Flatbed
A flatbed is an open trailer with no sides, roof, or doors, used to transport oversized, heavy, or irregularly shaped freight that cannot fit in an enclosed trailer.
What Is Flatbed?
A flatbed trailer is an open-deck platform without sides or a roof, designed for freight that is too large, heavy, or awkwardly shaped for enclosed trailers. Common flatbed freight includes steel coils, lumber, construction materials, heavy machinery, pipes, and manufactured structures. Flatbeds can be loaded from the sides, top, or rear using cranes, forklifts, or loading docks.
Flatbed hauling requires specialized skills beyond driving. Securement is critical — every load must be properly tarped (when required) and secured with chains, straps, binders, and edge protectors according to FMCSA cargo securement regulations. Improper securement is a serious safety hazard and a common source of roadside violations. Tarping is physically demanding work, especially in bad weather, and many carriers charge an additional tarping fee ($50-$150).
Flatbed rates are among the highest in trucking, averaging $3.25/mile with professional dispatch. The premium reflects the specialized skills required, the physical labor of securement and tarping, and the higher liability risk of open-deck hauling. Flatbed freight is also more seasonal — construction activity drives demand from spring through fall, with slower winter months in northern states.
Why It Matters
Flatbed pays top rates but demands more physical work and specialized knowledge. Proper cargo securement is both a legal requirement and a safety imperative — violations carry heavy fines and a single dropped load can end your career. The higher pay rewards carriers who invest in the skills and equipment.
Real-World Example
David hauls flatbed in the Southeast, specializing in steel and building materials. His FF Dispatch dispatcher books him a load of steel beams from Birmingham to Charlotte at $3.35/mile — $1,675 for 500 miles. David spends 45 minutes securing the load with chains and binders, plus 30 minutes tarping. The tarping fee ($100) is added to the load. Total pay: $1,775 for about 8 hours of work. His weekly gross with FF Dispatch averages $6,200, with $1,194/week more than when he self-dispatched.
How FF Dispatch Handles This
FF Dispatch averages $3.25/mile for flatbed carriers. We negotiate tarping fees as separate line items and plan routes that minimize the number of tarped loads per week to reduce your physical workload while maximizing earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
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