| People who ship oversized machinery or pipes often | | | | longer than the trailer length |
| struggle with what type of flatbed truck is needed to | | | | (eg. 4' overhang on a 48' trailer) |
| haul thier shipments. | | | | 3. Maximum height for a flat bed is 8' 6". |
| Basically, there are 3 types of flatbed trucks. | | | | Maximum height for a single drop deck is 10' 2" |
| 1) A regular flatbed | | | | Maximum legal height for a double drop deck 11' 6". |
| 2) A drop deck flatbed | | | | (Anything higher than that can be moved but you need |
| 3) A double drop deck flatbed | | | | special permits and thetruck has to be routed so that |
| The main difference between the three types of | | | | there are no problems with bridges) |
| flatbed trailers is the height of the material that they | | | | 4. Approx. cost for permits is $70 US per state. |
| can carry. The problem with shipping goods on a | | | | What is an escort? |
| flatbed is making sure they can fit under bridges, wires, | | | | Some oversized shipments as listed above require a |
| etc. on the highway and streets. | | | | special chase car with flashing lights to follow the truck |
| Each type of flatbed is designed to take taller freight. | | | | to ensure other drivers are aware of the potential |
| The other issue is that there are width issues to deal | | | | danger of the oversized shipment. |
| with. If your product is over width, ie ove 8' 6" then it | | | | Other considerations: |
| starts to take up more than a lane of traffic and | | | | Some shipments may need to be loaded or unloaded |
| requries permits. | | | | by a crane. You should check to ensure if a crane is |
| A summary of width and height restrictions are listed | | | | required or not. Cranes are very expensive and usually |
| below: | | | | booked by the hour. You have to closely coordinate |
| 1. Any shipment over 8' 6" wide is considered over | | | | the arrival of the crane and the truck so as not to |
| width. Anything over 12' wide needs an escort. | | | | waste money having the crane sit idle waiting for the |
| 2. Maximum length allowed before permits is 10% | | | | truck, or the truck sit idle waiting for the crane. |