Trailer Slang Dictionary: What Truckers Call Their Rigs

Skateboard — A standard flatbed trailer with a flat, open deck and no sides or roof. The name comes from its flat profile resembling a skateboard. Used for steel, lumber, building materials, and machinery. Typical lengths are 48 or 53 feet.

Step deck (drop deck) — A flatbed with two deck levels. The upper deck sits behind the gooseneck and the lower deck drops down to provide extra height clearance. Drivers call it a “step deck” because the deck literally steps down. Ideal for tall freight that would exceed height limits on a standard flatbed.

Lowboy — An extremely low-profile trailer designed for hauling heavy construction equipment like excavators and bulldozers. The deck sits just 18 to 24 inches off the ground, allowing tall loads to stay under bridge height limits. Some drivers also call it a “low-bed.”

RGN (Removable Gooseneck) — A specialized lowboy where the gooseneck detaches so equipment can drive or roll onto the deck from the front. The most versatile heavy-haul trailer. Often used for military vehicles, large machinery, and oversized loads requiring permits.

Conestoga — A flatbed with a retractable tarp system that rolls back and forth on rails. Named after the Conestoga covered wagons of the 1800s. Provides weather protection without the loading restrictions of an enclosed trailer. Popular for freight that needs flatbed accessibility but must stay dry.

Curtain side (curtain van) — A trailer with retractable curtain walls instead of rigid sides. The curtains slide open for forklift access from the side. Common in Europe and growing in North America. Bridges the gap between flatbed versatility and van trailer protection.

Dry box (dry van) — A standard enclosed trailer with no temperature control. Called “dry” because it has no refrigeration unit. The most common trailer type in North America, hauling everything from retail goods to packaged food to electronics. Typically 53 feet long.

Reefer — Short for “refrigerated.” A temperature-controlled trailer with a diesel-powered cooling unit mounted on the front wall. Hauls perishable goods like produce, meat, dairy, and pharmaceuticals. Reefer drivers often earn higher per-mile rates than dry van drivers.

Wiggle wagon — A set of double or triple trailers hitched together. The rear trailers sway and “wiggle” behind the lead trailer, especially in wind or during turns. Common with LTL carriers like FedEx Freight and Old Dominion. Some states restrict doubles and triples to certain highways.

Tanker (thermos) — A cylindrical trailer for hauling liquids or gases. Fuel tankers, milk tankers, and chemical tankers are the most common. Some drivers call insulated tankers a “thermos.” Tanker drivers need a tanker endorsement on their CDL and face unique challenges with liquid surge.

Hopper (grain trailer) — A trailer with a V-shaped bottom and gravity-discharge gates for hauling dry bulk commodities like grain, sand, gravel, and feed. The load drops out the bottom through the hopper gates. Common in agricultural regions during harvest season.

Belly dump — A hopper-style trailer that discharges its load from gates in the bottom (the “belly”) while the truck is moving. Used in construction to lay down a windrow of aggregate, sand, or gravel. The driver opens the gates from the cab and drives slowly forward.

Context matters — When a dispatcher says “I need a skateboard for a steel coil pickup,” they mean a standard flatbed. If a load posting says “reefer required,” it means a refrigerated trailer — not just any enclosed box.

CB usage — On the CB, drivers often refer to trailer types when reporting road conditions. “Wiggle wagon jackknifed at the 205” tells other drivers exactly what to expect. The more specific you are, the more useful the report.

Load board postings — Some load boards use formal names (flatbed, refrigerated van) while others use slang. Knowing both ensures you do not miss loads that match your equipment. A “skateboard” posting is the same as a “flatbed” posting.