National flatbed trucking companies are responsible for the transportation of heavy haul material using flatbed trucks. A standard flatbed is a vehicle that has an open trailer attached to it that has no roof or sides. The truck is ideal for moving industrial-sized equipment across cities and states. national flatbed trucking companies Whenever a company or individual has Heavy Machinery Transportation of oversized and overweight equipment to haul, such as steel, wood logs, heavy machinery, etc., they search for Flatbed Trucking Companies.

Facts About Flatbed Shipping Companies

Considering the popularity of flatbed freight among industries that require heavy hauling, there are some lesser-known facts that you need to know before hiring a flatbed company.

National Flatbed Trucking Companies Facts

Types of Flatbed Trucks

A flatbed company does not only offer one type of flatbed truck for heavy hauling. Generally, there are over 14 types of flatbeds, but not all of them are commonly used. The top three trailers are the standard flatbed, step deck flatbed, and double drop deck. Flatbed freight companies use these three trucks for most of the jobs across cities and states. The standard flatbed is suitable for almost all deliveries unless there is a taller load that requires special transportation. Then step-deck flatbeds are used as they have a ramp for loading and unloading. Double drop deck flatbeds are better for freight that requires balanced hauling. They are ideal for 10-foot-tall hauling materials.

The “Malfunction Junction”

Companies that require flatbed hauling are unaware of this important fact. The I-20/59 and I-65 intersection in Alabama is unusual because the two roads cross over twice. It’s commonly known as the “Malfunction Junction” among national flatbed trucking companies. The intersection has experienced over 30 accidents since 1987 due to dropped cargo from flatbed trailers. The highway has been damaged by all the accidents, leading to a cost of $300K per accident. Now the trucking companies prefer to reroute the trailers to avoid this intersection.

Cargo Securement

Flatbed hauling requires great care and precaution, particularly when it comes to cargo security. FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) has a detailed section on security rules that no cargo hauling company can ignore. The rules include all types of cargo and the best methods for their securement. They also specify commodity-specific requirements for blocking and bracing in case of an emergency.

The Weather Factor

As the National Flatbed Trucking Companies flatbeds are supposed to move from one place to another over long distances, the flatbed freight companies have to take weather patterns into account. Flatbed shipping highly depends on weather conditions which can affect transportation, especially during off-seasons. Drivers do not have enough orders to fulfill. Even during the peak season, weather conditions can affect flatbed hauling, as the national flatbed trucking companies have to manage drivers to complete all deliveries on time. Now that you know these facts about flatbed hauling, you might feel more confident in hiring the nearest flatbed company. Our recommendation is to get in touch with Heavy Hauling Transporting, a flatbed company close to you that follows FMCSA guidelines and hauls heavy freight safely over long distances.