Trailers in South Africa — match the body to the freight
The trailer behind the horse is what actually earns the money. SA has a deep, well-developed trailer-building sector with several world-class manufacturers — Henred Fruehauf, SA Truck Bodies, Afrit, GRW, Serco and Paramount all produce trailers that compete on global quality.
Body types
Dropside trailers — the all-rounder for general freight, ag, building materials. Sides drop for forklift loading from any angle. Curtainside / tautliner — sliding curtain sides enable rapid palletised loading; standard for FMCG, beverages, paper, palletised general freight. Flatbed / flatdeck — no sides; for steel, machinery, oversize and abnormal loads. Skeletal — purpose-built to carry shipping containers (20-ft, 40-ft, 45-ft). Tipper / side-tipper trailers — for bulk aggregates.
Axle configurations
Tri-axle interlinks are the SA mainline standard, with a 56-ton GCM limit on the right horse. Lift axles reduce tyre and fuel cost when running empty. Reefer (refrigerated) and tanker trailers are specialist sub-segments with their own price points and inspection criteria.
What to inspect
Check the chassis and crossmembers for cracks (especially near the kingpin and rear of the trailer). Inspect suspension (air bags, shocks, ride height), brakes and air system, floor condition (especially on container skellies), curtain condition (on tautliners), landing legs and fifth-wheel area. Verify FRC current and tyre condition across all axles.