Flatbed trucking is a type of specialty trucking that uses open trailers to haul oversized or oddly shaped items that don't fit into standard enclosed trailers. Different types of flatbed trailers vary in size, design, and features. Some options have lower or higher decks to accommodate different freight. Other trailers have two or more deck sections at different heights. Choosing the right type of flatbed for a specific load is essential to transport freight safely.
Standard Flatbed
A standard flatbed truck is typically between 48 and 53 feet long and 8 feet 6 inches wide, with a weight capacity of up to 48,000 pounds. The truck's bed is the same height across the full length with no sides or roof, and it usually sits about 5 feet off the ground. It's a versatile option that can hold a wide range of oversized items. It's often used for construction materials, such as lumber and pipes.
Lowboy
Perfect for hauling taller freight, lowboy trailers sit lower than a standard flatbed, with the bed between 18 inches and 2 feet off the ground. The lower bed allows the trailer to accommodate items too tall for a traditional option. Examples of items that might be transported using a lowboy trailer include vans, bulldozers, agricultural equipment, and construction equipment. The deck is slightly higher at the back to accommodate the rear axle, and the front of the trailer is also typically higher where it attaches to the truck.
The lower deck height offers several advantages beyond being able to haul taller equipment. Being low to the ground makes the deck easily accessible to simplify loading and unloading. It also has a lower center of gravity, which can increase the stability of the load. Lowboy trailers are often designed to hold more weight than a standard trailer, with a capacity of up to 80,000 pounds.
Removable Gooseneck
The front of this flatbed type is removable, which offers flexibility when loading and unloading freight. When you remove the gooseneck portion of the trailer, you can lower the bed to the ground, allowing it to work as a ramp for loading and unloading freight. For example, if you're hauling equipment, you can drive the equipment onto the trailer when the gooseneck is detached. Another advantage of the removable gooseneck trailer is that it typically has one of the highest weight load capacities, which makes it ideal for heavy freight.
Double Drop
A double drop trailer is a lowboy trailer with three deck sections of varying heights. The front and rear decks are smaller, but the bed height is taller than the middle well section, which can be as low as 18 inches like other types of lowboy trailers. Larger, taller, and heavier items can sit on the well section, which sits between the front and rear axles. Cranes are often used to lower the freight into the center well section.
Drop Deck
Also called a step deck, the drop deck flatbed has a short, higher front deck and a longer, lower main deck at the back. It's similar to a double drop trailer, except it only has the front raised deck and not one at the back. You can usually haul slightly taller items on a double-drop trailer compared to a drop deck. However, the main deck on the drop deck style is still lower than a standard flatbed, which allows it to accommodate taller items that don't normally work on a trailer. Because the back deck is lower, it also makes the loading and unloading processes easier, especially if you're hauling large or heavy items.
Side Kit
For items that need some protection, a side kit trailer may be an ideal option. It features plywood, composite, or fiberglass panels that can be installed along the sides to shield the items on the trailer. Tarps can cover the top to keep rain off the items. They're available as standard and drop deck trailers. You might use a side kit trailer if you're hauling items that aren't inside a package or crate. Since the panels are removable, the uses for the trailer are versatile.
Conestoga
Conestoga trailers also offer protection for the freight with a rolling tarp on a sturdy metal frame. This gives the tarp more structure than you get from simply strapping a tarp to the cargo, helping protect what you're hauling more effectively. The Conestoga system typically goes on a standard flatbed trailer, but it can also be found on drop deck and double drop trailers if you have taller loads that need extra protection.
The retractable tarp structure increases the versatility of this trailer. You get protection similar to a dry van trailer, but you can completely move the cover out of the way during loading and unloading. That means there are no sides or top to contend with as you load items. They can be loaded with a crane on the open bed. Then, the rolling tarp is moved into position before you head out with the load. It's much easier to move the rolling tarp system than it is to place and secure a regular tarp.
One drawback of this trailer type is that it has a slightly lower load capacity of 44,000 pounds. That's because the cover adds weight to the trailer.
If you're using flatbeds in your trucking business, choosing the right style is important. The best types of flatbed trailers depend on what you plan to haul. Having a mix of flatbed trailer types makes your company more versatile by allowing you to take on different clients and types of freight.
