Van Hool Industrial Vehicles presented the Pull Load prototype at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover, a semi-trailer that unloads bulk materials without raising the body. Instead of tipping, a moving bulkhead travels through the load compartment from the front towards the rear door, pushing the material out horizontally. The movement is generated by a closed-loop cable system driven by the Pullbox, a device mounted at the front of the semi-trailer. Because the body remains in its normal travelling position, the vehicle does not require the overhead clearance needed by a tipping trailer, an important difference in industrial plants, logistics centres and production facilities where roofs, structures or overhead power lines make tipping impractical.
The semi-trailer can also unload on uneven ground, on gradients of up to 13°. In these conditions, the mechanical force exerted by the bulkhead becomes more significant than with a tipping trailer, because unloading does not rely solely on gravity. The manufacturer also claims that unloading is faster and safer. According to Van Hool, the system has no lubrication points and requires no routine servicing during normal operation. This should result in less downtime, lower maintenance costs and a reduced total cost of ownership.
Massimiliano Barberis
