GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
Trailer
A trailer extends the cargo capacity of a towing vehicle without requiring a second power unit: it is an unpowered vehicle pulled by a truck tractor, forming a combined freight unit.
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Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anh%C3%A4nger_(Fahrzeug)
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Definition & Explanation
A trailer extends the cargo capacity of a towing vehicle without requiring a second power unit: it is an unpowered vehicle pulled by a truck tractor, forming a combined freight unit. In commercial road freight, the main types are drawbar trailers with their own front axle and specialist variants such as refrigerated, tanker, or lowbed trailers. Trailers require separate registration, must pass technical inspections, and carry their own number plates in international traffic. Under customs law, a trailer may qualify as a distinct means of transport – with practical implications for transit procedures and TIR Carnet operations. Not to be confused with a semi-trailer, which has no front axle, couples to a tractor unit via a kingpin, and constitutes a separate vehicle category.
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