Are the cargo box tailgates so useful?

To make logistics and transport more efficient, it's not just about the vehicle performance configuration. From storage operations to loading and delivery to the final distribution chain, a perfect logistics chain system needs to be established.

Of course, efficient logistics equipment also plays a key role in this, especially the truck tailgate market. So, what role does the tailgate play in our daily transport? What types of tailboards are available in the market? What kind of logistics scenarios are they suitable for?

It is understood that products with a tailgate function can be traced back to around the late 1930s in North America, more than 80 years ago.

It was not until the 1960s and 1970s that these efficiency-enhancing tailboards began to come into the limelight.

By the 1980s, tailboards had become mainstream logistics equipment throughout the European market and have remained popular to this day, playing a vital role in the urban transport chain.

Tailboard types

In terms of design structure, tailboards are mainly divided into cantilever tailboards, folding tailboards and vertical lift tailboards, which are mainly made of steel plates, while a few high-end tailboards are also made of aluminium.

The cantilever tailgate is an extremely adaptable hydraulic tailgate. Its structure is mainly composed of a whole steel plate suspended at the rear of the carriage, the lifting mechanism is installed underneath the carriage, and it can be operated through the pump station system to realise a number of movements such as vertical, backward and horizontal, and can be used under various working conditions.

For example, the cantilever tailboard can be lowered to the ground to pick up the goods and then lifted up again, also allowing easy manual forklift operation. Alternatively, if loading and unloading is carried out on the platform, the cantilever tailgate can be seamlessly connected to the platform to improve loading and unloading efficiency. When not in use, the tailgate can also be blocked to prevent theft of goods. With its high load capacity, low failure rate and high safety features, the tailgate can be fitted to almost any type of truck and can be adapted to most truck applications.

The folding tailgate is a much more complex structure, mounted below the rear beam, and can be retracted at the bottom of the rear of the carriage and unfolded when needed. The folding feature allows it to be used without taking up space in the tailgate, so that if the tailgate is not required for loading or unloading, it can be opened without first lowering the tailgate, making it relatively more flexible to use.

Folding tailboard to be used in cold chain logistics and special line logistics, with small volume, light quality, smooth movement and other characteristics. When the rear panel is folded, the rear of the vehicle can be seamlessly integrated into warehouses, cold stores, etc.. It is also easier to open the tailgate and to work with the forklift

The vertical tailgate is a direct replacement for the vehicle's tailgate and its structure is simpler and easier to operate. Due to its vertical working characteristics, it is very suitable for cargo handling in urban distribution and can also directly realise vehicle-to-vehicle cargo transfer, which can be completed more quickly and efficiently for urban logistics trucks that focus on timeliness.

In fact, no matter what type of tailgate, its main purpose is to improve loading and unloading efficiency and reduce the difficulty of loading and unloading.

The proper and correct use of the tailboard is perfectly suited to logistics scenarios such as urban shop transfers, supermarket deliveries and moving, where even the driver alone can complete the loading and unloading operation with the assistance of the consignee, saving energy and efficiency. Using the tailboard lift function, we can push the pallet directly onto the tailboard with a manual forklift truck and then raise the tailboard parallel to the cargo compartment, thus enabling easier loading and unloading of goods.

We not only need to use the tailboard, but also to maintain it. As a lifting and loading device, the tailboard is used frequently in logistics and transport, and after long hours of work and exposure to the sun and rain, all aspects will certainly deteriorate. In order to further ensure safety when loading and unloading, prevent breakdowns and extend the service life, we must regularly check and maintain the tailboard so that it can maintain its efficient performance.

The hydraulic cylinder is one of the main power equipment to make the tailboard lift and move, the internal hydraulic oil may have moisture into it after a long time of use, and the hydraulic oil will become black and the quality will decline.

The daily inspection of the tailboard also needs to pay attention to whether the oil pipes and pipe joints are damaged or loose, whether the battery power is abnormal, whether the carbon brushes of the motor are damaged, whether there are oil leaks in the cylinders and other parts, whether the electrical wiring and function buttons are broken, etc. At the same time, you can lubricate the rotating parts, such as the pins, with grease according to the frequency of use of the tailboard.

The hydraulic tailgate is a good solution to scenarios where loading and unloading is too slow or even impossible due to insufficient space, equipment and labour.

By using tailboards to reduce the intensity of manual loading and unloading, we can improve efficiency and reduce operating costs. We are able to load and unload goods at logistics sites simply by using hand-pushed forklifts and pallets, and in urban distribution, the tailboard also makes it relatively easy for a single person to load and unload goods.