Vehicle type
Tautliner Transport Johannesburg & Nationwide
Tautliner (curtain-side) vehicles combine the weather protection of a closed body with the loading speed of a flatdeck. Because the side curtains slide back, a forklift can work the load from either side rather than travelling the length of the deck from the rear. For palletised and packaged freight moving between Gauteng and the rest of the country, this is usually the most practical and cost-effective body type.
Specification
- Body
- Sliding curtain sides with a fixed roof
- Loading
- Side, rear or both
- Configurations
- Rigid, tri-axle trailer, superlink
- Securing
- Internal straps, load bars and gates
- Weather
- Protected from rain and road spray
Typical cargo
- Palletised consumer goods
- Cartoned and shrink-wrapped freight
- Bagged feed and fertiliser
- Packaged hardware and building products
Loading requirements
- Hard standing alongside the vehicle is needed for side loading.
- Loads should be palletised or stackable for efficient use of deck space.
- Curtain re-tensioning and strapping is part of the loading cycle.
What to consider
- Curtains resist weather, not theft — confirm whether your cargo needs a sealed body.
- Very heavy point loads need a flatdeck or a suitably rated deck instead.
- Choose the configuration around site access: rigid for tight urban sites, superlink for long haul.
Questions
Tautliner transport FAQs
Is a tautliner waterproof?
The curtain and roof protect cargo from rain and road spray in normal conditions, but a tautliner is not a sealed container. Moisture-critical cargo should be wrapped or moved in a closed body.
Can I load a tautliner from the back only?
Yes. Rear loading through the doors is standard, and side loading is the additional option when a forklift can work alongside the vehicle.
Related routes and cargo
Need tautliner capacity?
Tell us what you are moving, where it is collecting and where it needs to go. We will confirm the right vehicle and send you a rate.