers and brokerages may have to look further afield — often states away — to find the nearest Conestoga for their shipper customer, which can be costly and time-consuming.
Dimensionality may also push shippers toward a Conestoga alternative. There are three different types of Conestogas: standard flatbed Conestogas, step-deck Conestogas, and double drop Conestogas.
Each Conestoga type (and each individual trailer) has different maximum freight dimensions, but it should be noted that the additional bulk of the built-in tarp system typically causes a loss of about two to three inches of usable space per dimension (length, width, and height).
The headboard effect of the rolled-up tarps can make drive-on or crane loading and unloading more difficult. The overhead rail system that holds the tarps in place can also present a height barrier.
Freight that cannot be disassembled to fit comfortably within a Conestoga trailer’s dimensions will need an alternative.
Shippers who aren’t diligent about measuring (and re-measuring!) the dimensions of their pieces can sometimes find themselves unexpectedly limited by the otherwise versatile Conestoga, which can contribute to their decision to seek an alternative.
What are Some Alternatives to Conestoga Trailers?
When Conestoga trailers are unavailable or unsuitable for your freight, several worthy alternatives can fill the gap.
Understanding the differences among the available options will help you choose the best trailer for your specific requirements and circumstances.
Let’s explore five of our most common Conestoga alternatives: Curtainside trailers, dry vans, flatbeds, removable goosenecks (RGNs), and step-deck trailers.
We’ll highlight their key features, benefits, and downsides, in addition to providing an at-a-glance assessment of whether each alternative will work for your needs.
Curtainside Trailer
Curtainside trailers are like first cousins of Conestogas: They look similar and share certain traits, but each has unique virtues.
Like a Conestoga, a curtainside trailer has a built-in retractable tarp system. As its name suggests, however, a curtainside trailer’s system is only on its sides.
The curtainside trailer provides all the same protection as a Conestoga, but its solid top, rear, and front differentiate it — and eliminate the possibility of top-loading.
Curtainside trailers are a specialty trailer type, which means they will likely be more difficult to find than a standard flatbed or dry van. If you are seeking out a Conestoga alternative due to limited trailer capacity in your area, you may run into a similar problem with curtainsides.
This Conestoga alternative might work for you if:
- You do not require top-loading.
- You are not shipping over-dimensional (OD) freight.
- You require 360 degrees of protection.
This Conestoga alternative might not work for you if:
- Your freight can only be top-loaded.
- You are shipping OD freight.
- Curtainside capacity in your area is limited.
Dry Van Trailer
Dry van trailers are the single most commonly used trailer type, thanks to their compatibility with the loading docks used by the vast majority of major shippers and receivers.
Their box shape fully encloses shipments, making it ideal for freight that cannot risk exposure to the elements. Dry van trailers are most often used to ship palletized, boxed, and loose products.
While dry van trailers are a hugely popular transportation solution, they are inherently limited. Dry van trailers can only be loaded from the back, and with maximum dimensions of 42,000-45,000 pounds, 48- or 53-feet long, 101 inches wide, and 110 inches tall, they cannot safely haul OD freight.
Still, dry vans are often less costly than flatbed trailers, and offer total protection without the need for tarps. Some freight types may require racking inside the dry van trailer to keep it secure during transit.
If you’re considering a dry van trailer as a Conestoga alternative, the key to your success will be ensuring your shipment will easily fit within the trailer.
Double-check your measurements and compare them to the dimensional maximums for the specific trailer you’ll be using to ensure loading and unloading goes smoothly.
This Conestoga alternative might work for you if:
- Your freight is/can be palletized, boxed, or loose.
- You do not require side- or top-loading.
- You are not shipping OD freight.
- You require 360 degrees of protection.
The Conestoga alternative might not work for you if:
- Your require side- or top-loading.
- Your freight is OD.
- Your loading and unloading conditions do not include a loading dock.
Flatbed Trailer
A standard flatbed trailer is among the most commonly-used Conestoga alternatives.
With its ease of side- and top-loading and the ability to haul OD freight, flatbeds make sense for shippers that are interested in the Conestoga’s versatility.
Of course, flatbeds typically require freight to be tarped, and the bottom of the trailer leaves commodities open to the elements — which is why many shippers seek out Conestogas in the first place.
In these situations, transportation providers will ask shippers about their cargo: Can it be shipped in crates instead? If it can’t be crated as-is, could it be disassembled into parts for easier crating?
If the answer is yes, most flatbed carriers and transportation providers will work with the shipper to obtain or build crates to protect the shipment instead of tarps.
Other protective measures for flatbed freight include belly-wrapping, in which tensioners are used to hold the tarp away from the sides of the shipment to reduce contact, and shrink-wrapping with additional bumpers on any sharp, rigid edges or points.
