What types of freight go on flatbed trailers?

Common flatbed freight includes: structural steel and steel coils, lumber and building materials, heavy machinery and construction equipment, manufactured housing components, wind energy components (blades, nacelles), oil field equipment, military vehicles, and large industrial machinery. Anything that cannot fit in an enclosed trailer or requires crane loading typically moves on flatbed.

What are DOT securement requirements for flatbed loads?

FMCSA regulations require flatbed loads to be secured against forward, rearward, and lateral movement. General cargo requires 1 tiedown per 10 feet of cargo length, with a minimum of 2 tiedowns per load. Steel loads require chain tiedowns rated to handle the load weight. Drivers are responsible for pre-trip inspection and re-checking securement within the first 50 miles and every 3 hours or 150 miles thereafter.

When does a flatbed load require a permit?

A flatbed load requires an oversize or overweight permit when it exceeds standard legal dimensions: 8.5 feet wide, 13.5–14 feet tall (varies by state), 48–53 feet long (varies by state), or 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight. Oversize permits must be obtained from each state the load travels through. Some loads also require escort vehicles (pilot cars), travel time restrictions, and route surveys.

Equipment Guide

AI Dispatch for Flatbed Carriers

Q: What is flatbed dispatching?

Flatbed dispatching is the process of sourcing, booking, and managing freight loads for open-deck trailers. Flatbed loads include steel coils, lumber, building materials, heavy equipment, and oversize freight. Unlike dry van or reefer, flatbed loads must be tarped, strapped, and secured according to DOT regulations, which adds driver time and cost to every load.

Q: What is a good rate per mile for flatbed?

Flatbed rates are typically higher than dry van to account for securement, tarping, and potential permit costs. A healthy net rate for flatbed is $1.40–$2.00/mile depending on freight type. Oversize loads with permit requirements, escort vehicles, or specialized securement command the highest rates — sometimes $3.00–$5.00/mile for heavy haul.

Oversize loads, tarping requirements, and permit complexity make flatbed dispatching more demanding than enclosed freight. DispatchOS AI applies open-deck rate intelligence and securement cost analysis to every flatbed opportunity.

$1.40–$2.00

Target net RPM for flatbed

$3–$5+

Net RPM for heavy haul / oversize

8.5 ft

Standard legal width

What Is Flatbed Dispatching?

Flatbed dispatching manages open-deck trailer freight: steel coils, lumber, building materials, heavy machinery, and oversize loads. Unlike enclosed freight, every flatbed load must be properly secured — strapped, chained, or tarped — per FMCSA regulations, which adds driver time and equipment cost to the base rate calculation.

Flatbed dispatchers must also account for permit requirements on oversize loads. A load that exceeds legal width, height, or weight requires permits from each state it crosses, possible escort vehicle requirements, and travel time restrictions. These costs must be factored into the rate negotiation.

How DispatchOS AI Works for Flatbed

Flatbed Cost Modeling

Profit calculations include tarping, securement, and permit cost estimates specific to open-deck operations — not a one-size-fits-all dry van model.

Oversize Load Flagging

Loads that may require permits are flagged for review before acceptance, so permit costs are factored into rate negotiations, not discovered after signing.

Rate Negotiation Drafts

AI generates counter-offer drafts that include flatbed-specific justification — securement time, tarping requirements, and accessorial charges.

Broker Risk Panel

Steel and construction brokers vary significantly in payment behavior. See risk score, days-to-pay, and claim history for every broker before you load.

Document Tracking

BOL, POD, and any oversize load documentation tracked in one place. Status gates prevent dispatch without required paperwork.

Accessorial Invoice Items

Detention, tarping, escort coordination, and permit fees invoiced as separate line items — correctly, the first time.

Flatbed Rate Economics

Securement cost is the flatbed dispatcher's unique variable. Tarping a steel load adds 30–60 minutes of driver time at the shipper. On a $50/hour driver rate, that's $25–$50 that comes directly out of load margin if it isn't billed as a tarping accessorial. DispatchOS AI tracks tarping charges as separate invoice line items.

Oversize permits can run $50–$500 per state depending on load dimensions and urgency. Multi-state permits are negotiated into the load rate — a dispatcher who doesn't account for permit cost in their floor calculation loses money on oversize moves.

Top flatbed freight categories: structural steel from mills (Birmingham, Pittsburgh) to fabricators, lumber from Pacific Northwest to construction markets, construction equipment in the Southeast and Southwest, and wind energy components moving from manufacturing plants to project sites across the Midwest and Southwest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a flatbed trailer?

A flatbed trailer is an open-deck trailer with no walls or roof, designed to carry freight that cannot fit in an enclosed trailer or requires side or top loading. Standard flatbed trailers are 48 or 53 feet long and 8.5 feet wide. Variants include step deck (lower deck height for taller freight), double drop (very low deck for oversized machinery), and removable gooseneck (RGN) for the heaviest equipment.

What is a good rate per mile for flatbed loads?

Flatbed rates are generally higher than dry van to compensate for securement work and load complexity. A healthy net flatbed rate is $1.40–$2.00/mile for standard freight. Specialized flatbed (oversize, heavy haul) commands $3.00–$5.00+/mile depending on weight, dimensions, and permit requirements. Steel and lumber runs in competitive markets may run closer to dry van rates.

Does flatbed freight require a tarping fee?

Yes — when freight must be tarped for weather protection (lumber, steel, machinery), the driver's tarping time is billable as an accessorial charge. Standard tarping fees range from $50–$200 depending on load size and complexity. This fee should be explicitly negotiated into the rate confirmation before accepting the load. If a broker refuses to include tarping in the rate, raise your base rate accordingly.

How do I know if a flatbed load needs a permit?

A flatbed load needs an oversize permit if it exceeds: 8.5 feet wide, 13.5–14 feet tall (varies by state), 53 feet long (some states limit to 48 feet), or 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight. If your load dimensions exceed any of these limits in any state you'll travel through, that state requires a permit. Many states also require escort vehicles (pilot cars) for loads over 12 feet wide or 14+ feet tall.

What are the best lanes for flatbed freight?

Top flatbed lanes include: Birmingham, AL and Pittsburgh, PA (steel mills) to fabricators and construction sites nationwide; Oregon and Washington (lumber) to major construction markets in California and Texas; Houston and Permian Basin (oil field equipment) to job sites; and Midwest to Southwest/Southeast (wind farm components). Construction activity and industrial production cycles drive flatbed demand more than general freight volume.

Start Dispatching Flatbed with AI

Open-deck freight has its own economics. DispatchOS AI handles the flatbed math — securement costs, permits, and accessorials — so you negotiate from the right number.

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