A U-shaped support frame has a base beam and parallel side beams extending rearward from the base beam and defining an open implement area, which can be made adjustable. A hitch is attached to the front end of the support frame and frame wheels support the side beams, and rotate about a horizontal frame wheel axis that is fixed in an orientation perpendicular to the operating travel direction. Implements are configured to perform an implement operation and to rest on the ground surface when in an idle position. The support frame is moved rearward to a loading position where each implement is movable to an operating position supported by the support frame. Each implement provides a beam lock connection between the side beams that resists twisting movement of the side beams to maintain the frame wheels and the side beams in a substantially fixed relationship with respect to each other.

A U-shaped support frame has a base beam and parallel side beams extending rearward from the base beam and defining an open implement area, which can be made adjustable. A hitch is attached to the front end of the support frame and frame wheels support the side beams, and rotate about a horizontal frame wheel axis that is fixed in an orientation perpendicular to the operating travel direction. Implements are configured to perform an implement operation and to rest on the ground surface when in an idle position. The support frame is moved rearward to a loading position where each implement is movable to an operating position supported by the support frame. Each implement provides a beam lock connection between the side beams that resists twisting movement of the side beams to maintain the frame wheels and the side beams in a substantially fixed relationship with respect to each other.

A drop deck trailer is provided with a deck that has the ability to raise and lower to conveniently load and unload goods and materials on the deck. A pneumatic system can raise and lower the deck and also serve as a suspension system for the trailer to dampen the relative movement between a frame and the deck. In addition, some embodiments of the trailer have a deck with a movable carriage that can move along the deck to automatically load a vehicle such as a golf cart. The carriage has rollers that secure the front wheels of a vehicle, and the carriage moves along the decks to pull the vehicle onto the deck. Moreover, various embodiments of a trailer frame can selectively connect to different decks to allow each deck to be specialized for particular goods and materials.

A drop deck trailer is provided with a deck that has the ability to raise and lower to conveniently load and unload goods and materials on the deck. A pneumatic system can raise and lower the deck and also serve as a suspension system for the trailer to dampen the relative movement between a frame and the deck. In addition, some embodiments of the trailer have a deck with a movable carriage that can move along the deck to automatically load a vehicle such as a golf cart. The carriage has rollers that secure the front wheels of a vehicle, and the carriage moves along the decks to pull the vehicle onto the deck. Moreover, various embodiments of a trailer frame can selectively connect to different decks to allow each deck to be specialized for particular goods and materials.

A container transfer system is disclosed. The container transfer system can be installed on a vehicle or a rack. The container transfer system includes a conveyance assembly configured to move a container in a substantially horizontal direction along a longitudinal direction of the conveyance assembly. The conveyance assembly can include a frame comprising longitudinal members and transverse members and a plurality of rollers coupled to the frame. The plurality of rollers can include a first set of drivable rollers configured to be actively driven by a motor and a second set of passive rollers. The container transfer system also comprises a plurality of lift assemblies coupled between chassis rails of the vehicle and the frame of the conveyance assembly configured to raise and lower the conveyance assembly in a substantially vertical direction.

A cargo trailer apparatus is provided. In another aspect, aerodynamic fairings for a cargo trailer are provided. A further aspect employs a cover or fairing, including a curved external surface, attached to a trailer frame below a horizontal plane defined by a top floor surface. Yet another aspect employs a cover or fairing attached to a trailer frame below a floor and behind wheels of the trailer. In another aspect, a pallet or cargo carrier includes a cargo-carrying top surface and roller-engaging channels or guides projecting from a bottom surface. In another aspect, sets of fore-and-aft rollers are mounted to a floor of a wheeled trailer, with the roller sets being laterally spaced apart, and a cargo carrier includes laterally spaced apart structures which move over the rollers while deterring misalignment of the carrier as it is manually slid over the rollers.

A cargo trailer apparatus is provided. In another aspect, aerodynamic fairings for a cargo trailer are provided. A further aspect employs a cover or fairing, including a curved external surface, attached to a trailer frame below a horizontal plane defined by a top floor surface. Yet another aspect employs a cover or fairing attached to a trailer frame below a floor and behind wheels of the trailer. In another aspect, a pallet or cargo carrier includes a cargo-carrying top surface and roller-engaging channels or guides projecting from a bottom surface. In another aspect, sets of fore-and-aft rollers are mounted to a floor of a wheeled trailer, with the roller sets being laterally spaced apart, and a cargo carrier includes laterally spaced apart structures which move over the rollers while deterring misalignment of the carrier as it is manually slid over the rollers.

A cargo handling system includes a conveyance surface; a first power drive unit having a first drive roller; a first restraint device; one or more sensors configured to provide positional data corresponding to a current location of a unit load device on the conveyance surface; a first power drive unit controller configured for communication with the one or more sensors, the first power drive unit configured to selectively activate and deactivate the first drive roller and the first restraint device based on the positional data and a second power drive unit and a second power drive unit controller configured for communication with the sensor, the second power drive unit controller configured to selectively activate and deactivate a second drive roller based on the positional data.

Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure generally pertain to vehicle inventory management systems. In one exemplary embodiment, a bed of rollers includes a first section located in an enclosed cargo area of a delivery vehicle and a second section located in an alcove that is accessible from outside the delivery vehicle. Various items for delivery are placed upon the bed of rollers in the enclosed cargo area. The rollers, which are coupled to servomotors, can be rotated in various directions under control of a computer. The computer activates the rollers for moving items around inside the delivery vehicle. Upon reaching a delivery destination, an item can be moved into the alcove for pickup by a person outside the delivery vehicle. The alcove is configured to allow access to the item by the person outside the delivery vehicle, but prevents access to other items located in the enclosed cargo area.

Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure generally pertain to vehicle inventory management systems. In one exemplary embodiment, a bed of rollers includes a first section located in an enclosed cargo area of a delivery vehicle and a second section located in an alcove that is accessible from outside the delivery vehicle. Various items for delivery are placed upon the bed of rollers in the enclosed cargo area. The rollers, which are coupled to servomotors, can be rotated in various directions under control of a computer. The computer activates the rollers for moving items around inside the delivery vehicle. Upon reaching a delivery destination, an item can be moved into the alcove for pickup by a person outside the delivery vehicle. The alcove is configured to allow access to the item by the person outside the delivery vehicle, but prevents access to other items located in the enclosed cargo area.