Flatbed trailers are the workhorses of the trucking industry. Their open design makes them incredibly versatile for hauling cargo that won’t fit in an enclosed trailer. But this versatility comes with responsibility. You need to know what you can safely transport and how to do it right.
The flatbed market represents about 9 percent of trailer production according to ACT Research, making it the third-largest trailer category after dry vans and refrigerated units. These trailers handle billions of dollars worth of cargo every year across construction, manufacturing, energy, and agriculture sectors.
Understanding what flatbeds can transport safely helps you choose the right equipment for your cargo. It also keeps you compliant with regulations and prevents accidents that damage goods or endanger others on the road.
Whether you’re shipping construction materials across the country or need local flatbed trailer rental services, knowing the capabilities and limits of these trailers matters.
Construction Materials and Building Supplies
Construction sites depend heavily on flatbed deliveries. The materials are too large, heavy, or awkwardly shaped for enclosed trailers.
Steel beams form the skeleton of buildings and bridges. These long, heavy pieces of structural steel arrive on flatbeds because they often exceed 40 feet in length. A standard flatbed can handle beams up to 48 or 53 feet, though longer loads require special permits and may need extendable trailers.
Lumber and dimensional wood ship well on flatbeds despite being vulnerable to weather. Proper tarping protects the wood from rain and road spray. Bundles of 2x4s, plywood sheets, and engineered lumber all travel securely when properly strapped down.
Concrete products like precast panels, concrete blocks, and pavers are naturals for flatbed transport. Their weight requires a stable, flat surface. Forklifts can easily load and unload these materials from the sides or rear of the trailer.
Bricks and masonry materials stack efficiently on flatbeds. The open design allows forklifts to access the load from any angle, making delivery to job sites much faster than with enclosed trailers.
Drywall panels and sheetrock travel on flatbeds when delivered in large quantities. The key is keeping them dry with tarps and securing them so they don’t shift during transport.
Roofing materials including shingles, metal roofing panels, and membrane roofing systems all fit the flatbed profile. These materials tolerate exposure to the elements during short transport times and benefit from the easy loading that flatbeds provide.
Heavy Machinery and Equipment
Flatbeds excel at moving equipment that would be impossible to load into an enclosed space. The construction, agriculture, and industrial sectors rely on flatbeds for equipment transport.
Excavators, backhoes, and bulldozers ride on flatbeds because they’re too heavy and tall for other trailer types. A lowboy flatbed variant can handle equipment weighing 40,000 pounds or more. The low deck height on these specialized flatbeds keeps tall equipment within legal height limits.
Agricultural equipment like tractors, combines, and harvesters travel on flatbeds between dealers, farms, and repair facilities. Farmers buying new equipment often see it arrive on a flatbed. The open design accommodates the irregular shapes and large dimensions of farm machinery.
Forklifts and material handling equipment ship on flatbeds to warehouses, factories, and construction sites. These machines can often drive themselves onto the trailer, making loading and unloading straightforward.
Generators, compressors, and industrial pumps all transport well on flatbeds. Their heavy weight and compact footprint make them ideal flatbed cargo. Crane trucks or forklifts handle the loading and unloading.
Manufacturing equipment like CNC machines, presses, and assembly line components require the weight capacity and accessibility that flatbeds provide. Some of this equipment is sensitive to weather, requiring careful tarping or specialized covers.
Vehicles and Rolling Stock
Moving vehicles is a major use for flatbed trailers. Car dealerships, auction houses, and private owners all rely on flatbed transport.
Cars and trucks ship on flatbeds when they can’t be driven. Non-running vehicles, classic cars, luxury vehicles, and new cars from manufacturers all travel this way. The flatbed protects the vehicle from additional mileage and road hazards.
Motorcycles and ATVs transport securely on flatbeds with proper tie-down points. Multiple bikes can ride on a single trailer, making flatbeds efficient for dealers and racing teams moving equipment to events.
Recreational vehicles and campers sometimes require flatbed transport when they’re damaged or won’t run. The weight capacity of flatbeds handles even large RVs, though specialized equipment may be needed for loading.
Boats and watercraft fit naturally on flatbeds, especially larger boats that exceed the capacity of standard boat trailers. Marina operators and boat dealers use flatbeds to move inventory and deliver vessels to customers.
Metal Products and Raw Materials
The manufacturing and construction industries move massive amounts of metal on flatbeds. The material’s weight and the variety of forms it takes make flatbeds the obvious choice.
