Conestogas — Side-Load Freight the Easy Way
Flatbed access, weather protection, no hand-tarping. Built for high-value Midwest freight.
What Is a Conestoga Trailer?
Side-load access plus full weather protection.
A Conestoga trailer is a flatbed with a retractable tarp-and-curtain system mounted on a rolling frame. The cover slides forward and back along the length of the deck, so freight loads from the side like an open flatbed and then seals up under cover — with no hand-tarping.
You'll also hear these trailers called "curtain side trailers" — same equipment, different name, a rolling tarp system that gives you flatbed-style access plus enclosed-trailer weather protection in a single piece of equipment.
| Conestoga trailer | Usable deck length | Usable width | Usable height (under cover) | Max payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Conestoga | 52 ft | 100-101 in | 102-104 in | 47,000 lb |
Conestoga Trailer Dimensions and Capacity
Standard Conestoga and step deck Conestoga specs.
Laufer's standard Conestoga offers about 52 feet of usable deck length, roughly 100 to 101 inches of usable width, and a usable height around 102 to 104 inches under the cover, with a maximum payload of 47,000 pounds. For taller freight that still needs side-load protection, our step deck Conestoga pairs a lower deck with the same retractable cover.
The retractable cover adds a small amount of weight compared with a regular open flatbed, which is the only real trade-off for the weather protection and faster, tarp-free loading it provides.
When Is a Conestoga the Right Choice?
A Conestoga solves the two problems a plain flatbed can't. First, it eliminates hand-tarping — which can be time consuming and physically demanding. Second, it keeps freight dry and out of the weather elements while removing the possibility of tarps damaging your products by marring paint or friction from flapping in the wind.
For shippers, that translates to faster in-and-out times, fewer weather delays, and less worry about tarps damaging freight.
If your freight is open-deck but doesn't need weather protection, an open flatbed is usually the more cost-effective and simpler choice — the Conestoga earns its place when the load needs to stay dry, clean, or out of public view. For a side-by-side view of how the Conestoga stacks up against our dry vans, flatbeds, and step decks, see our Wisconsin trucking services overview.
