Flatbed or Step Deck: Choosing a Trailer for Heavy Freight

In open-deck shipping, the choice between a flatbed and a step deck decides how your freight loads, what height it can travel at and whether it needs permits.

Standard Flatbed Trailers

A standard flatbed has a flat 48-foot or 53-foot deck about 60 inches above the road. It suits general machinery, steel coils, lumber and pipe that stay within legal height limits, typically 13 feet 6 inches in total.

Step-Deck (Single-Drop) Trailers

A step deck has an upper deck for smaller cargo or dunnage, and a lower deck much closer to the ground, typically 36 to 42 inches. That lower deck lets shippers haul cargo up to 10 feet tall without paying for over-height permits.

Key Securement Considerations

On either trailer, meeting FMCSA rules takes proper weight distribution, grade 70 chains, heavy-duty ratchet straps and corner protectors.