Transportation
Finding a reliable trucking company to transport your cargo should never be a difficult task.
Read moreOwner Operators
AmeriCargo Trans Trucking offers competitive pay for all of our loads. We want our owner-operators to feel.
Read moreCareers
We are always looking for certain positions within the company as our business continues to expand.
Read moreAlways The Best Price
We guarantee that we will offer you the right transportation solution in a safe and affordable manner.
Read moreYears Of Experience
AmeriCargo Trans Trucking has continued to experience growth over the last years due to its.
Read moreFlatbed
AmeriCargo Trans understands that not all shipments are the same. Your shipment may not fit into the constraints of a dry van trailer, it may require special loading because of size or weight, or many need to be positioned in a specific area of the trailer to make it legal to transport due to its size or weight.
When these types of circumstances occur, the trucking company moving the freight will use a flatbed trailer. A flatbed trailer allows your shipment to avoid the constraints of an enclosed trailer. These trailers can be loaded from either side or from the top down through the use of a crane.
FAQ’s About Flatbed Trailer Shipping
What is the size of a standard flatbed trailer?
Flatbed trailers are 48 feet long and as a standard 8.5 feet wide. These dimensions allow the trailer to remain within DOT guidelines for operating this type of trailer. The open design of the flatbed allows for some of the freight to exceed this size under certain conditions.
What Types of Flatbed trailers are available?
Flatbeds come in a few types: regular flatbed, step deck, and double step. The step decks have a portion of the trailer that is lower than other areas of the trailer to allow for larger heavy equipment to be loaded and moved on these trailers.
What is the biggest concerns for moving product on a flatbed?
The biggest concerns for flatbed trailer shipping is size and weight.
Since you are not constrained by sides or a roof, you always have to make sure that the shipment is not too wide or too tall to operate on the roadways.
Since flatbeds are often used to move large or heavy equipment, you also have to make sure that these shipments remain in the weight limit for safe transportation.
What if the shipment is oversized or overweight?
Permits can be purchased to move oversized or overweight freight. However, these shipments are often restricted to certain roadways and will require the assistance of an escort to make sure that the freight always remains safe on the roadways.
Are all flatbed shipments required to be tarped?
No. Many products shipped by flatbed trailers, such as heavy equipment, machinery, or agricultural products like pallets of sod, do not need to have a tarp over them to remain safe to ship. These products are secured to the trailer using a series of straps and chains to ensure safe transport.
Can You Use Flatbed Trailers For Regular Shipments?
Shipments of general merchandise and similar types of products can be shipped on a flatbed if the shipper desires, but it would probably not be the best idea. One of the main reasons that general merchandise is shipped in a dry van trailer is because of the protection that these enclosed trailers provide to the merchandise. You do not have to worry about weather or road debris affecting the shipment and you have added security by being able to keep the merchandise contained. Flatbed trailers are generally reserved for oversized items that would not be impacted by weather.
How Do You Know If You Need A Flatbed For Your Shipment?
Flatbed trailers are generally reserved for specialty shipments. If you are shipping large equipment, machinery, or similar types of freight, you will most likely need this type of trailer.
AmeriCargo Trans will work with you to determine which type of trailer will best suit your needs for moving your freight. We will make sure that your freight is shipped safely and on the right type of trailer so that no damage occurs to the freight and all DOT regulations are met.
