Open deck · T&A Solutions
Step Deck Freight
When the load is legal on weight but a foot too tall for a flatbed, it goes on a step deck. Lower rear deck, more height to work with, and a lot of freight that would otherwise need a permit rides legal.
What rides on it
- Fabricated steel and weldments
- Machinery and equipment
- Tanks and vessels
- Crated and skidded freight
- Precast and building components
- Anything 8'6" to 10' tall
Spec sheet
- Deck
- Upper deck around 11', lower deck around 37' at roughly 3'6" off the ground
- Legal load
- Up to 48,000 lbs, 8'6" wide, about 10' tall on the lower deck
- Options
- Ramps for rolling equipment, tarps, extendable step decks for long pieces
- Lanes
- Michigan to Florida and everything east of it - the Great Lakes down through the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, plus the Northeast.
How we run it
- 01
Give us the tallest point on the load. That one number decides flatbed, step deck, or a permit - and we'd rather get it right on the quote than at the scale house.
- 02
Rolling equipment gets a carrier with ramps. Fragile or finished freight gets a tarp and a driver who's hauled it before.
- 03
Same rules as our flatbed work: securement on the rate con, appointments confirmed, you hear about changes first.
Questions shippers ask us
How fast can you quote?
Send us origin, destination, dimensions, weight and when it needs to move. Standard open deck usually comes back the same business day. Permitted over-dimensional takes longer because the route and permits drive the price - we'll tell you up front how long we need.
How do I know if my load needs a step deck or a flatbed?
Height. On a flatbed you have about 8'6" of legal height to work with; on a step deck's lower deck it's closer to 10'. Send us the dimensions and we'll tell you which trailer keeps it legal - or whether it's an over-dimensional load and needs a permit.
Can a step deck take a longer piece?
Yes, on an extendable (stretch) step deck. Overhang and length past the legal limit becomes a permit question - we'll flag it on the quote.
How do you vet the carriers you put on my freight?
Every carrier is checked before they get a load - authority, insurance on file for the commodity, safety record, and whether they've actually run this kind of freight. Open deck is not the place for a first-timer. If a carrier doesn't clear, they don't get the load, no matter how cheap the truck is.
What's your on-time record?
We track on-time pickup and delivery on every load and will show you our current numbers when we talk. If a load is going to be late, you hear it from us before you'd have to ask.
Have a step deck load?
Send us the dimensions and the date. We'll take it from there.
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Get in Touch
Ready to optimize your supply chain? Contact us today for a quote or consultation.
Headquarters
1090 36th St SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508