Why Flatbed Is a Different World
Dry Van / Reefer
- Cargo is enclosed and protected
- Loading: back in, close doors
- Securement: minimal (cargo wedged inside)
- Weather exposure: none
- Physical effort: low-moderate
- Cargo damage risk: low
Flatbed
- Cargo is exposed to elements
- Loading: crane, forklift, or manual
- Securement: chains, straps, binders — your responsibility
- Weather exposure: full (rain, snow, heat, wind)
- Physical effort: high (tarps weigh 60-100 lbs)
- Cargo damage risk: higher (weather, securement, shifting)
Flatbed Trailer Types and Costs
| Trailer Type | Length | New Price | Used Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard flatbed | 48-53 ft | $35K–$55K | $12K–$30K | Most flatbed freight |
| Step deck (drop deck) | 48-53 ft | $40K–$65K | $15K–$35K | Taller loads that exceed standard height |
| Double drop (lowboy) | 48-53 ft | $45K–$80K | $20K–$45K | Heavy equipment, construction machinery |
| Conestoga (curtainside) | 48-53 ft | $55K–$85K | $25K–$50K | Weather-sensitive loads, no tarping needed |
| Stretch/extendable | Up to 80+ ft | $60K–$100K | $25K–$55K | Long loads (beams, poles, pipe) |
Securement Equipment You Need
Ratchet straps (4” webbing)
$25-$50 each. Need 12-20 minimum. Replace when frayed, cut, or worn.
Chains (grade 70)
$50-$150 each (3/8” - 1/2”). Need 8-12 for heavy loads. Required for machinery, steel, pipe.
Load binders (lever/ratchet)
$40-$100 each. Need 8-12. Ratchet binders are safer than lever (snap-back risk).
Tarps (lumber, steel, smoke)
$150-$500 each. 60-100 lbs. Need 2-4 sizes. Replace when torn or worn.
Edge protectors / corner guards
$5-$20 each. Prevent straps from cutting on sharp edges. Always use them.
Coil racks / lumber stakes
$50-$200 per set. Coil racks for steel coils. Stakes for lumber/pipe.
Startup securement equipment cost: $2,000–$5,000 — plus ongoing replacement as gear wears out.
Load Securement: FMCSA Rules You Must Know
FMCSA 49 CFR Part 393, Subpart I governs load securement. Violations are among the most common in DOT inspections. The rules are specific:
Aggregate Working Load Limit (WLL)
Total WLL of all tiedowns must equal at least 50% of cargo weight. A 40,000 lb load needs at least 20,000 lbs of total tiedown WLL.
Minimum Number of Tiedowns
- Cargo 5 ft or less: 2 tiedowns
- Cargo 5-10 ft: 2 tiedowns
- Cargo over 10 ft: 2 tiedowns + 1 per additional 10 ft
Forward Movement Prevention
Cargo must be secured against forward movement of 0.8g (80% of cargo weight pushing forward). This is the most critical direction — hard braking.
Side and Rear Movement
Cargo must resist 0.5g sideways and 0.5g rearward. Straps angled properly handle both simultaneously.
Vertical Movement
Cargo must resist 0.2g upward. Over bumps, cargo can bounce. Tiedowns must keep it on the deck.
Inspection Intervals
Check and re-tighten securement within the first 50 miles, then every 3 hours or 150 miles (whichever comes first), or after each break.
Securement violations are serious. OOS (out-of-service) securement violations mean you stop moving until you fix it. Multiple violations affect your CSA score. Worst case: a load falls off your trailer and causes an accident — you’re personally liable for everything.
Tarping: The Part Nobody Warns You About
Tarping is the hardest physical work in trucking. You’re throwing 60-100 lb tarps on top of loads, climbing on trailers, and doing it in every weather condition. Here’s what you need to know.
Lumber Tarps
Size: 24’ x 27’ typical. Weight: 70-90 lbs
Extra-long flaps that reach the ground on both sides. Used for lumber, building materials, anything that needs full coverage. The heaviest and hardest to manage.
Steel Tarps
Size: 16’ x 27’ typical. Weight: 50-70 lbs
Shorter flaps — designed for steel coils, beams, and plate. Lighter than lumber tarps because steel doesn’t need flaps reaching the ground.
Smoke Tarps (Nose Tarps)
Size: 8’ x 12’ typical. Weight: 20-30 lbs
Small tarp that covers the front of the load to protect from exhaust soot and road debris. Quick and easy to deploy.
Machinery Tarps
Size: Various. Weight: 60-100+ lbs
Oversized tarps for covering equipment. Usually custom-sized for specific loads.
Tarping pay: Some loads include tarping pay ($50-$150 extra per load or per tarp). Always negotiate tarping pay upfront. If the rate doesn’t include it, add it. A 2-tarp job in the rain in January is worth at least $100 extra.
