Flatbed Trucking Company

Everything You Need to Know Before Working with a Flatbed Trucking Company

You may not be entirely aware of it, but flatbed trucking has an essential role in our society. It’s not just about moving some things from point A to point B; flatbed trucking companies have a say in a variety of industries since they handle extremely large cargoes.

There are roughly 1.2 million trucking companies in the United States, operating an estimated 15.5 million trucks. The numbers point to a wide variety of options for you when you’re faced with the issue of transporting large cargo. However, not everyone will be able to handle the job.

If you’re in need of flatbed transport, here’s everything you need to know before you make a decision.

What’s a Flatbed Truck?

Simply put, a flatbed truck is a vehicle with a platform for a body. The body is entirely flat, with no sides or roof, which allows goods to be quickly loaded and unloaded.

Flatbed shipping is commonly used to haul very heavy cargo that isn’t too delicate or vulnerable to the elements, such as rain or snow, though you could easily protect your goods with the right extra equipment. Besides, a flatbed carrier is a perfect option for cargo that is abnormally sized or shaped, making it unable to fit properly into other types of trucks.

Platform trucks generally haul large cargo of lumber, machinery, cars, or even airplane wings.

There’s a misconception about platform truck shipping regarding safety. Somehow, it’s seen as a less safe way of hauling goods, possibly because the cargo seems to be out in the open at first sight. It couldn’t be farther from the truth, and here’s why.

In reality, your cargo will be safe and secured with steel chains, high-strength bungee straps, or other accessories that best fit the load. In addition, if your cargo is delicate, so to speak, it can be covered with vinyl or tarps during the transport to ensure safe delivery of your goods. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration even has a set of regulations for cargo securement you can check.

Common Flatbed Uses

As we said, flatbeds are quite standard in the conveyance of a wide variety of cargo from different industries, which makes them some of the most used types of trucks in the country. It’s important to understand the uses of flatbed trucks to assess whether it’s the right vehicle you need.

Here are some of the most common uses:

Tire Bales

When a tire runs its course, it’s collected and, along with hundreds of others of its kind, put into a tire bale, a compressed group of tires banded together with wire. To put that into perspective, most tire bales weight roughly 1 ton. Shipping these massive bales can be a problem without the help of reliable flatbed trucking companies.

Building Materials

A flatbed truck can transport anything used on a construction site: lumber, scaffolding, bricks, concrete, steel beams, rods, or whatever else needs to be carried.

While there are other means to ship materials to a construction site, consider the fact that with a platform truck, it’s easier to load and unload them, which, in the end, saves time if you use a crane to unload the cargo. Beams and rods don’t even have to fit the flatbed completely. You’ve probably seen how some of them hang from the edge of the truck and still make it to their destination.

Scraps and Removals

So, you don’t need to move anything, but maybe you have some scrap, and you have to get rid of it. Platform truck trucks are very handy because you can use them to remove scrap metal and other stuff you don’t need on location and have it transported to a recycling facility.

Equipment

In other instances, these trucks could be used to haul large pieces of equipment from one place to another. For example, farm equipment, military equipment, cars, and other large cargo can be easily carried using a flatbed.

Industrial Packages

Sand, fertilizers, grains, peanuts, and other similar things are generally packed in large industrial fabrics (called super sacks) and transported with trucks. However, it’s a lot easier to do it with a flatbed because the sack can be quickly loaded on the truck body using the loops on the bag to lift it. Then, you only need to lower it on the truck body and secure it.

Things to Consider Before Working with A Flatbed Service

So far, we’ve discussed the uses of a flatbed, but before you make any calls, it’s important to consider what you need first.

There are many different flatbed trucking companies out there that roughly offer the same services, but take it from us: not everyone can handle the same jobs. Some don’t have the equipment and accessories; others lack the proper workforce to do the job. In any case, you need to know these things.

Here are a few tips on what to consider when looking for a Platform truck shipping company:

What’s the Cargo?

As you can see, a flatbed truck can transport many different types of materials, but is it the right truck for you?

If what you need to move is extremely large and doesn’t fit in a different truck, then go ahead and call a flatbed firm. But remember that different materials need different accessories, so the company must have the right one for yours. If they don’t, then it’s best to keep looking.

What’s the Value?

Yes, it’s a secure way to haul goods, but it still means you should check if the trucking service has the proper insurance, particularly if what you’re transporting is valuable.

Insurance doesn’t protect the company alone in case of a mishap; it can also protect you if your goods are damaged during transportation.

What’s the Size?

Consider this: while it’s perfectly okay if your cargo is slightly hanging from the edge of the truck, you always want to avoid overweighting the truck or having your goods hang too much from its sides.

That puts everyone in danger. So you’ll either need to split your cargo into multiple trips or turn to an alternative means of transportation.

What Else Do You Need?

The company doesn’t provide only the trucks and the drivers; it should also offer various accessories vital to shipping cargo, loading and unloading it.

That should also be on your list of criteria when choosing flatbed trucking companies. Some might have the workforce to load and unload your packages or have the right equipment to secure the cargo. Others may not, and are the ones you shouldn't consider hiring at all.

These are only the basics, and your conveyance needs may raise other questions. However, it’s vital to consider them if you want to find a proper firm to handle your transportation needs.

What to Discuss with the Flatbed Trucking Service

Before the actual transport takes place, we recommend you discuss a few things with the firm you’re hiring:

• Company history in the industry: this includes years of experience, reputation, and even some referrals through which you can learn a bit more about the service you want to give your money to;
• Driver information: you have the right to know if the person who will be driving the truck is a trusted employee, has a criminal record, past DUIs, or other issues that may hurt their performance. We get that it may be uncomfortable to ask these questions, but it’s necessary;
• Their expertise: you don’t have to be a trucking expert, but you should be able to rely on the knowledge and experience of the firm you’re hiring. Don’t be afraid to ask them for recommendations regarding your cargo transport.
• Cost estimate: Any service will first estimate the cost of the entire moving process. Be on the lookout for hidden fees to avoid unpleasant surprises when you receive the final bill.

Hire a Reliable Team

So, you need to hire a flatbed trucking company, and you need to do it now. While the perfect team doesn’t exist, you can get pretty close to one as long as you do your homework.

At A-1 Auto Transport, we have all it takes to do precisely that: decades of experience, the best flatbed trucks, the right equipment, and a team of trained drivers and auxiliary staff to give you a hand and get the cargo safely to any destination.