Flatbed vs. Utility Trailer:
Why Side Access Changes the Rental Decision
Utility trailers have side rails that contain the load during transport. Those rails are an asset for loose material and general cargo that needs containment. They become a liability when the load needs to be placed from the side by a forklift or other equipment, because the rails block that access. A flatbed rental provides the open deck that utility trailers do not, and that difference is the reason Garland industrial and supply customers cannot substitute a utility trailer for a flatbed when forklift loading is involved.
For loads where containment matters more than side access, a utility trailer is the better and less expensive rental. Loose landscaping material, light construction debris, and general cargo that fits within the rail height and does not require forklift placement are all appropriate utility trailer loads. When the load comes from a Garland industrial supplier or fabricator that uses a forklift as standard equipment, the flatbed rental is the one that works.