Steel coils from mills travel on flatbeds to fabrication facilities. These coils weigh thousands of pounds and require specialized racks or cradles to prevent rolling during transport. Proper securement is critical because a shifting steel coil can cause serious accidents.
Metal sheets and plates stack on flatbeds for delivery to manufacturers. The flat surface of the trailer supports these materials perfectly. Forklift access from the sides makes loading and unloading efficient.
Aluminum products including extrusions, sheets, and structural components all ship via flatbed. While lighter than steel, aluminum products still benefit from the open access and weight capacity of flatbed trailers.
Pipe and tubing in various metals and sizes travel bundled on flatbeds. Long sections of pipe for oil and gas pipelines, plumbing supply, and structural applications all move this way. Proper cradles prevent the pipe from rolling and distribute weight evenly.
Rebar and wire mesh for concrete reinforcement ship in bundles on flatbeds. Construction sites receive tons of this material via flatbed delivery, with crane trucks or forklifts unloading it directly to the work area.
Bulk Materials in Containers or Bags
While loose bulk materials require specialized dump or tank trailers, bagged or containerized bulk materials work well on flatbeds.
Sand, gravel, and soil in super sacks or bulk bags transport on flatbeds to landscaping companies and construction sites. Each super sack can hold a ton or more of material. The flatbed’s weight capacity handles multiple bags efficiently.
Agricultural products including seed, fertilizer, and animal feed ship in bags on pallets. Flatbeds allow forklifts to load and unload these pallets quickly. The materials can withstand brief weather exposure if properly covered.
Building materials like cement, mortar mix, and plaster arrive at job sites in bags stacked on pallets. The open flatbed design lets workers unload materials directly where needed using forklifts or pallet jacks.
Packaged goods in crates or on pallets travel on flatbeds when the quantities are large and the items aren’t sensitive to weather. Proper tarping protects most goods during normal transport conditions.
Industrial Equipment and Components
Factories, power plants, and industrial facilities need equipment that only flatbeds can transport effectively.
Boilers and pressure vessels for heating systems and industrial processes travel on flatbeds due to their size and weight. These large metal cylinders won’t fit in enclosed trailers and require crane loading.
HVAC units for commercial buildings arrive on flatbeds. Large rooftop units, chillers, and cooling towers all exceed the capacity of standard trucks. Crane trucks place these units directly on rooftops from the flatbed.
Transformers and electrical equipment for power distribution systems move on flatbeds. The weight of these components, often tens of thousands of pounds, demands the robust construction of flatbed trailers.
Storage tanks for fuel, water, chemicals, and other liquids transport horizontally on flatbeds before being installed vertically at their destination. The tanks may be 20 feet long or more, requiring the full length of the trailer.
Industrial motors, pumps, and compressors ship as complete assemblies on flatbeds. The weight and awkward dimensions of this equipment make flatbeds the practical choice for transport.
Shipping Containers and Intermodal Cargo
The global shipping industry relies on flatbeds for the crucial connection between ports, rail yards, and final destinations.
Standard shipping containers in 20-foot and 40-foot lengths ride on specialized flatbed chassis. These chassis have twist locks that secure the container at its corners. Container hauling represents a huge segment of flatbed work in areas near ports.
Intermodal containers moving between trucks and trains use flatbed trailers designed specifically for this purpose. The standardized dimensions of shipping containers make loading and unloading highly efficient.
Modified containers used as mobile offices, storage units, or temporary buildings all travel on flatbed trailers. The ability to crane-load these containers makes flatbeds ideal for delivering them to remote locations.
Lumber and Timber Products
The forestry and construction industries move enormous quantities of wood products on flatbeds.
Raw logs from forests travel on flatbeds to sawmills. The trailer’s open design accommodates irregular log shapes and lengths. Stakes on the sides of the trailer keep logs from rolling off.
Dimensional lumber for construction ships in large quantities on flatbeds. A single load might carry thousands of board feet of lumber. Mills ship directly to lumber yards and large construction projects this way.
Engineered wood products like I-joists, LVL beams, and glulam beams transport on flatbeds because of their length. These products are crucial for modern construction and often exceed 40 feet in length.
Plywood and OSB sheets stack efficiently on flatbeds. The flat surface prevents damage that could occur if sheets were stood on edge. Proper strapping keeps the stack stable during transport.
