If you want to talk about the current trend in the freight industry, it is none other than lightweight. Lightweight not only improves loading capacity and transportation efficiency, but also reduces fuel consumption and enhances energy conservation and emission reduction, which coincides with the "cost reduction and efficiency increase" path adhered to by China's logistics industry. In this trend, various lightweight models and components have entered the market, with soft curtain cars being one of them.

When it comes to soft curtain cars, they are a common logistics transportation tool in European countries. It is said that over 80% of bicycles and trailers in Europe use soft curtain structures.

A soft curtain trailer looks similar to a box trailer in appearance, except that the materials used on both sides and top of the cargo compartment are different.

Generally speaking, a guide rail is installed on the top of the cargo compartment of a soft curtain trailer, with a locking structure at the bottom. Soft tarpaulins are used on both sides of the cargo compartment, making it easy to push and pull the soft curtain to any position when loading and unloading goods; The top of the cargo compartment can also be made of soft tarpaulin, with support rails installed inside, which can completely store the tarpaulin at one end of the cargo compartment, making it easy to load and unload goods from the top of the cargo compartment; As for the rear of the cargo compartment, it is generally a traditional double door structure, made of lightweight steel or aluminum alloy, which can dock with the logistics company's cargo platform like a regular semi trailer.

In order to ensure the stability of goods during transportation, mobile stabilizing piles can be installed on the inner side of the soft curtain, just like the railings of a warehouse truck. This stabilizing pile can move back and forth, making it easy to load and unload goods; After filling the goods, the stabilizing pile can be fixed by a locking structure, and more horizontal bars can be erected on the top, usually made of aluminum alloy or wood.

In this way, the advantages of soft curtain cars are very obvious:

While maintaining the closure of the cargo compartment, it also takes into account the convenience of cargo loading and unloading. The weight of structures such as soft tarpaulin, aluminum alloy, and wood is also lighter than traditional box cars. According to industry insiders, soft curtain trailers with the same size and model can reduce their weight by more than 3 tons compared to steel trailers.

We have always been in line with European counterparts in vehicle technology, and our domestic research and development, design, regulations, and standards are almost based on Europe. Many of the models currently used in China are European replicas. In theory, soft curtain cars should also be popular in China, but the fact is that since entering the domestic market, soft curtain cars have never been able to be widely popularized. This may start from the limitations of soft curtain cars:

1. The cost is particularly high.

Soft curtain cars generally need to be equipped with airbag bridges, aluminum alloy railings, aluminum rings, hollow frames, etc. The ultra-high cost has to some extent extended the payback period. In the current transportation environment with small profit margins, many car owners can only shy away from them.

2. Transportation safety risks.

If the vehicle shakes or tilts during transportation, high-quality curtains can still support the weight of the goods. If the quality is lower, it may cause the goods to be thrown out of the carriage, seriously affecting traffic safety.

3. The application scenario is limited.

This is the most important factor restricting the popularity of soft curtain cars. Soft curtain trucks are indeed convenient for loading and unloading, but that is for cardboard transportation and mechanical loading and unloading. Currently, most logistics parks and shippers in China do not have the conditions for cardboard transportation, let alone individual car owners who fight guerrillas nationwide.

4. Maintenance is not convenient.

Compared with traditional steel materials, the tarpaulin used in soft curtain cars has a significant disadvantage in terms of damage prevention. In addition, there are many various parts on soft curtain cars, such as rails, waterproof glue, locking structures, fasteners, etc., which require customized maintenance and upkeep.

5. Poor anti-theft performance.

Especially when car owners rest during transportation, such as in the service area, it is common to steal oil or goods. In this regard, soft curtain fabric is not as sturdy as steel cargo compartments and does not have an advantage in anti-theft performance. Therefore, many valuable goods are not transported by soft curtain vehicles.

At present, domestic soft curtain trailers are mainly used in the transportation of short barges with high popularity of palletization, and a large number of retail car owners are still more willing to choose traditional trailers. So, the reason why soft curtain cars have not been widely popularized is partly because they do not meet China's national conditions. As for whether the logistics industry is experiencing a peak of development and popularization after becoming increasingly standardized, it may depend on how much improvement can be made to the problem of being "acclimatized".

In addition to changing the vehicle model, choosing lighter suspension and axle is also a reliable way for lightweight transportation. As a representative of lightweight products, the Darong disc airbag bridge has advanced structure, unique technology, and a more compact design. It is paired with an integrated high-strength alloy material and a square shaft with a larger cross-sectional coefficient, making it lighter and more load-bearing. It can handle stress in all directions calmly and has outstanding shock absorption performance.