The world depends on commercial trucking to move most of its freight. In the U.S., truck transportation accounted for “a 67 to 94 percent share in the transport of the top 5 commodities by value in 2023,” according to Statista. But it’s not just the volume of freight that’s impressive — the wide range of what’s being shipped is pretty incredible, too. Commercial trucking is among the most cost-effective and efficient ways to move cargo, which explains why suppliers across several industries turn to trucking for their delivery needs.

Making sure every type of cargo arrives at its destination in tip-top shape requires using different types of trucks that are specifically designed for particular freight. In this article, we’ll go over 10 types of freight trucks, the cargo they carry, and why such specificity matters.

Different Types of Trucks for Different Types of Cargo

Not all cargo travels the same way. For example, temperature-sensitive items such as pharmaceuticals, flowers, or freezer goods can’t travel in just any type of truck for hundreds or thousands of miles and arrive at their destination ready for use. They need to be stored in a controlled environment for their journey — otherwise, they’ll be unusable upon arrival.

Travel specifications aren’t just limited to refrigerated goods. Large furniture requires different storage and security for over-the-road travel than bulk grain. Construction materials and vats of liquid freight can’t be properly stored and transported in the same types of trucks, either. Using the appropriate truck for its intended cargo helps to ensure that deliveries arrive as expected.

That’s why it's also important for drivers and shippers to understand freight requirements and the types of trucks available for use. Some freight requires more monitoring than others and may be subject to different regulatory requirements. Acknowledging freight requirements helps logistics professionals ensure they create a delivery plan that ensures the safest and most efficient delivery possible.

10 Types of Freight Trucks and Their Cargo

From the everyday semi truck to more specialized vehicles, here are 10 types of freight trucks and the cargo they’re designed to carry.

Refrigerated Truck (Reefer)

What It Hauls: Perishable goods like food, dairy, pharmaceuticals, and flowers

Key Features: Insulated trailer with a temperature-controlled refrigeration unit

Refrigerated trucks (known in the industry as reefer trucks) play a critical role in cold-chain logistics. The freight they transport is temperature sensitive, so delivery is also time sensitive. Reefer trucks offer temperature-controlled storage that helps to maintain required temps for cargo. They’ve come a long way from early forms of refrigerated transport!

Dry Van

What It Hauls: Non-perishable goods, retail products, electronics, and packaged foods

Key Features: Fully enclosed trailer, ideal for protecting cargo from weather

Dry vans are what most of us picture when we think of a semi truck: long, fully enclosed trailers being hauled by tractors on the highway. These trailers aren’t temperature controlled, so dry vans are a good option for transporting non-perishable freight like furniture and pallets loaded with boxed dry goods.

Flatbed Truck

What It Hauls: Construction materials, large machinery, steel beams, and oversized loads

Key Features: Open trailer design allows for easy loading/unloading from any side

Some non-perishable cargo is too big or awkwardly shaped to fit inside an enclosed trailer. In these situations, flatbed trucks are ideal for transport because they have no roof or sides. Freight can be easily loaded and unloaded, regardless of the freight’s configuration. Flatbed trailers are often used to carry construction materials, heavy machinery, and entire houses.

Tanker Truck

What It Hauls: Liquid cargo such as fuel, chemicals, milk, and other hazardous materials

Key Features: Cylindrical tank design with specialized compartments for different liquids

Tanker trucks are used for carrying loose freight that can’t be easily transported by a different method. Though dry tanker trucks are used for hauling loose dry goods, many people are familiar with liquid tankers as well. CDL drivers must obtain an endorsement to drive a tanker, as driving while minimizing the potential for sloshing liquid requires additional training.

Step Deck (Drop Deck) Truck

What It Hauls: Tall or oversized freight like tractors, vehicles, or industrial equipment

Key Features: A lower deck to accommodate taller cargo that wouldn’t fit on a flatbed

Similar to a flatbed, step decks have open sides and no roof, making them great for oversized loads and other large, heavy-duty freight that can’t fit in a traditional trailer. The key difference between the two trailers is the upper and lower decks. The dropped part of the step deck allows trucks to haul tall equipment without exceeding height requirements.

Car Carrier (Auto Hauler)

What It Hauls: Cars, trucks, and other vehicles

Key Features: Multi-level trailers designed to maximize vehicle transport efficiency

Car carrier trailers come in a variety of configurations, from single- to multi-car, from open air to enclosed. What you’ll typically see on U.S. highways are multi-car open air carriers. These trailers carry anywhere from two to nine cars and are versatile enough to transport different types of vehicles.

Box Truck (Straight Truck)

What It Hauls: Local freight, furniture, moving goods, and small business deliveries.

Key Features: Rigid frame with an enclosed cargo area, commonly used for last-mile delivery.

Box trucks serve a similar purpose to dry vans but are smaller and carry less cargo. This is one reason that box trucks are typically used for last-mile delivery. Their smaller size makes them better equipped for navigating tighter turns, smaller streets, and more compact loading/unloading zones often found in urban and residential areas.

Logging Truck

What It Hauls: Cut timber and logs from forests to processing facilities

Key Features: Long, reinforced trailer designed to secure large logs for transport

Once timber has been harvested, the logs are loaded onto logging trucks for transport to a processing facility. Timber length and road conditions both factor into the type of logging truck that’s used to move the freight, though in most cases there are additional reinforcements on the sides of the trailer to prevent logs from rolling out.

Hopper Bottom Truck

What It Hauls: Grain, sand, fertilizer, and agricultural products

Key Features: Open-top or enclosed trailer with bottom discharge for quick unloading

Hopper bottom trucks are ideal for hauling construction or agricultural materials. The open-top design makes it easy to load loose materials (grain, sand, fertilizer, wood pellets, etc.) for transport, and the discharge hatch on the underside of the trailer helps with efficient unloading where precision is required.

Dump Truck

What It Hauls: Sand, gravel, demolition debris, and other loose materials

Key Features: Hydraulic system that allows the bed to tilt for easy unloading

Dump trucks have large, open-topped trailers that can be used to haul loose materials before quickly and easily unloading freight at its destination. The trailer’s hydraulic system makes unloading large amounts of cargo fast and efficient.

Drivers must have a valid CDL to drive the following freight trucks. In some cases, drivers may need to earn additional endorsements or different CDL class types to transport specific types of freight (liquids and hazardous materials, for example). 

How the Right Truck Type Impacts Efficiency

Choosing the right freight truck is crucial for efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Attempting to move freight over long distances in a truck that isn’t designed for not only presents logistical challenges, it also creates an unsafe driving environment for truck drivers and the public.

Specialized trucks ensure cargo protection, regulatory compliance, and optimized delivery times. Trucking companies strive to deliver freight on time and in top condition in order to build positive business relationships. Using the appropriate vehicle for specific freight is part of maintaining those professional connections.

Just as important as what you drive? Who you drive for. Pride Transport is hiring drivers who are looking for an opportunity to join a family-friendly, professional, and safety-oriented company. Check out our open driver jobs today!