Recent Flatbed and Specialized Shipments
Every shipment has its own combination of equipment, dimensions, and handling requirements. The examples below are recent shipments Great Western Transportation has coordinated, shared to show how trailer selection, tarping, permits, and special handling come together in practice. Details that could identify a specific customer have been omitted, but the equipment, trailer types, and routing reflect real shipments.
Industrial Ovens with Exposed Electrical Components (Arizona to New York)
A shipment of industrial ovens with sharp electrical components on top moved from Arizona to New York on a 53′ flatbed, running less-than-truckload (LTL). Because the equipment needed to be tarped for the trip, the exposed components had to be padded with protective material first so they would not tear the tarps during transit. Flagging tarping needs and equipment shape in advance let Great Western confirm the right trailer and make sure the load was tarp-ready before the truck arrived.
Power-Only Move of Modified Fire Department Training Equipment (New York to Tennessee)
A power-only shipment — where Great Western provides only the tractor to pull a customer-supplied trailer — involved a fire department training piece of equipment bound for a military base in Tennessee. The trailer had modifications that weren’t known in advance, and the original tractor couldn’t get underneath it to connect. A smaller tractor was brought in to complete the pickup. This is a good example of why equipment specs and any non-standard modifications matter just as much as dimensions and weight when planning a shipment.
Hazmat Shipment to a Mining Facility (Texas to Colorado)
A hazardous chemical shipment moved from Texas to Colorado on a dry van with a driver holding the appropriate hazmat endorsement. Because the delivery point was a mining facility, the driver met the shipper at a designated location and was escorted to the final site. Hazmat shipments like this require both a qualified driver and advance coordination on site access — details that Great Western confirms before a truck is dispatched.
What These Shipments Have in Common
Across all three examples, the same details made the difference: accurate dimensions and weight, advance notice of tarping or hazmat requirements, awareness of any non-standard equipment modifications, and a clear plan for site access at pickup and delivery. These are the same details Great Western asks about for any flatbed, power-only, or specialized shipment, regardless of where it starts or ends.
Request a Quote
To get a quote for a flatbed, power-only, or specialized shipment, contact Great Western Transportation with the pickup and delivery details, commodity description, dimensions, weight, and any special handling requirements such as tarping, hazmat, or non-standard equipment. Photos and exact measurements help confirm the right trailer type and any permits needed before a truck is dispatched.
