Curtain side trucks

The curtain side truck is often referred to as a "Curtainsider" or "Tautliner". These terms are commonly used in the UK and Europe to describe trucks with a flexible curtain-like side that can be drawn back for easy loading and unloading of goods.

Curtain-sided vehicles are designed for the efficient transport of goods that require quick loading and unloading. They offer the flexibility of a flatbed truck with the added protection of a closed vehicle, as the sides can be pulled back like a curtain, allowing access to the cargo area from the side. This makes them ideal for transporting palletised goods and other items that need to be accessed easily.

The terms "curtain side" and "tautliner" are often used interchangeably, but they can have subtle differences depending on the context. A tautliner is a brand name that became synonymous with curtain-sided vehicles, much like how "Hoover" is used to refer to vacuum cleaners. Both terms refer to the same basic design of a truck with a retractable curtain on the sides.

The main difference between a curtain sider and a pantech lies in their construction and usage. A curtain sider has flexible curtain-like sides that can be drawn back for easy access, making it ideal for transporting goods that require frequent loading and unloading. A pantech, short for pantechnicon, is a type of truck or van with rigid walls, offering more security and protection for the cargo but requiring more time to load and unload through doors.