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HOW DO I CHOOSE A CARGO BOX
FIRST LETS FURTHER DEFINE THE TWO SIZE STRAIGHT TRUCKS THAT ARE REFERRED TO INDUSTRY WIDE:
C UNIT IS NORMALLY A TRUCK THAT
HAS A 12-18 FT BOX AND CAN HAUL UP TO 5,000 LBS
D UNIT IS NORMALLY A TRUCK THAT
HAS A 20 TO 24 FOOT CARGO BOX AND CAN HAUL UP TO 13,000 POUNDS
WHICH UNIT IS BETTER TO HAVE?
IF YOU LOOK AT THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BOTH THEY RATE ABOUT THE SAME. THERE IS AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF FREIGHT FOR BOTH SIZES BUT WITH THE D UNIT YOU DO HAVE THE AVAILABILITY TO TAKE SMALL LOADS OR THOSE REQUIRING A “D” TRUCK.
MOST OF THE TIME THE D TRUCK: COST MORE TO OPERATE BECAUSE OF A HEAVIER GVWR OF 33,000; IS SUBJECT TO FUEL TAX REPORTING AND SURCHARGES; MORE EXPENSIVE LICENSE PLATES; HIGHER TOLLS ON TURNPIKES AND BRIDGES AND A LOWER MILES PER GALLON ON FUEL.
DOES THAT MAKE A C UNIT BETTER? NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THINK OF WHAT LOADS YOU MISS BY HAVING A SMALL SIZE CARGO BOX AND YOUR WEIGHT CAPACITY OF ONLY AROUND 5,000 LBS.
IF YOU FIGURED OUT WHAT COMPANY YOU'RE GOING TO LEASE TO IT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA TO ASK WHAT SIZE THEY WOULD UTILIZE MORE. D UNITS SEEM TO BE THE PREFERRED SIZE.
ONCE YOU’VE FIGURED OUT WHAT SIZE UNIT YOU WANT TO OPERATE YOU CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT SIZE BOX TO GET. KEEP IN MIND YOUR OVERALL LENGTH SHOULD BE WITHIN THE LEGAL SIZE FOR WHERE YOU WILL TRAVEL. MOST STATES ALLOW UP TO 40 FT.
IF YOU DECIDE ON THE D UNIT FIGURE YOUR CAB WILL BE AROUND 108" GIVE OR TAKE A FEW INCHES AND YOU WANT A MEDIUM SIZE SLEEPER AROUND 60" YOU CAN GET A 24 FT CARGO BOX. ONE THING YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IS IF YOU WILL BE PUTTING ON A LIFTGATE YOU NEED TO FIGURE ITS DIMENSIONS BECAUSE IT MAY EXTEND PAST THE END OF THE BOX WHICH CAN PUT YOU OVER THE LEGAL LIMIT. THE WAY THEY MEASURE IS BUMPER TO BUMPER. IT WOULD BE IDEAL TO CHOOSE A LIFTGATE THAT WOULD COMPLETELY TUCK UNDER THE TRUCK SO IT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR OVERALL LENGTH.
BEFORE YOU ADD A REFRIGERATION UNIT ASK THE CARRIER YOU ARE CONSIDERING LEASING TO WHAT PERCENTAGE OF LOADS WOULD REQUIRE THAT EQUIPMENT. THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS WORTH THE EXPENSE TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN A REFFER.
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