Open-deck and specialized trailer solutions for oversized, heavy, and irregularly shaped freight. Standard flatbed, step deck, double drop, RGN, and conestoga — with permit coordination and pilot car services on every lane nationwide.
Flatbed is the equipment of choice when freight is too large, too tall, too wide, or too heavy for an enclosed trailer — or when it must be loaded from the side or top rather than through dock doors. From a single piece of industrial machinery to a full project cargo move across multiple loads, MyExpressFreight's open-deck network delivers the specialized capacity your freight demands.
We work with a vetted network of flatbed, step deck, lowboy, RGN, and conestoga carriers operating across every North American lane. Our team handles permit applications, route surveys, and pilot car coordination so you can focus on your freight — not the logistics of moving it.
Choosing the right open-deck trailer depends on your freight dimensions, weight, and loading method. Here is a quick reference for the most common flatbed equipment types.
Flatbed is the go-to equipment for industries moving large, heavy, or structurally complex freight that requires open-deck loading and specialized securement.
Structural steel, steel coils, plate, rebar, pipe, and fabricated metal assemblies. Heavy dense loads requiring precise weight distribution, certified tie-down, and often tarping to prevent rust and contamination during transit.
Excavators, bulldozers, graders, cranes, forklifts, and skid steers. Heavy machinery often requires RGN trailers with removable gooseneck for drive-on loading and overweight permits with multi-axle configurations.
Dimensional lumber, engineered wood, OSB, structural panels, and prefabricated building components. Flatbed allows forklift side-loading at sawmills, lumber yards, and building product distribution centers.
CNC machines, presses, generators, transformers, compressors, and manufacturing equipment. Often oversized or overweight — our team coordinates permits, blocking, bracing, and route surveys for safe delivery.
Large-diameter pipe, culvert sections, drainage conduit, and HDPE pipe. Long, cylindrical, and heavy — requiring specialized pipe bunks, blocking, and strapping for safe transport on standard or stretch flatbeds.
Precast wall panels, beams, bridge sections, and utility vaults. Extremely heavy and often oversize — requires heavy haul equipment, state permits, and precisely coordinated delivery windows to construction sites.
Wind turbine blades, nacelles, tower sections, and large solar panels. Some of the most complex flatbed moves in the industry — requiring stretch trailers, multi-vehicle convoys, route surveys, and night-time permitting.
Combines, tractors, planters, sprayers, and grain bins. Seasonal demand peaks during planting and harvest. Wide and tall equipment often exceeds standard dimensions and requires oversize permits and pilot cars.
We match every flatbed shipment to the right equipment, service level, and accessorial package — from a single standard load to a complex multi-load project cargo move.
Flatbed is a specialized market. The carrier who handles your dry van loads may not be the right partner for your open-deck freight. Here is what our flatbed team brings to the table.
Answers to the most common questions about flatbed freight — equipment types, weight limits, tarping, permits, and when flatbed is the right choice.
Flatbed shipping is the transportation of freight on an open-deck trailer with no walls or roof. It allows cargo to be loaded from the side or top using cranes, forklifts, or by driving equipment directly onto the trailer — making it the right choice for oversized, heavy, or irregularly shaped freight that cannot be loaded through a standard trailer door. Common flatbed freight includes steel, lumber, construction and agricultural equipment, machinery, and precast concrete.
A standard 48-foot flatbed can carry up to 48,000 lbs of freight within the federal 80,000 lb gross vehicle weight limit. Loads exceeding these limits require multi-axle trailers and overweight permits from each state on the route. With the right equipment and permits, flatbed configurations can legally carry 120,000 lbs or more depending on axle spread and state regulations. Our team handles all permit applications and route planning for overweight moves.
A step deck (also called drop deck) has a raised front section and a lower main deck, creating a height clearance of up to 10 feet on the lower portion. Use a step deck when your freight is taller than 8.5 feet but under 10 feet — the height threshold at which a standard flatbed would require an oversize permit. Step decks are commonly used for large machinery, agricultural equipment, and tall manufactured goods that fit within 10 feet of height.
A standard flatbed has one continuous deck at a uniform height, with a maximum freight height of approximately 8.5 feet before oversize permits are required. A step deck has an upper and lower deck level, allowing freight up to 10 feet tall on the lower deck without oversize permits in most states. If your freight is between 8.5 and 10 feet tall, a step deck is typically the most cost-effective solution. Taller freight requires a double drop (lowboy) or RGN trailer with permits.
Use flatbed when your freight exceeds standard dry van dimensions, must be loaded from the side or top, or is too heavy for a standard enclosed trailer. If your freight fits comfortably through dock doors, stays within 8.5 feet of height, does not exceed 44,000–45,000 lbs, and doesn't need side or top loading — dry van is almost always the cheaper option. Only move to flatbed when the freight's physical characteristics make dry van impossible or impractical.
Tarping depends on the commodity and shipper requirements. Steel coils, paper products, machinery with electronic components, and other weather-sensitive freight require tarping. Lumber, rebar, and precast concrete often do not. Manual tarping adds $150–$350 per load. If weather protection is important but you want to avoid tarping complexity, a conestoga trailer uses a rolling tarp system that provides full enclosure without manual labor — at a modest premium over standard flatbed rates.
Standard flatbed rates run roughly 10–25% above dry van rates on the same lane, reflecting specialized equipment and lower carrier availability. Expect $2.00–$4.50 per mile for standard flatbed freight. Oversize and permit loads add state permit fees ($25–$150 per state), pilot car costs ($300–$600 per vehicle per day), and route survey fees where applicable. Contact MyExpressFreight for a real-time flatbed quote — we return rates same-day on standard loads and within 24–48 hours on permit moves.
"We move structural steel weekly across the Midwest. MyExpressFreight consistently finds flatbed capacity when others can't, and the tie-down compliance on every load gives us confidence the freight will arrive intact."
"The permit coordination MyExpressFreight handled for our oversize machinery moves saved us hours of dealing with state DOT offices. They had permits in hand before I even had to ask."
"We ship combines and planters every spring. Finding flatbed capacity during ag equipment season is brutal — MyExpressFreight's carrier network came through every time, even during peak planting season."
"Our wind turbine blade moves require stretch trailers, pilot cars, and night permits in multiple states. MyExpressFreight managed the entire operation without a single delay or permit violation."
"Switched our lumber outbound lanes to MyExpressFreight last year. Better rates, better carrier quality, and an actual human who answers when I call. Night and day versus our previous broker."
"Moving precast concrete panels to a construction site with a tight delivery window is not forgiving. MyExpressFreight hit every appointment, coordinated the crane unloading, and kept the job on schedule."
Spot and contract rates on all North American open-deck lanes.