{"id":30147,"date":"2022-07-19T13:55:38","date_gmt":"2022-07-19T00:55:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/?p=30147"},"modified":"2025-01-07T13:47:47","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T00:47:47","slug":"what-is-a-skeletal-trailer-and-how-do-you-load-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/what-is-a-skeletal-trailer-and-how-do-you-load-them\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a skeletal trailer and how do you load them?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A skeletal trailer is a lightweight semitrailer most commonly used for transporting one or two shipping containers. Shipping containers are intermodal &#8211; they can be loaded onto a ship, unloaded using a crane, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/what-size-forklift-do-you-need-to-lift-a-shipping-container\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"30093\">moved using a forklift<\/a>, empty container handler, reach stacker or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutmechanics.com\/what-is-a-straddle-carrier.htm\">straddle carrier<\/a>, and transported using a truck or train.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are multiple sizes of shipping containers, so the load security points are either designed for a specific size, or are duplicated in multiple positions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A container is coupled to the trailer using a twistlock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/skeletal-trailer-with-multiple-twistlocks-cropped-600x338.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-29102\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/skeletal-trailer-with-multiple-twistlocks-cropped-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/skeletal-trailer-with-multiple-twistlocks-cropped-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/skeletal-trailer-with-multiple-twistlocks-cropped-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/skeletal-trailer-with-multiple-twistlocks-cropped-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/skeletal-trailer-with-multiple-twistlocks-cropped.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Twistlocks with red handles seen in the foreground of the image of a skeletal trailer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"414\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/iso-container-lock-600x414.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5823\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/iso-container-lock-600x414.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/iso-container-lock-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/iso-container-lock-768x530.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/iso-container-lock.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ISO twist lock close up<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Four twistlocks are required for a container &#8211; one on each corner. A skeletal trailer could have up to 12 twistlocks to give different configurations between the sizes of containers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>20-foot<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>30-foot<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>40-foot<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>45-foot<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ISO intermodal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The trailers can have between one and four axles, depending on the desired use. Trucks and trailers used for returning empty containers don&#8217;t need to have many axles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/removable-tank-on-skeletal-trailer-600x375.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30019\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/removable-tank-on-skeletal-trailer-600x375.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/removable-tank-on-skeletal-trailer-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/removable-tank-on-skeletal-trailer-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/removable-tank-on-skeletal-trailer-1536x960.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/removable-tank-on-skeletal-trailer.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Removable tank on a skeletal trailer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Skeletal full trailers are available, but less common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How are containers loaded onto a skeletal trailer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If a skeletal trailer also has hydraulic cranes on the side to self-load the container, it&#8217;s called a sideloader. You must complete <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/course\/sideloader-training\/\">sideloader training<\/a> to use these. A lightweight skeletal trailer weighs as little as 4000kg, but add sideloader cranes and more axles and it can double.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A crane, reach truck, forklift or straddle carrier can also load the container onto the truck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/forklift-lifting-container-clear-cut-1-600x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/forklift-lifting-container-clear-cut-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/forklift-lifting-container-clear-cut-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/forklift-lifting-container-clear-cut-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/forklift-lifting-container-clear-cut-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/forklift-lifting-container-clear-cut-1-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Forklift lifting a container<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Drivers need to pay attention to the load plate so that they don&#8217;t overload the trailer. Each trailer&#8217;s capacity is defined by the lowest of the RUC weight, the maximum GVM on the Certificate of Loading, the manufacturer&#8217;s stated maximum GVM, or the VDAM rule in relation to the tyres and axles (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/course\/axle-weights-vdam-calculations-training\/\">understand how to calculate maximum legal mass on each axle in this axle weight limit course<\/a>). As it&#8217;s impossible to know what&#8217;s inside a container and how the load is distributed, drivers must be aware of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/course\/rollover-prevention\/\">managing rollover risks<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/course\/truck-load-security\/\">understanding axle weight limits and load distribution<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s possible to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trgroup.co.nz\/truck-trailer-rentals\/vehicle-rental\/skeletal-trailers\/\">hire a skeletal trailer<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A skeletal trailer is a lightweight semitrailer most commonly used for transporting one or two shipping containers. Shipping containers are intermodal &#8211; they can be loaded onto a ship, unloaded using a crane, moved using a forklift, empty container handler,<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/what-is-a-skeletal-trailer-and-how-do-you-load-them\/\">Read more &#8250;<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29102,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[375,150,380],"class_list":["post-30147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-heavy-vehicle","tag-sideloader","tag-trailer","tag-vehicle-type"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30147"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35169,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30147\/revisions\/35169"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}