Ive been looking at various places that sell trucks etc and have seen several ads for Chassis Cab Trucks. It looks like what it sounds like. Just a cab and the bare bones of a lorry behind it instead of a box or curtain etc. What are they used for? Is it to drop containers onto and attach with clamps? Are there different weights? Is it classed as a rigid or artic licence?
Regards to all
It is waiting to be dressed 
thats how they look before the body builders get hold of them and put on a box or curtains or flooring or skip etc etc
Chassis cab is just that a chassis and a cab or part of sometimes. Used to see them driven like that on the road one time on their way to have a body made up to fit. Could be going to be a bus, large van etc.
steamer:
… Chassis Cab Trucks. … Just a cab and the bare bones of a lorry behind it instead of a box or curtain etc.
Hi steamer, You’re exactly right, because that’s how most trucks start life, it’s as ROG said, they’re just waiting to get dressed.
This can be from new, or somebody could have removed a previous body from a second-hand vehicle, because a new use is envisaged which would need a different type of body.
steamer:
What are they used for?
As they are, they have no practical use.
steamer:
Is it to drop containers onto and attach with clamps?
I can see how you thought that it might be a possibility, but here’s how container ‘bodywork’ looks:
Here’s the chassis with the container ‘bodywork’ known as a “skellie.” (Skeleton.)
This 8-twistlock skellie will accept a 20’ container, or 2 X 10’ containers… (2 twistlocks are out of shot.)
To collect a container, the twistlocks must be set like this: (Note the sticky out lever.)
Once the container is located on the trailer, you next have to ‘close’ the twistlocks by moving the sticky out lever
(Note the container can’t now fall off.)
For completeness, there are other types of twistlocks, but they work on the same principle.
This trailer is a bit more useful, because it can also be used as a flatty.
steamer:
Are there different weights? Is it classed as a rigid or artic licence?
Yes mate, there are different weights of chassis-cabs, but they’re no use until they have a body.
A rigid is a vehicle that doesn’t come with two bit of chassis. (Think of the chassis, not the bodywork. 
)
A wagon and drag is a rigid that pulls a trailer. (Still don’t think about the bodywork. )
An artic is a vehicle where part of the weight of the trailer is carried by the tractor unit. (The bodywork is still irrelevant. )
Once you’ve dropped off the trailer, you’re simply left with a rather short rigid designed to pull/carry a trailer.
Did this help… 
Thanks for the replies. Great info. Especially Diesel Dave! So a chassis cab looks like a Container Bodywork or Skeleton. The big difference is the twistlocks for the container. Is this what companies like Maritime use to move their containers around?
steamer:
Thanks for the replies. Great info. Especially Diesel Dave! So a chassis cab looks like a Container Bodywork or Skeleton. The big difference is the twistlocks for the container. Is this what companies like Maritime use to move their containers around?
Hi steamer,
yes mate, that’s about how it is.
Just to be clear, a chassis cab has no practical use, whereas the container bodywork on a skellie does rather commit that vehicle to a particular use, ie. carrying containers. At first sight, a chassis cab and a skelly appear to be identical, but only one is useful.
The trailer in the bottom pic is also a flatty, and so it has a wider variety of uses.
And yes, Maritime have many skellies, because chassis cabs wouldn’t be of any use to them.
Thanks Diesel Dave - your a top bloke!