What Is Flatbed Shipping?
A flatbed is an open trailer with no walls, sides, or roof — just a flat deck that freight loads onto from above, the side, or the rear. That open design makes flatbed the go-to equipment for freight that's too tall, too wide, too heavy, or too irregularly shaped to load through the rear doors of a dry van. Loads are held in place with chains, straps, and tarps rather than enclosed walls, so proper securement is a core part of every flatbed shipment, not an afterthought.
Flatbed Equipment and Specs
A standard flatbed runs 48 feet long and legally hauls roughly 48,000 lbs of freight. Step-deck (or drop-deck) trailers lower the deck height to accommodate taller freight while staying under legal height limits, and double-drop trailers go even lower for equipment like construction machinery. Heavier or wider loads move on specialized multi-axle trailers with oversize/overweight permits. Deck length, weight capacity, and configuration all get matched to the specific commodity before a carrier is booked.
Common Flatbed Commodities and Loading Methods
Flatbed most often moves construction materials like steel coils, rebar, and lumber; heavy machinery and industrial equipment; pipe and pre-cast concrete; and palletized freight that's simply too large or heavy for a dry van's rear-door access. Loading happens from above by crane, from the side by forklift, or from the rear for palletized loads — the open deck doesn't dictate a single loading method, which is part of why experienced flatbed carriers matter more than general trucking experience alone. Weight distribution across the deck and axles also has to be planned before loading, not adjusted afterward.
When to Choose Flatbed Over Dry Van
Flatbed is the right call for construction materials, steel, machinery, and any freight that loads by crane or forklift from the side or top, or that simply doesn't fit inside an enclosed trailer's dimensions. If your freight is palletized, boxed, and loads fine through rear doors, dry van is usually cheaper and easier to source — our dry van vs. flatbed guide walks through exactly where that line falls for common commodities.
Securement, Tarping, and Permits — Coordinated by OTX
Flatbed freight succeeds or fails on details: correct securement per FMCSA cargo rules, tarping when the commodity is weather-sensitive, and permits when dimensions or weight exceed legal limits. As a non-asset brokerage, OTX sources carriers experienced with your specific commodity rather than whichever truck happens to be available — that matters for freight like coiled steel or heavy machinery, where the wrong securement approach is a safety and liability risk. We manage permit coordination, route planning for oversize loads, and tracking from pickup through delivery with one accountable contact. Because flatbed capacity is scarcer than dry van in many regions, sourcing from a wide vetted network — rather than a single fleet — also tends to mean faster coverage when a specific trailer configuration is hard to find locally.
What Drives Flatbed Pricing
- Dimensions and weight — standard flatbed vs. step-deck, double-drop, or multi-axle specialized equipment.
- Tarping — weather-sensitive commodities add tarp labor and material cost.
- Permits and escorts — oversize or overweight loads require state permits and sometimes pilot cars.
- Securement complexity — irregular or fragile freight needs experienced crews and extra chains or straps.
- Lane and equipment availability — specialized flatbed trailers are scarcer than dry van in some regions.
Have oversized, heavy, or irregular freight to move? Request a quote with dimensions, weight, and commodity details, and OTX will source a vetted flatbed carrier with the right equipment and securement plan — including permit and route coordination if your load requires it.