Flatbed Transport for Equipment and Open-Deck Freight
For equipment and freight that can be loaded onto an open deck, Dobie coordinates flatbed transportation around your load, route and delivery requirements.
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What Is Flatbed Transport?
Flatbed transport moves cargo on a fully open deck about 5′ off the ground, loadable from the side, rear or above by forklift or crane. It is the most abundant open-deck capacity on the road — the default for legal-dimension equipment, palletized building materials, steel and machinery that doesn’t need a lower deck.
Loads That Ride Flatbeds
- Legal-height equipment and machinery
- Steel, lumber and building materials
- Palletized and crated freight
- Vehicles and small equipment mixed loads
- Jobsite deliveries with forklift access
How It Works
Tell Us About the Machine
Make, model, weight and dimensions. If you have a spec sheet or photos, even better.
We Plan Trailer & Permits
Our team matches the trailer — RGN, lowboy, step deck or flatbed — and coordinates any oversize permits the route requires.
Loading & Transport
The carrier loads, secures and hauls the equipment. Drive-on machines use ramps; inoperable units are winched or lifted.
Jobsite Delivery
The equipment is delivered to the yard, dealer or jobsite, offloaded and confirmed complete.
Securement and Tarping Are the Craft
Open decks mean chains, straps, edge protection and — when the cargo needs weather protection — tarps. Loads on Dobie flatbeds are secured to FMCSA standards and tarped when specified. If your freight cannot get wet, say so at quoting: tarped loads assign to carriers who carry the right tarps.
Cost Factors
Heavy equipment pricing is driven by the machine and the route. These are the factors our dispatch team checks before quoting:
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Weight | Trailer requirement and axle configuration |
| Width & height | Oversize permit requirements |
| Distance | Line-haul cost |
| Loading capability | Whether ramps, a winch or a crane are needed |
| Route restrictions | Bridges, clearances and escort requirements |
How Long Does It Take?
Most equipment moves are matched with a carrier within a few days of booking — often faster on busy lanes. Transit time depends on distance, route and equipment: regional moves often deliver in 1–3 days, while coast-to-coast shipments average 7–10 days. Your logistics specialist confirms a realistic pickup window when you book and keeps you updated through delivery.
Insurance & Safety
Every carrier in the Dobie network is vetted for active operating authority and insurance before a load is assigned. Your equipment is covered by the carrier's cargo insurance from pickup to delivery, and our dispatch team verifies the certificate of insurance before every dispatch — not once a year.
Where We Coordinate It
Dobie coordinates heavy equipment transport across all 50 states, with deep operating experience in Texas, the South Texas border region and cross-border routes into Mexico. Wherever the pickup and the delivery are, one team manages the entire move.
Shipments Like Yours
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can cargo be on a flatbed?
About 8′6″ keeps the load legal at 13′6″ total. Taller cargo steps down to a step deck or lowboy — that check is automatic in our quoting.
Is tarping included?
When you need it, yes — specify at quoting. Tarped loads are assigned to carriers equipped with lumber or steel tarps sized to the freight.
What weight fits on a flatbed?
Up to roughly 48,000 lbs of cargo on standard configurations. Heavier moves shift to specialized trailers with more axles.
Can a flatbed deliver where there is no dock?
Yes — that is the point. Side and crane loading make flatbeds the jobsite default; the receiver just needs a forklift or crane for offload.
Last reviewed: August 2026 · Reviewed by the Dobie Transport logistics team
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