Flatbed
The workhorse for steel, lumber and building materials.
- Length
- 48 or 53 ft
- Deck height
- About 5 ft
- Legal freight height
- About 8′6″
Services · Open deck
Flatbed & Step Deck Freight
Steel, lumber, pipe, building materials and machinery: freight that loads from the side or top and has to be secured, not boxed in. I book experienced flatbed owner-operators who know their chains, straps and tarps.
- 48′ and 53′ flatbeds
- Step decks for taller freight
- Tarps & securement
Choosing a trailer
Flatbed or step deck?
A standard flatbed has a deck about 5 feet off the ground. With a typical 13′6″ height limit, that leaves roughly 8′6″ for freight. A step deck drops the main deck to about 3′6″, which leaves around 10 feet, so taller freight can move without an oversize permit.
Both carry roughly 45,000–48,000 lb of freight, depending on the truck. When a load is taller or heavier still, the next step is an RGN or lowboy; see heavy haul & specialized.
Equipment
Open-deck trailers
Open decks load from the sides, top or rear, which is why they carry freight that won’t fit through a dock door.
Step deck (drop deck)
A lower main deck for taller freight such as machinery and equipment.
- Upper deck
- About 10–11 ft long
- Lower deck height
- About 3′6″
- Legal freight height
- About 10 ft
Tarped flatbed
Tarps protect freight that has to stay dry and clean.
- Tarp types
- Lumber, steel and smoke tarps
- Best for
- Lumber, steel, finished goods
- Booking
- Mention tarps when you quote
Double drop & RGN
For freight too tall or heavy for a step deck.
- Well height
- About 18–24 in
- Legal freight height
- About 11′6″
Typical loads
What moves on a flatbed
- Steel coils & plate
- Structural steel & beams
- Lumber & plywood
- Pipe & tubing
- Building materials
- Roofing & trusses
- Machinery & equipment
- HVAC units
- Precast concrete
- Side-loaded palletized freight
Securement
Securement done right
Open-deck freight is held in place by the securement, so it has to match the load. Cargo securement follows the FMCSA rules in 49 CFR Part 393, and Landstar offers securement training to its owner-operators.
- Chains and binders for steel, machinery and other heavy pieces
- Straps for lumber, building materials and lighter freight
- Edge protectors so straps don’t cut into the freight
- Coil racks and blocking for steel coils
- Tarps for loads that must stay dry and clean
Request a quote
What I need for a quote
- Commodity and how it’s packaged (bundles, coils, crates)
- Dimensions and weight per piece, and in total
- Number of pieces
- Tarps needed, and which type
- Loading and unloading method: forklift or crane, side or rear
- Pickup and delivery addresses and hours
- Pickup date
How tall can freight be on a flatbed?
On a standard flatbed with a deck about 5 feet high, freight can usually be about 8′6″ tall before the load goes over a 13′6″ height limit. Taller freight goes on a step deck, or moves with an oversize permit.
What’s the difference between a flatbed and a step deck?
A step deck has a short upper deck over the fifth wheel and a lower main deck about 3′6″ off the ground. The lower deck allows about 10 feet of legal freight height, versus about 8′6″ on a flatbed.
How much weight can a flatbed carry?
Typically about 45,000–48,000 lb of freight, so the whole truck stays under the 80,000 lb federal gross weight limit. The exact number depends on the truck and trailer.
Can you arrange tarps?
Yes. Tell me the commodity when you ask for a quote, and I’ll book a truck with the right tarps, such as lumber, steel or smoke tarps.
Can a flatbed be loaded from the side?
Yes. Flatbeds and step decks can be loaded from the sides, top or rear by forklift or crane, which is why they carry freight that won’t fit through a dock door.
Deck heights, payloads and legal limits vary by equipment and state. The figures on this page are typical; I confirm them for every load.
More services
Other freight I move
Request a quote
Need an open-deck truck?
Send the commodity, dimensions and weight, and I’ll book the right flatbed or step deck.