Landscaping and Agricultural Materials
The green industry uses flatbeds extensively for materials that won’t fit in enclosed trailers.
Trees and large plants in root balls travel on flatbeds from nurseries to landscaping sites. The open design allows for odd shapes and prevents damage to branches. Landscape contractors often request flatbed delivery for larger specimens.
Palletized landscaping materials like pavers, retaining wall blocks, and decorative stone ship on flatbeds. The weight of stone products requires the capacity of flatbed trailers, and forklift access from the sides speeds up delivery.
Mulch and soil in bulk bags transport on flatbeds to landscaping projects and garden centers. Each super sack contains a cubic yard or more of material. A single flatbed can haul dozens of bags efficiently.
Large boulders and decorative rocks for landscaping move individually on flatbeds. Some landscape boulders weigh several tons. The flatbed’s capacity handles these weights, and crane trucks can place them precisely.
Energy Sector Equipment
The oil, gas, and renewable energy industries depend on flatbeds for specialized equipment.
Drilling equipment components including drill pipe sections, bits, and rig parts travel on flatbeds to well sites. The rugged nature of this equipment tolerates weather exposure during transport.
Wind turbine components like tower sections, nacelles, and hubs require flatbed transport. While the massive blades need specialized trailers, many turbine components fit on heavy-duty flatbeds.
Solar panel arrays and mounting systems ship on flatbeds to installation sites. The panels travel in crates that protect them from damage while allowing efficient stacking on the trailer.
Pipeline sections and fittings for oil, gas, and water infrastructure move on flatbeds. The long lengths of pipe require the extended deck space that flatbeds provide.
What You Cannot Safely Transport
Understanding limitations is as important as knowing capabilities. Some cargo doesn’t work on flatbeds despite their versatility.
Loose granular materials like sand, gravel, or grain need dump trailers or grain haulers. Flatbeds lack the sides and covers necessary to contain these materials safely during transport.
Liquids in bulk require tank trailers with sealed compartments. Flatbeds aren’t designed to carry liquids except in sealed containers like drums or totes.
Fragile items sensitive to weather damage shouldn’t travel on flatbeds unless they’re in weatherproof packaging or containers. Electronics, furniture, and similar goods need the protection of enclosed trailers.
Hazardous materials requiring special containment must follow strict regulations. While some hazmat can travel on flatbeds in approved containers, many hazardous materials require specialized trailers with proper containment and safety features.
Small, valuable items that could be easily stolen need the security of enclosed trailers. Flatbeds expose cargo to view and access, making them unsuitable for high-theft-risk goods.
Securement Requirements for Safe Transport
Having the right cargo means nothing if you don’t secure it properly. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets strict requirements for cargo securement.
Straps, chains, and binders must meet specific strength ratings based on the weight being secured. Each securement method has a working load limit that determines how many tie-downs you need. According to industry data, flatbed trailers typically can transport cargo weighing up to 48,000 pounds, but proper securement is essential at any weight.
Edge protection prevents straps from cutting into cargo during transport. Steel or wooden spacers protect both the straps and the goods. Sharp edges on metal products can slice through webbing straps in seconds without proper protection.
Load distribution matters for safe handling and legal compliance. Placing too much weight on one axle creates instability and violates weight regulations. Professional drivers know how to position cargo for balanced weight distribution.
Tarping protects weather-sensitive cargo from rain, snow, and road spray. Steel tarps cover the top of the load while side tarps provide additional protection. Proper tarping and securing takes time but prevents damage that could cost thousands of dollars.
The Bottom Line
Flatbed trailers handle an incredible variety of cargo that other trailers can’t accommodate. From massive machinery to bundled lumber, from shipping containers to industrial equipment, flatbeds are the solution when cargo is too large, heavy, or awkwardly shaped for enclosed transport.
The key to safe flatbed transport is matching the right cargo to the right trailer type, securing everything according to regulations, and protecting goods from weather when necessary. Standard flatbeds, extendable flatbeds, lowboy trailers, and specialized variants each serve specific purposes.
If you’re shipping construction materials, heavy equipment, vehicles, metal products, or any of the other cargo types discussed here, a flatbed trailer is likely your best option. Just make sure you work with experienced carriers who understand proper securement and have the right equipment for your specific load.
The versatility of flatbed trailers makes them indispensable across dozens of industries. When you need to move cargo that won’t fit anywhere else, a flatbed gets the job done safely and efficiently.
