A Skel, or skeletal trailer, is a common trailer with twist locks that can secure a shipping container for transport.They are connected to a prime mover truck and come with a range of safety and operational features.
Specifically, skels are designed to transport containers of various sizes, from multiple 20ft units, up to a single 48ft unit. They are used by a wide range of logistics and transport companies.
At present, they are critical to the national freight network and can often be seen on major arterial roads when you look closely. Freight companies can use Container Skel Trailer Brisbane exclusively, or can mix these throughout the fleet with fixed trailers.
Companies who rely heavily on containers to transport cargo will use a large share of skel trailers within their fleet.
Container types transport
Different from a fixed trailer, the skel can transport a wide range of container types, from a 20’ dry pallet wide, to 40’ refrigerated container, up to a 48’ tautliner container, even two ISO tanks.
There is no need to build an expensive fleet that is asset heavy to accommodate your growing customer base.
You can always hire a skel, and then hire containers to service a particular customer, market or freight type only when you need it. Doing so gives you much greater control over your fleet utilization. More important, it reduces your exposure to idle assets when not in use.
Skels can meet a broad range of container types to meet your specific cargo requirements:
Side Door, Refrigerated, Tautliner, and Pallet Wide.
Loading and letting go
Get the container that suits your cargo requirements from the depot and loaded straight onto a skel. Intermodal containers are designed specifically for transporting freight on road and rail. They come with a range of transport and safety features as standard.
Depending on your freight type, there is also a range of added options that you can choose from: mezzanine decks and vertical load bars double your internal pallet loading capacity
Skel trailers
The type of containers that are used on skel trailers do not have limit. For intermodal transport, there are three main types of containers, each with different sizes and intermodal specific feature sets, such as tie rails for securing cargo.
The right container ultimately depends on your freight requirements.
Side door containers
The classic staple of the intermodal range is the 20ft Side Door containers. With steel doors on both sides, goods can be easily and safely loaded or unloaded. Their strong exterior protects all goods inside.
The mezzanine decks are also an option on this container type, which can double your internal stacking space and increase your transport capacity.
Refrigerated containers
Refrigerated containers combine superior thermal insulation with a refrigerated motor to maintain internal temperature for specific cargoes. They are most commonly used to transport food.
Temperatures can be set for chilled or frozen freight. Similar to the 2 pallet wide containers, they come with Vertical Load Bars to increase the pallet capacity.
Tautliner containers
The curtain side containers enable stock to be safely and efficiently loaded from both sides. These are the side door containers bigger brother, providing the same functionality at a lower weight.
A mezzanine Deck doubles the pallet capacity and provides the ability to safely transport soft pallets on top of each other.
Pallet wide containers
2 pallet wide containers are the cornerstone of the Australian freight. They are designed wide enough to fit two Chep pallets.
With the introduction of Vertical Load Bars, an option on most pallet wide containers, you can double stack pallets and double the pallet capacity.
Skels as competitive edge
Like all businesses, emerging and established freight operators are constantly looking for the next competitive edge within supply chains to increase revenue or reduce costs.
It all comes down to doing things ‘better’. Whether that can improved processes, larger fleet, the ability to service new markets…the possibility list goes on.
The ability to efficiently use existing roads and rail networks across Australia represents a significant growth opportunity for business.
Fleet utilization
In the transport business, not everyone goes for shipping containers. Not everyone has the need for refrigerated freight.
You can cater for your customers by hiring the container types you need. With over 50 container types, there is a solution for almost any type of cargo.
There is no need to have expensive outlays and no need for your assets to waste away in your yard.
Your business knows the peak season for certain products or freight types too, so you can plan accordingly and capitalize on increased demand.
Movingfast
Business moves very quickly and your quickly, so your ability to service your customers efficiently can make all the difference. Containers can be deployed on short notices. All you need to get started with is a prime mover truck.
You can also leverage from a supplier with a national depot network who can supply equipment in any location you need. When you consider the opportunities with rail, the ability to de-hire into an interstate depot increases your competitive advantage.
Hire or buy
Growing your fleet is frequently an expensive exercise. The cost of trucks and fixed trailers can add up quickly.
Skel trailer hire is the solution. Low upfront cost and the ability to hire on terms that make commercial sense to your business.
Paired with the hire of a shipping container, your business can suddenly service your customers at a competitive rate.
Risk reduction
Equipment hire also means reduced risk for your business. As the market changes, your strategy can change accordingly.
A sudden dip in customer freight needs can be met with the return of your hired equipment, instead of more debt and potential bankruptcy for your business.
If there’s an upturn in the market, more skels and containers can be acquired quickly to sustain the demand.
Loading options
There is a range of features to overcome the issue of fling a container due to dead space or soft pallets. In the curtain side and side door containers, a fully adjustable mezzanine deck provides the ability to double stack cargo. It is easy safe to operate – the user can simply set the deck height, then load the cargo accordingly.
In the end door containers, Vertical Load Bars perform the same function. They can sustain the weight of a pallet and double your loading capacity at the same time by doubling the stackable height.
Restraint features
A smooth ride is never guaranteed, on road or rail. The last thing you need is for your cargo to move around and get damaged in transit. Each container comes with a range of restraint features for you to comply with load restraint requirements.
Ladder lashings are installed as standard on all side door containers. These are located on each side, at the base of the container, and enable cargo to be secured with the appropriate restraint method.