Abstract: A system for transporting vehicles includes a railcar, a deck, a fastener, a screw, and a travelling nut. The deck is positioned within the railcar and is for supporting a plurality of vehicles. The fastener is coupled to the deck and operable to couple the deck to a wall of the railcar. The fastener prevents a vertical position of the deck within the railcar to be adjusted when the deck is coupled to the wall by the fastener. The screw is coupled to the railcar and the travelling nut is operably coupled to the screw. The travelling nut is operable to adjust a vertical position of the deck within the railcar as a position of the travelling nut on the screw changes when the screw is turned.

Abstract: A reduced-weight poultry cage is used in conjunction with a reduced-weight trailer to transport live poultry for maximizing the poundage of poultry being transported while reducing the number of trips and fuel expenses. The poultry cage includes a combination of aluminum and plastic elements that reduce cage weight, provide for nesting of cages in stacks as well as easy replacement of failed parts. Furthermore, a drop-deck aluminum trailer with a reduced floor and guide rail alignment stops allows for a durable yet lightweight trailer that can haul a plurality of stacks of these poultry cages, thereby maximizing cubic feet availability while being compliant with various road and bridge laws.

Abstract: A sectional van trailer including a plurality of van sections or cargo compartments which are secured to a trailer frame provides advantages when moving both household goods and/or commercial freight. The van sections may be individually removed and left at a location for loading or unloading providing weather-tight individual containers for the goods disposed therein. When interconnected, each van section may remain an individual compartment or may be joined with one or more adjacent van sections to form a continuous van body. A tractor mounted hoist apparatus is provided to allow a lone truck operator to move the van sections between the ground, and the trailer frame, a storage stand, or a truck frame. Since the individual van sections may be removed from a trailer, stored, and resecured to a different trailer frame, efficient transportation of both household goods and commercial freight by truck to a final destination is possible.

Abstract: Apparatus for adapting well cars for trailer carrying use without degrading its double stacked container capability, including a trailer hitch head and mounting pedestal attached to the end deck of the well car for securing the trailer kingpin onto the car mounted hitch head, and a plurality of lightweight aluminum floor beams or panels which support the trailer bogies. The beams can be dropped into place on the car floor with locating pins providing the fore and aft positioning, and are sufficiently light that two men can lift and position them. In two forms the beams bridge between the lower side sills of the car and transfer the vertical load by bearing on the inward turned flange portion of the side sill, and in another form are partly supported by the car lower end plate. The floor beams structures add only approximately 500 to 600 pounds in weight, rather than the 5,000 pounds of a permanent type floor, and do not raise the trailer height above the normal double stacked container height.

Abstract: The invention is a new method and apparatus for alternatively utilizing an enclosed trailer for vehicular and non-vehicular cargo. A pair of tracks located on opposite sides of the center line of the vehicle are independently mounted on a series of full range hydraulic actuators, and lowered and raised to effect the loading of a series of vehicles on the tracks and then raising that series of vehicles to a height above the floor of the trailer to allow the loading of a second layer of vehicles on the floor of the trailer. The tracks can be articulated to a position defined by the full range of travel of the hydraulic actuators, thereby stowing the tracks in a position immediately adjacent to the floor or ceiling of the enclosure, freeing the largest possible portion of the interior for conventional cargo. In an alternative configuration, a movable platform roughly of the dimensions of the trailer floor is used in place of the tracks to provide elevated storage areas for vehicular and non-vehicular cargo.

Abstract: A double-deck transportation vehicle has an elevator platform proportioned to extend across the cargo compartment which is mounted on guide rails for vertical movement between a lowered position, an intermediate position and a fully elevated position. When in the lowered position, the platform is located at the floor level. When in the intermediate position, the platform is spaced from the floor and from the roof of the van to provide load storage compartments above and below the platform. When in the fully elevated position, the platform is raised to about the ceiling level. The platform drive mechanism is mounted in a drive compartment which is located within the platform. Elevator cables extend from the drive mechanism to anchor points located adjacent the upper end of the guide rails. The elevator cables extend within the cargo compartment of the van and are not exposed at the exterior of the van. A latching mechanism is provided for releaseably latching the platform in the intermediate position.

Abstract: A beverage body for a delivery truck or trailer that is convertible between being arranged for use in side loading at ground level or rear loading at dock height. The body includes: (a) hinged bulkheads separating the side loading bays that swing out against the roll-up doors on the vehicle sidewalls to provide a completely open interior for rear loading, (b) hinged bay back panels that form the backs of the bays during side loading and that swing down to form a flat upper floor at the floor level of the wheel housing bay for receiving carts and pallets, (c) a longitudinal support beam located entirely below the wheel housing bay floor, and (d) a rear door.