Cabotage boards, commonly known in the haulage industry as "cabbage boards", are removable side boards commonly seen on European trailers, tilt bodies and Euroliners.
They are usually fitted along the sides of the trailer between the side rave and the upper body structure. Depending on the trailer design, they may sit between upright side posts and can often be removed to provide side access for loading and unloading.
What do cabotage boards do?
Cabotage boards provide a removable side barrier along the trailer body. Their exact function depends on the trailer type, but they are commonly used as part of the side structure on tilt trailers and Euroliner-style bodies.
They can help provide side infill between trailer uprights, assist with general load containment, and help reduce contact between the load and the curtain or tilt cover. Their role should always be considered as part of the trailer's complete body and load-restraint arrangement.
Why are they called cabbage boards?
"Cabbage boards" is a well-used industry slang term for cabotage boards. It is commonly heard in workshops, trailer yards and haulage operations, particularly when referring to European-style tilt trailers or trailers fitted with removable side boards.
The formal term is cabotage boards, but the slang version is widely understood across the transport industry.
Where are cabotage boards normally used?
Cabotage boards are most commonly associated with European tilt trailers, Euroliners and similar continental body designs. These trailers often use a combination of removable side posts, side boards, a sliding roof or tilt cover, and load-securing equipment to provide flexible loading access.
They are less common on many UK curtainsider designs because UK trailers are typically built using postless body structures. In these designs, the roof structure does not rely on removable side support posts in the same way as many European tilt and Euroliner bodies.
Cabotage boards are normally fitted into recesses or channels within the side support posts. Without these posts, there is generally no practical location to install the boards. If a customer specifically requires cabotage boards on a UK trailer design, supporting side posts would normally need to be incorporated into the body structure.
Are cabotage boards a legal requirement?
Cabotage boards should not be confused with the legal rules surrounding cabotage transport operations. In trailer bodywork, the term refers to the physical removable side boards fitted to certain trailer designs.
Whether a trailer requires cabotage boards depends on the body design, intended use and load-retention arrangement. They should be considered as part of the overall trailer structure rather than as a standalone legal requirement.
Are cabotage boards part of load restraint?
Cabotage boards may contribute to general load containment, but they should not be treated as a complete load-restraint system on their own unless the trailer body, boards, posts and associated restraint equipment have been specifically designed and rated for that purpose.
Operators should always use suitable load-restraint equipment for the load being carried. Depending on the trailer specification and cargo type, this may include straps, internal nets, load bars, side posts, rated curtains or other restraint systems.
Cabotage boards on tilt trailers and Euroliners
On European tilt trailers and Euroliners, cabotage boards form part of a flexible body arrangement designed to support side loading, rear loading and covered transport. The boards can usually be removed or repositioned when loading access is required, then refitted before transport.
This arrangement is one reason they remain commonly used on continental trailer designs where operators require versatile loading access together with a covered body suitable for varied freight.
What is cabotage?
In road transport, cabotage refers to domestic haulage operations carried out within a country by a transport operator registered in another country.
For example, a foreign haulier entering a country with an international load may then complete additional transport movements within that country before leaving again. These movements are known as cabotage operations.
The term originates from transport and trade regulations rather than trailer bodywork. Over time, the phrase "cabotage boards" became associated with the removable side boards commonly fitted to European tilt trailers and Euroliner-style bodies, eventually leading to the widely used slang term "cabbage boards".
Although the name is linked to transport terminology, cabotage boards themselves are physical trailer body components rather than a legal or customs requirement.
