Cortina TrailBoss Channelizer Drum w/ Reflective Stripes

It is the tall orange barrel with reflective stripes that you see lining highway work zones to steer traffic around the work. Bigger and more visible than a cone, a channelizer drum reads from far away at highway speed, and its wide weighted base keeps it standing when traffic rushes past. They stack for storage and hauling, so a crew can carry a long run in a truck and drop them fast. Think of them as the heavy hitter for high speed lane closures.

They are all channelizing devices, and the difference is size and where each one fits. A cone is quick and portable for lower speed and short jobs. A channelizer drum is the big, bold marker for highways and long closures where drivers need to see it early. A vertical panel is the tall, thin option for tight spots where a drum will not fit but you still need height. The rule of thumb is simple: the faster the traffic, the bigger the device, so drums for the highway and cones or panels for everything smaller.

A drum stays put on a weighted rubber base, usually 10 to 30 pounds, and the heavier the base, the better it holds against wind and passing traffic. Most come with reflective stripes so they show up at night, and some can be stenciled or printed with a message or logo for a crew or a project. Match the base weight to the road speed, add the reflective version for night work, and stencil it if you want your name on the run.