This Conestoga alternative might work for you if:
- Your shipment requires side- or top-loading.
- You are shipping OD freight.
- You do not need 360 degrees of protection, or your freight can be crated or shrink-wrapped instead of tarped.
The Conestoga alternative might not work for you if:
- Your freight cannot be tarped or crated.
- Your freight cannot be crated and must be completely concealed in transit, i.e. even the shape of the freight cannot be discernible to others.
- You need height capacity beyond a standard flatbed’s maximum of 8 feet, 6 inches tall.
Removable Gooseneck (RGN) Trailer
Removable gooseneck (RGN) trailers come in a variety of sizes and freight dimension maximums, making them especially versatile members of the Conestoga alternatives family.
RGNs get their name from the functionality of their gooseneck, which secures the open-deck trailer to the tractor. When the gooseneck is removed as the name suggests, the driver can then place the front of the trailer directly on the ground, creating a ramp for loading and unloading.
RGNs eliminate the need to have cranes and forklifts on site for loading and unloading, so they’re extremely useful for hauling large equipment and machinery that can be driven on and off the trailer.
In general, RGNs are sought when height is a driving factor behind trailer choice. A standard RGN can have two or three axles (depending on cargo weight) and can haul cargo up to 11 feet, 6 inches in height.
If the load exceeds 30 feet in length, an extendable RGN might be the answer. This RGN variation can expand its well up to 50 feet in length and can haul a variety of freight weights depending on the number of axles, from 38,000 pounds (2-3 axles, the same maximum as a standard RGN) up to 225,000 pounds (19 total axles).
As such, RGNs offer a significant advantage to shippers of OD freight when compared to Conestogas.
Like curtainsides, RGNs are considered specialty trailers, so their availability may be limited in your area.
This Conestoga alternative might work for you if:
- Your freight is large and self-propelled, such as construction equipment and machinery, agricultural machinery, powersports vehicles, forklifts, etc.
- You are hauling especially tall freight. RGNs can haul the tallest freight of all the alternatives on this list.
- You are shipping OD freight, particularly overweight (OW) or over-long pieces.
- You do not need 360 degrees of protection, or your freight can be crated or shrink-wrapped instead of tarped.
The Conestoga alternative might not work for you if:
- Your freight cannot be tarped or crated.
- Your freight cannot be tarped or crated and must be completely concealed in transit.
- RGN capacity in your area is limited.
Step-Deck Trailer
Like RGNs, step-deck trailers (also called drop-deck trailers) are open-deck Conestoga alternatives primarily used when load height is a factor.
The “dropped” deck of this trailer gives it greater height capacity than a flatbed or Conestoga. Step-decks are typically capable of hauling loads up to 10 feet, 2 inches in height (without low-profile tires) before being considered OD, though maximum legal loaded height varies from state to state.
Step-decks are most often used to haul large, heavy pieces like machinery and equipment for the agriculture, construction, and aerospace industries. When used with a ramp, a step-deck trailer can be a viable option for drive-on/drive-off freight.
Step-decks are specialty open-deck trailers, so they may be more difficult to find than a standard flatbed. Your transportation provider should be able to advise you regarding capacity in your area and find out whether the available trailers travel with a ramp.
But remember: While a standard step-deck is 53 feet long, the usable length of the lower deck is actually just 43 feet.
The shorter upper deck, which connects the trailer to the tractor, accounts for the additional 10 feet of total length.
This Conestoga alternative might work for you if:
- Your shipment is especially large, heavy, or tall.
- Your shipment requires side- or top-loading.
- You do not need 360 degrees of protection, or your freight can be crated or shrink-wrapped instead of tarped.
The Conestoga alternative might not work for you if:
- Your freight cannot be tarped or crated.
- Your freight cannot be crated and must be completely concealed in transit, i.e. even the shape of the freight cannot be discernible to others.
- You need height capacity above 11 feet.
- Step-deck capacity in your area is limited.
Make Informed Trailer Choices
While Conestoga trailers offer a unique combination of protection and accessibility, their limited availability, cost, and dimensional limitations often prompt shippers to seek alternatives.
And they have plenty of options! By exploring other trailer options such as curtainside trailers, dry vans, flatbeds, RGNs, and step-deck trailers, shippers can find suitable solutions that meet their diverse freight needs.
Understanding the capabilities and benefits of each alternative ensures that shippers can make informed decisions, which in turn supports business goals like optimizing their logistics and maintaining the integrity of their cargo.
Armed with this knowledge, you’re ready to talk to your transportation provider about choosing a Conestoga alternative that will get your freight where it’s going safely, efficiently, and at a budget-friendly price point.
Interested in learning more about other trailer options beyond Conestoga alternatives? Check out our article on the 11 Most Common Trailer Types.