Common Flatbed Commodities
| Commodity | Equipment Needed | Typical Weight | Tarping Required? | Rate Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumber / building materials | Standard flatbed, lumber tarps | 42,000-48,000 lbs | Yes (always) | Standard |
| Steel (coils, beams, plate) | Flatbed + chains, coil racks | 40,000-48,000 lbs | Often | +10-20% |
| Construction equipment | Step deck or lowboy, chains | 20,000-80,000+ lbs | Rarely | +15-30% |
| Pipe / tubing | Flatbed + stakes, straps | 30,000-48,000 lbs | Sometimes | Standard |
| Concrete products | Standard flatbed, straps | 40,000-48,000 lbs | Rarely | Standard |
| Oversize loads | Stretch/RGN + permits + escorts | Varies (up to 200,000+ lbs) | Rarely | +50-200% |
Flatbed Insurance: What’s Different
| Coverage | Dry Van | Flatbed | Why Different |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Liability | $750K–$1M | $750K–$1M | Same FMCSA requirement |
| Cargo Insurance | $100K standard | $100K–$250K recommended | Higher value loads (steel, equipment) |
| Physical Damage | Based on truck value | Same, but trailer is cheaper | Flatbed trailers cost less than vans/reefers |
| Cargo type factor | General freight | May need heavy haul/steel endorsement | Some cargo types require specific coverage |
| Securement liability | Minimal | High | Driver responsible for securement failures |
| Annual premium (O/O) | $12K–$18K | $13K–$20K | Slightly higher due to cargo exposure risk |
Securement Liability: Your Biggest Risk
If cargo falls off your flatbed and causes an accident, you’re liable. Your auto liability covers third-party injuries, but the cargo itself? That’s a cargo claim. And if the securement was done improperly, your insurer may argue negligence.
Best protection: Follow FMCSA securement rules exactly. Document your securement with photos before departure. Re-check at every stop. Your photos are evidence that you did your job right.
Getting Into Flatbed: What to Know First
1
Get Physical Ready
Flatbed is physical labor. You’re climbing on trailers, throwing tarps, ratcheting straps, and working in every weather condition. If you have back problems or hate outdoor work, flatbed isn’t for you.
2
Learn Securement Before You Haul
Study FMCSA 393 Subpart I. Take a securement course if available. The rules are specific — number of tiedowns, WLL requirements, inspection intervals. Violations are easy to get and expensive to fix.
3
Invest in Quality Gear
Cheap straps break. Cheap tarps tear. Cheap chains fail inspection. Spend $3,000-$5,000 on quality securement equipment. It’s cheaper than one cargo claim or one OOS violation.
4
Start with Simple Loads
Lumber is the easiest flatbed commodity — regular shapes, standardized securement, widely available loads. Build experience before moving to steel, equipment, or oversize.
5
Tell Your Insurance Agent
Your cargo type matters for insurance rating. If you’re hauling steel or heavy equipment, your policy needs to reflect that. Hauling cargo your policy doesn’t cover = claim denied.
7 Flatbed Mistakes That Cost Money
Not re-checking securement
Straps loosen. Every driver knows this. Check at 50 miles, then every 150 miles. DOT checks securement at scales — and they will find loose straps.
Skipping edge protectors
A 4” strap on a sharp steel edge cuts through in 100 miles. One broken strap = load shift = accident or violation. Edge protectors cost $5. Use them every time.
Hauling without tarping pay
Throwing tarps in a 20-degree rainstorm for free. Always negotiate tarping pay ($50-$150/tarp). If the broker won’t pay it, the rate isn’t worth the load.
Using worn-out equipment
Frayed straps, rusted chains, torn tarps. DOT inspects your securement equipment condition. Worn gear fails inspection AND fails under load. Replace it.
Not photographing your securement
Cargo shifted during transit. Was it your securement or the shipper’s loading? Without photos showing proper securement at departure, it’s your word against theirs.
Wrong insurance coverage
Your policy says “general freight” but you’re hauling steel coils. Claim for a $80,000 steel load gets denied because your cargo type isn’t covered. Tell your agent what you actually haul.
Underestimating weight
Steel is deceptively heavy. A small stack of plate can hit 48,000 lbs before you know it. Always verify weight before leaving the shipper. Overweight tickets are $1-$10 per lb over.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much more does flatbed pay than dry van?
Typically 10-25% more per mile. The premium varies by commodity, season, and region. Steel and heavy haul pay the most. Lumber pays less but is more consistent. The premium exists because of the physical work, securement responsibility, and higher skill requirements.
Is flatbed insurance more expensive than dry van?
Slightly — about 5-15% higher overall. The main increase is in cargo insurance (higher limits needed for valuable loads) and a slightly higher liability rating due to securement risk. Physical damage is actually cheaper because flatbed trailers cost less than enclosed trailers.
Can I run dry van loads on a flatbed trailer?
Technically no — most dry van freight needs to be enclosed. But you can run some loads that don’t need weather protection (concrete blocks, steel, machinery). Some flatbed operators also pull a Conestoga (curtainside) trailer, which gives enclosed capability when needed.
What’s the hardest part about flatbed?
Tarping in bad weather, hands down. Throwing a 90-lb lumber tarp on top of a 13-foot stack in freezing rain is brutal. The securement work is physically demanding year-round, but winter tarping is what makes people quit flatbed. The pay premium exists for a reason.
Need Flatbed Insurance?
We know flatbed operations. We’ll make sure your cargo types are properly covered, your limits are right, and your securement gear investment is protected. No gaps when you need to file a claim.
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