The configuration
A superlink is a truck tractor pulling two trailers coupled together, rather than a single long trailer. A tautliner is a body type: curtain sides that slide open along the length of the trailer, with a fixed roof. Put together, a superlink tautliner gives you two curtain-side decks behind one tractor.
Why the curtains matter
With a closed box body, everything has to go in through the rear doors. With curtains, a forklift can work the load from the side at any point along the trailer. On a full load of pallets that difference can save hours at both ends, which is why the configuration dominates general freight in South Africa.
What it carries well
Palletised goods, cartons, bagged product, baled commodities such as lucerne, and packaged general freight. It is the default long-haul vehicle between Gauteng and the coast.
What it does not do
It is not a secure enclosure, it will not fit into tight yards, and it is not the right answer for bulk loose commodities, temperature-controlled cargo or heavy machinery. For those you want a tipper, a reefer or a lowbed.