Cranable Curtain-Sided Trailers:
Equipment & ILU-Code

• ILU-CodeEFFD
• D-U-N-S Number851963792
• HeadquartersRiga, Latvia (EU)
• Network16 cities in 7 countries

What Is a Cranable Trailer?

A cranable trailer (also called a crane-compatible or intermodal trailer) is a semi-trailer built to be lifted by a gantry crane or reach stacker at an intermodal terminal. Reinforced crane lifting points in the frame allow safe vertical lifting of the loaded trailer, so it can travel on rail wagons and ferries — with the cargo inside, never unloaded or reloaded.

A standard semi-trailer cannot be lifted by crane, so its cargo normally stays on the road. A cranable trailer of the same size carries the same kind of full truckload, but lets the long-haul leg run by rail or sea instead: a truck covers only the first and last mile, and the combination may weigh up to 44 tonnes under the EU Combined Transport Directive.

Our ILU-Code: EFFD

An ILU-Code identifies an intermodal loading unit — such as a semi-trailer or swap body — in European combined transport, much as a BIC code identifies an ISO container. It combines a four-letter ILU-Key that identifies the owner with a serial number and a check digit, and it is marked on the unit itself so terminals and rail operators can identify each trailer. The system is defined by European Standard EN 13044-1 and administered by UIRR.

Our ILU-Key is EFFD. It is issued to EFFIMODAL SIA by UIRR — the International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport, as ILU-Code Administrator — in accordance with EN 13044-1, and is valid until 05.10.2027.

View the ILU-Code certificate (PDF) · more partner documents on Documents & Compliance

Technical Specifications

Fleet details on request — send your tender with your lanes and volumes.

EN 12642 XL and P400

EN 12642 is the European standard for the strength of a vehicle body — front wall, rear wall and side walls — on trucks and trailers. Its XL class is the higher strength level: an XL body, including the curtain side walls of a curtain-sider, is designed to hold back a larger share of the cargo, so it can be counted as part of the cargo securing when the load is stowed tight against it.

P400 is the codification profile used for cranable semi-trailers in European rail transport. Before a semi-trailer can go on a rail wagon it has to be codified for rail use; its codification plate shows which wagons and lines it may travel on.

Our cranable curtain-sided trailers are built to EN 12642 XL and P400 (cranable) specification.

How the Transfer Works at the Terminal

At an intermodal terminal such as our hub in Lübeck, the process is:

• Truck arrives at the terminal with the loaded cranable trailer
• Gantry crane lifts the trailer by its four corner points
• Trailer is placed on a rail wagon or RoRo ferry deck
• At the destination terminal, the process is reversed
• Local truck picks up the trailer for final delivery

Cargo is never touched or re-secured — the same securing remains from loading to final delivery.

Ideal Cargo for Cranable Trailers

The 28-tonne payload and full side access make cranable trailers ideal for heavy, dense cargo:

• Steel coils, profiles and metal products
• Timber logs and sawn lumber
• Paper rolls and cardboard reels
• Cement bags and construction materials
• Industrial machinery and equipment
• Beverages, drums and bottled goods

Haulier Requirements

To use our combined transport service as a road haulier (first/last mile), you need:

• A truck tractor capable of pulling a 44t combination
• Valid CMR insurance and international transport licence
• Familiarity with cranable trailer coupling and uncoupling
• Agreement with Effimodal's Code of Conduct and operational manual

Full operational requirements are outlined in our Manual for Intermodal Transportation of Cranable Trailers.

Meet these requirements? Apply to drive for Effimodal.

To see where cranable trailers fit into the whole chain — first mile, terminal, rail or short-sea and last mile — read our guide to intermodal transport and our guide to combined transport.