Key takeaways
| Factor | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Both can comply | A certified rated-curtain system and rated gates can both meet the restraint standard. |
| Gates add weight | A set of gates can weigh around 300kg, which comes straight off your payload. |
| Handling | Gates are heavy to move and lift; rated curtains cut that manual handling. |
| Loading speed | Rated curtains can speed loading; gates can slow it but suit some freight. |
| Decide on freight | Your freight type and how you load decide which setup fits. |
The choice has changed for curtainsider buyers
For a long time, gates were the default way to get rated load restraint on a curtainsider. Now a certified rated-curtain system can do the same job, which gives buyers a real choice at purchase: rated curtains, gates, or a mix of both.
Both can meet the restraint standard when set up and used correctly. The decision comes down to payload, how you load, manual handling and the kind of freight you carry. Each has a place, and the right answer depends on your operation. For the full range of models and configurations, see our curtainsider buying guide.
Rated curtains vs gates: side by side
| Factor | Rated curtains | Gates |
|---|---|---|
| Restraint | Certified sideways, up to rating | Rated, within a full restraint system |
| Weight | Light, frees up payload | Around 300kg, cuts payload |
| Manual handling | Low | Higher; heavy to move and lift |
| Loading speed | Fast side access | Slower, but firm separation |
| Best freight | Stable palletised loads | Loose, uneven or part loads |
Lean to rated curtains when payload and fast loading matter most: they free up the weight gates would use and cut the manual handling, which suits stable palletised freight.
Lean to gates when you carry loose, uneven or part loads: the firm physical separation can suit freight that does not sit as a stable block, as part of a complete restraint system.
Australian compliance points
- A certified rated-curtain system can provide restraint equal to a similarly rated gate when used as certified.
- Where rated gates are used, they must form part of a complete load restraint system that meets the Load Restraint Guide.
- Both setups still need forward and rearward restraint handled correctly.
- Heavy gates carry a manual-handling risk, which is one reason rated-curtain systems are growing.
- Under Chain of Responsibility rules, restraint breaches can fall on the driver and others in the supply chain.
What to check and ask before you get quotes
| What to check | What to ask the supplier |
|---|---|
| Setup | Is this rated curtains, gates, or both, and is the system certified? |
| Payload effect | How much payload do the gates use, and what would curtains free up? |
| Rating | What is the certified rating of the curtains or gates? |
| Freight fit | Which setup suits the freight I carry most? |
| Handling | How much manual handling does each setup involve on a typical load? |
| Front and rear | What handles forward and rearward restraint with this setup? |
| Condition | On a used unit, are the gates, tracks and fittings in good order? |
| Independent check | Can I get my own inspection before I commit? |
Once you know which setup suits your freight, get quotes for curtainsider trucks from a few suppliers so you can compare like for like.
Frequently asked questions
Can rated curtains replace gates?
Yes. A certified rated-curtain system can provide restraint equal to a similarly rated gate when used as certified. That gives buyers a real choice between rated curtains, gates, or a mix, rather than gates by default.
Why do gates reduce my payload?
A set of gates can weigh around 300kg, and that weight comes straight off what you can legally carry. On a payload-sensitive run, switching to rated curtains can recover that capacity for freight instead. Our curtainsider price guide covers how fit-out options factor into total cost.
Are gates ever the better choice?
Yes. Gates can suit loose, uneven or part loads that do not sit as a stable block, by giving firm physical separation as part of a complete restraint system. The best choice depends on the freight you carry most.
Do rated curtains handle the whole load on their own?
No. Like gates, rated curtains provide sideways restraint up to their rating, so forward and rearward restraint must still be handled separately. Both setups are part of a complete restraint system, not the whole of it.
Which setup is safer for my staff?
Rated curtains cut the manual handling that heavy gates involve, which lowers the strain and injury risk of moving and lifting them. If manual handling is a concern in your operation, that is a point in favour of a rated-curtain system.
What matters most
- Both rated curtains and rated gates can meet the restraint standard.
- Gates cost you around 300kg of payload; curtains free it up.
- Curtains cut manual handling; gates suit loose or uneven loads.
- Both still need front and rear restraint handled separately.
- Decide on the freight you carry and how you load it.
Get and compare curtainsider truck quotes now from verified Australian suppliers, with the restraint setup matched to your freight.
