Save Time and Money—Rent a Terminal Tractor
Looking for a way to save money on your warehouse or railyard operations? A great place to start is with our terminal tractor rentals. Here’s why:
- Terminal tractors move more trailers in less time than traditional semi trucks.
- Terminal tractors are safer than semi trucks, especially in a warehouse or railyard environment.
- A terminal tractor requires no commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate.
Let’s take a closer look at these benefits. In the meantime, feel free to get in touch with us here at Big Truck Rental for more information. Our customer service experts are ready to talk to you now.
The Benefits of Terminal Tractors Over Traditional Semi Trucks
Terminal tractors (also known as yard trucks, shunt trucks, yard spotters, yard mules, or switcher trucks) are designed to move cargo trailers around warehouses, distribution centers, and freight yards. Here’s why they do it better than traditional semi trucks:
No need to climb in and out of the cab
A terminal tractor has a full-sized sliding rear door directly behind the operator’s seat. This makes it easy to connect and disconnect electrical lines and air hoses while remaining on the catwalk.
Short wheelbase and tighter turning radius
This means the tractor takes up less room in a crowded warehouse environment.
Hydraulic fifth wheel
With the hydraulic fifth wheel, there’s no need for the driver to crank the landing gear up and down.
No CDL required
Because a terminal tractor is designed primarily for use on private property, no CDL is required. DOT-approved terminal tractors can make short trips on public roads.
Rugged Construction, Multiple Safety Features, and Other Benefits
The best terminal tractors are well built and come equipped with the following features:
- Automatic transmissions – they make grinding gears a thing of the past.
- 360° view – allows the driver to see everything that’s going on around the tractor.
- Year-round climate control – creates a more pleasant working environment for the operator.
- Heavy-duty grab handles – allows the operator to enter and exit the truck safely.
- Reinforced steel catwalk – high-visibility exterior paint to further enhance safety.
Staying Safe Around Terminal Tractors
Like all motor vehicles, operating terminal tractors does require following a few basic safety guidelines. These include:
- Using the classic three-point stance when entering and exiting the cab – the same as semi trucks.
- Keeping the platform free of obstructions – never store coolers, loose safety gear, or personal belongings on a terminal tractor’s catwalk.
- Performing a quick inspection of the truck at the beginning of each shift – to ensure safety features and other important functions are working properly.
Why Renting Beats Buying When It Comes to Terminal Tractors
Big Truck Rental is proud to partner with industry leader Autocar to provide top-quality yard truck rentals. By renting with us, you save big compared to making an outright purchase and get the most impact from your capital investment by only paying for the truck for the time period you need it. We offer flexible short- and long-term rental deals to meet your company’s needs and budget.
Besides yard spotter truck rentals, we also have garbage truck rentals and other money-saving options for businesses like yours. Contact us today to put them to work for you. With our help, you’ll soon be on the road to bigger profits.