Flatbed
A flatbed is an open trailer with no walls, roof, or enclosure, used to transport freight that is oversized, oddly shaped, or requires crane or forklift loading from the side or top. Standard flatbed trailers are 48 or 53 feet long with a deck height of approximately 60 inches and a maximum payload of around 48,000 pounds. Flatbed freight must be secured with straps, chains, or tarps and is exposed to weather during transit.
Why it matters
Flatbed capacity operates in a separate market from dry van and reefer. Rates are driven by equipment availability, seasonal demand from construction and energy sectors, and the specialized labor required for loading and securing freight. Flatbed rates can swing 30 to 50 percent seasonally, making cost forecasting difficult without market intelligence. Improper securement on flatbed loads is also a leading cause of freight damage claims and DOT violations.
When to use it
Use flatbed equipment when your freight cannot fit inside an enclosed trailer due to height, width, length, or loading requirements. Common flatbed freight includes steel, lumber, machinery, construction materials, oversized manufactured goods, and any cargo that requires crane loading. If your freight can fit inside a dry van but requires side loading, consider a conestoga (tarped flatbed with retractable cover) as an alternative that provides weather protection.
How Warp thinks about it
Warp does not ship flatbed freight. Warp specializes in palletized freight that moves through enclosed equipment and cross-dock facilities (dry van, reefer, box truck, cargo van). Flatbed capacity should be sourced through a specialty flatbed broker. Shippers with mixed freight programs can manage the palletized portion through Warp per-pallet pricing while sourcing flatbed separately.
Frequently asked questions about flatbed
What is flatbed?
A flatbed is an open trailer with no walls, roof, or enclosure, used to transport freight that is oversized, oddly shaped, or requires crane or forklift loading from the side or top. Standard flatbed trailers are 48 or 53 feet long with a deck height of approximately 60 inches and a maximum payload of around 48,000 pounds. Flatbed freight must be secured with straps, chains, or tarps and is exposed to weather during transit.
Why does flatbed matter in freight?
Flatbed capacity operates in a separate market from dry van and reefer. Rates are driven by equipment availability, seasonal demand from construction and energy sectors, and the specialized labor required for loading and securing freight. Flatbed rates can swing 30 to 50 percent seasonally, making cost forecasting difficult without market intelligence. Improper securement on flatbed loads is also a leading cause of freight damage claims and DOT violations.
When should you use flatbed?
Use flatbed equipment when your freight cannot fit inside an enclosed trailer due to height, width, length, or loading requirements. Common flatbed freight includes steel, lumber, machinery, construction materials, oversized manufactured goods, and any cargo that requires crane loading. If your freight can fit inside a dry van but requires side loading, consider a conestoga (tarped flatbed with retractable cover) as an alternative that provides weather protection.
How does Warp handle flatbed?
Warp does not ship flatbed freight. Warp specializes in palletized freight that moves through enclosed equipment and cross-dock facilities (dry van, reefer, box truck, cargo van). Flatbed capacity should be sourced through a specialty flatbed broker. Shippers with mixed freight programs can manage the palletized portion through Warp per-pallet pricing while sourcing flatbed separately.