Which type of cargo compartment offers the fastest loading and unloading efficiency? Traditional warehouse trucks and vans are limited by the design of their cargo compartment openings. Even with forklift access, it is difficult to achieve fast loading and unloading. For courier companies that prioritize timeliness in particular, the unloading cycle usually takes 1-2 hours, which is far too long.
Is there a cargo compartment that enables fast loading/unloading while maintaining sufficient load capacity? To meet this practical demand, wing van trucks emerged. However, why is this convenient wing-opening cargo compartment not more popular in today’s freight market?
Wing van trucks, also known as wing-opening box trucks, have a relatively simple structure. To support the "wings" on both sides, the materials used for the side and top of the cargo compartment are lighter and thinner. High-strength steel plates are adopted to prevent deformation of the cargo compartment after repeated use. Instead of ordinary channel steel, the upper beam uses a channel steel structure stamped from high-strength steel plates.
The front and rear ends of the cargo compartment are equipped with four hydraulic lifts, controlled by an electro-hydraulic system (electric hydraulic pump + hydraulic oil tank) under the chassis. You can open the wing-type cargo compartment via the power switch located at the front of the compartment—full automation is achieved just by holding down the switch. Most wing-opening cargo compartments are equipped with a separate locking mechanism at the bottom after closing, to prevent the risk of cargo tipping over inside the compartment when the vehicle turns.
This convenient wing van truck seems to be a powerful tool for improving transportation capacity, but it also has "weaknesses":
First, wing van trucks adopt a fully automated structure, and the extensive use of high-strength steel makes their price relatively high. Generally, the price of an original box-type compartment for a 9.6-meter truck ranges from 20,000 to 30,000 yuan, while the price of a wing-opening compartment ranges from 30,000 to 40,000 yuan.
Second, there is the self-weight of the cargo compartment. The self-weight of a traditional large single-axle vehicle equipped with a box-type compartment can be controlled at over 8 tons, while the self-weight of a wing-opening vehicle equipped with an electronic control hydraulic system is close to 9.5 tons.