Flatbed Freight
Standard 48 to 53 foot open decks for steel, lumber, building materials, and skidded machinery. Freight Line Logistics Inc. arranges the capacity as a licensed property broker, and affiliated motor carrier Freight Line Express Inc. runs open deck equipment of its own.
Broker Disclosure
Freight Line Logistics Inc. is a licensed property broker (USDOT 4543525 | MC-1803436). Our affiliated motor carrier, Freight Line Express Inc. (USDOT 9320877 | MC-90643427), operates its own equipment.
Verify both authorities on the credentials page01
Standard Flatbed Equipment
Freight Line Logistics Inc. arranges standard flatbed capacity as a licensed property broker, typically 48 to 53 foot decks with a legal payload commonly up to about 48,000 pounds depending on the tractor and trailer combination. Deck length is matched to the freight footprint before booking, so a full 53 foot run of pipe is never forced onto a 48 foot deck and a short heavy machine is not paired with more trailer than the move needs.
The open deck is what earns the trailer its place. Freight loads by crane or forklift, from above or from the side, which is why flatbeds serve steel service centers, lumber yards, and job sites that a dry van cannot physically work. If the pickup needs overhead clearance for a crane pick or side access for a forklift, Freight Line Logistics Inc. puts that on the order before a truck is ever assigned.
Deck and payload basics
- Typical deck length of 48 to 53 feet
- Legal payload commonly up to about 48,000 pounds, depending on the tractor and trailer
- Loadable by crane or forklift
- Access from above or from the side
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Securement and Tarping
A flatbed move is only as good as its securement. Steel typically rides under chains and binders, while most other commodities are strapped every few feet per FMCSA securement rules, with edge protection anywhere a strap would bite into banding, coatings, or a finished edge. Loads that need weather protection get lumber tarps for taller packaged freight or steel tarps for lower profile plate and pipe.
Freight Line Logistics Inc. confirms securement and tarping requirements in writing before dispatch. The assigned driver knows before arrival whether the load calls for chains, how many straps the length requires, and whether tarps are on the order, so none of it gets negotiated at the shipping dock while a crane crew stands around waiting.
Confirmed in writing before dispatch
- Chains and binders for steel
- Straps every few feet per FMCSA securement rules
- Edge protection for banding and finished surfaces
- Lumber tarps or steel tarps when weather protection is required
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What Ships on a Flatbed
Structural steel, rebar, and pipe are the classic flatbed commodities, and they anchor the open deck freight Freight Line Logistics Inc. arranges week after week. Packaged lumber, building materials, and palletized masonry follow the same pattern: long or heavy, weather tolerant or tarpable, and loaded by equipment rather than by hand.
Machinery on skids rounds out the list. If a machine rides at standard height once it is chained to the deck, a flatbed is usually the right trailer; taller machinery belongs on a step deck instead. Freight Line Logistics Inc. confirms the commodity, dimensions, and weight in writing before booking, because the difference between a clean flatbed move and a rejected one is usually a single unasked question.
Common flatbed commodities
- Structural steel, rebar, and pipe
- Packaged lumber
- Building materials and palletized masonry
- Machinery on skids
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Where the Capacity Comes From
When the lane and schedule fit, the first option Freight Line Logistics Inc. checks is Freight Line Express Inc., the affiliated motor carrier. Freight Line Express Inc. (USDOT 9320877 | MC-90643427) operates open deck equipment directly, which makes flatbed a first-party capability of the network's carrier, not just a load board posting by the broker. The securement and tarping questions asked at booking come from a network whose carrier hangs the tarps itself.
When the affiliated carrier does not fit the lane or the schedule, Freight Line Logistics Inc. dispatches a vetted partner carrier instead. Every partner is verified in SAFER for active operating authority, its insurance certificates are confirmed before dispatch, and every booking moves under a written rate confirmation that states the equipment, securement, and tarping the load requires.
How flatbed carriers are vetted
- Affiliated carrier checked first when the lane and schedule fit
- Partner authority verified in SAFER
- Insurance certificates confirmed before dispatch
- Written rate confirmation on every booking
Flatbed, dry van, or step deck?
Choose a flatbed when the freight is too long, too wide, or crane loaded for a dry van, and a step deck when the load is too tall for a standard flatbed deck. Standard height loads that do not need the lower deck of a step deck belong on a flatbed, which keeps the widest pool of trailers in play for the lane.
Not sure which trailer the load needs? Send the dimensions with the quote request and Freight Line Logistics Inc. will confirm the equipment in writing before anything is booked. Flatbed shippers on these pages most often come from steel and metals, building materials, and lumber.
Flatbed Freight FAQ
What can you ship on a flatbed?
Structural steel, rebar, pipe, packaged lumber, building materials, machinery on skids, and palletized masonry are all common flatbed freight. The practical test is loading: if the freight loads by crane or forklift from above or the side and rides at standard height, a 48 to 53 foot flatbed deck usually fits. Freight Line Logistics Inc. confirms dimensions and weight in writing before booking.
How is flatbed freight secured?
Steel typically rides under chains and binders, while most other commodities are strapped every few feet per FMCSA securement rules, with edge protection wherever a strap crosses banding or a finished surface. Freight Line Logistics Inc. confirms the securement plan in writing before dispatch, so the assigned driver arrives with the chains, straps, and protection the commodity actually needs.
Do flatbed loads need tarps?
Only when the commodity needs weather protection. Lumber tarps cover taller packaged freight like lumber and building materials, while steel tarps cover lower profile loads like plate and pipe. Freight Line Logistics Inc. confirms tarping requirements in writing before dispatch, so tarped and untarped loads are booked correctly the first time.
When should I use a step deck instead of a flatbed?
Use a step deck when the load is too tall to stay within legal height on a standard flatbed deck. Standard height freight rides on a flatbed, while taller machinery and equipment move on the lower deck of a step deck. Freight Line Logistics Inc. confirms load height in writing before booking and recommends the trailer that keeps the move legal.
Ready to move flatbed freight?
Send the commodity, dimensions, and lane, and Freight Line Logistics Inc. will reply by email with securement and tarping confirmed in writing.