Flatbed trucking and transport is an important transportation service for all companies that ship or receive shipments of freight that cannot be transported by standard dry vans. There are several reasons why freight cannot be transported via a standard 48’ or 53’ dry van.
The first being freight that can not be loaded into the dry van trailer via forklift through the rear trailer doors. This is because the freight dimensions or freight weight are too excessive. The dry van trailer’s floor has a maximum weight capacity that can be exerted by the forklift on the trailer floor. When this weight capacity is exceeded, the forklift cannot drive onto the trailer. In these cases the trailer will be loaded from the side or from overhead. Then in some cases a forklift does not have the capacity for the weight of the freight, thus two forklifts will be used, or a crane or gantry has to be used. In these cases only a flatbed trailer will be used, because a dry van cannot be loaded from above and from the sides.
The second is the flatbed trailer will be picking up at, or delivering to a location that has no loading dock, now only a forklift or a crane will be utilized to unload the trailer.
The third being that the length dimension of the freight is very long, such as pipes, lumber, or rebar wire.
The fourth is the freight is simply suitable for flatbed trailers. This applies to building materials, crated boxes and other materials not susceptible to the elements of the road such as rain, dust or snow. If the flatbed transit route is through areas with little rain or never get very cold this is an additional reason to go with a flatbed trailer.
Flatbed Trucking How To
How to book a flatbed truck?
The most important is to record the proper total weight of the freight, if freight is placed on pallets or skids, include the weight of pallets or skids.
The overall length, width and height dimensions must be exact.
When it comes to measurements always round up or add to the overall weight or dimension just a little extra, as an example 14,482 pounds is ideally 14,500 pounds or 83.5 inches is ideally 85 inches. Prior to contacting a flatbed trucking company note the accurate shipping weight and dimensions.
Determine if the freight needs tarps.
Determine the value of the freight.
Then, simply call the flatbed trucking company and provide all of the above.
How to properly package freight for flatbed trailer shipping?
You know your product or freight best, package the items to protect them from routine handling, road bumps or vibrations, and elements of the road such as moisture and grime.
How to assist a flatbed trucker?
Flatbed loads generally always take longer to load and if tarping is required, it will add additional time the driver will need at both the pick-up and delivery locations. Your company’s loading people will ideally work with the flatbed truck driver to properly load the flatbed trailer. If corner or V-boards are required your staff should instruct the flatbed driver as to the specific location where they should be placed.
What type of flatbed trailer should I book?
The first factor is if air-ride is required.
The second factor is the weight and dimensions of the freight.
The third factor is if the freight must be protected by anything other than a tarp.
Great Western Transportation freight consultants will know immediately what type of flatbed trailer will be ideal for your freight.
Major Houston TX manufacturers and companies that utilize flatbed trailers to ship their freight, receive freight or move equipment:
- Afton Pumps
- Allis-Chalmers Energy
- Anc Equipment Corporation
- Central Tool Works
- EGS Systems Inc
- Glex Inc
- Hudgins T F Incorporated
- Impaco Inc
- Innova Integrated Solutions Inc
- ITM Texas Inc
- Kennametal Inc
- Lavco Manufacturing
- Marathon Oil
- OMI Crane Services
- Plains All American Pipeline
- Stewart & Stevenson
- Titan Tool And Die Company Inc
- Torq Lite
- V W Smith Motors
- Volcanic Heaters Inc
- Vulcan Precision Machining
- Vulcan Tool & Machine
Great Western Transportation transports hundreds of thousands of pounds of freight on monthly basis for companies needing to ship flatbed freight.
Great Western Transportation transports flatbed freight to all US destinations and freight into Canada.
Flatbed Freight Quote
Getting a flatbed freight quote should be done one to two weeks in advance of the ship date, this is primarily to obtain the most favorable market rate. If booking two to three days before the ship date the availability of flatbed tractor-trailers will be much less, thus the price range will be limited due to low availability.
Flatbed Trailer Types:
- Conestoga
- Curtain Van
- Double Drop
- FlatBed
- FlatBed – Air-Ride
- Step Deck
- Landoll Flatbed
- Lowboy
- Removable Goose Neck – RGN
- Side Kit Trailer
Immediate flatbed freight requirements or quotes can be obtained immediately by calling 1-800-972-8484 for all inbound and out bound Houston TX Flatbed Trucking loads.
