Shipping TipsDecember 24, 20248 min read
Flatbed Freight Shipping: Complete Guide to Oversized Loads
Flatbed shipping handles freight too large, tall, or heavy for standard trailers. Master equipment selection, load securement, permits, and oversized load requirements.
By MPS Freight Team
Flatbed freight shipping accommodates cargo unsuitable for enclosed trailers, including oversized equipment, construction materials, industrial machinery, and products requiring top or side loading. Flatbed equipment types include standard flatbeds (48-53 feet long, 8.5 feet wide, 8.5 feet maximum height), step decks with lower deck section allowing taller cargo up to 10 feet, double drops with very low deck for extremely tall loads, and removable gooseneck (RGN) trailers for heavy equipment loading from the rear. Load securement follows strict regulations with specific requirements based on cargo type. The North American Cargo Securement Standard requires preventing forward movement, rearward movement, rolling, and tipping during transit. Methods include chains (most common for heavy equipment and machinery), straps (for lighter loads and products requiring protection from chain damage), and tarps (protecting freight from weather and road debris). Working load limit calculations ensure adequate securement strength. Oversized loads exceeding standard dimensions require special permits. Standard legal dimensions include 8.5 feet wide, 13.5-14 feet high (varies by jurisdiction), and 48-53 feet long. Exceeding these requires oversize permits from each jurisdiction traveled through. Pilot vehicles (escort vehicles) are required for particularly large loads, typically over 12 feet wide or 14 feet high. Typical flatbed freight includes steel (beams, coils, plates), construction equipment (excavators, bulldozers, cranes), building materials (lumber, roofing materials, pipe), industrial machinery, and prefabricated structures. Cost factors for flatbed shipping include base freight rate plus tarping charges, permit fees for oversized loads, pilot vehicle costs if required, and specialized loading/unloading equipment. MPS Freight Management coordinates [flatbed shipping](/services/flatbed) with experienced carriers, proper securement, permit acquisition, and pilot vehicle arrangement for specialized freight needs. Contact (866) 200-9989.