Container transport is inherently variable: a single 40-footer today, two 20-footers tomorrow, a single heavy 20-footer the day after. A fixed-structure chassis can only partly answer this variability; a multi-purpose chassis, through its locking positions and geometry, carries combination flexibility onto the vehicle itself.
Solutions That Provide Flexibility
- Multiple locking stations: Folding twist-lock groups make 20, 30, 40 and 45-foot container positions possible on the same chassis
- Extendable rear module: A telescopic rear section opens up the length needed for 45-foot and tunnel-type containers; it retracts when empty
- Sliding centre position: Centring a single 20-foot container over the axle group balances axle loads; it can be slid to the rear position for approaching a discharge ramp
- Gooseneck tunnel compatibility: Allows high-cube containers to be carried at legal height
Points to Watch in Selection
Flexibility does not come for free: every additional mechanism means some weight, some maintenance item. The right decision must rest on the fleet's actual load mix — on a route carrying mostly 40-footers, the extras of a fully flexible chassis are dead weight being hauled around; on mixed port work, the same features remove the need for a second vehicle.
The critical point on the mechanical side is the locks: twist-locks and sliding locks must be greased regularly, and deformed lock heads must be replaced without delay. Those four small locks connecting the container to the chassis carry the entire safety of the shipment.