FTL – Full Truck Load Transportation
We offer FTL – Full Truck Load transportation across North America for all types of cargo and various trailer types that keep the commodity within legal transport size and weight limits. If your shipment will exceed legal transport length, width, height or weight we will let you know that your request exceed legal dimensions and will be an Oversize Load. There are several factors that need to be considered in determinining if FTL is the best transportation method for your shipment. We will evaluate your shipment for type of commodity, size and weight, as well as the required delivery timeframe before offering you a quote for FTL. If there is a more cost effective tranportation method available, we will offer you both options.
Some states allow an overall height of 14′ (WA, OR, ID, MT, UT, WY, CA, NV, NM, CO, ND, SD, TX and interstates in LA) while most other states only allow an overall height of 13’6″ before a load becomes oversized.
FLATBED TRANSPORTATATION
Flatbed trailers come in various lengths, but most common are 48′ and 53′. Some states, such as California, have length restrictions and only allow 53′ trailer in specific circumstances. These trailers are 102″ wide and generally have a deck height of 60″. In most cases, cargo that is 8’6″ or less can go on a Flatbed in any state. Flatbed trailers typically carry tarps to protect cargo. Flatbeds have a cargo capacity of up to 48,000# before a permit is needed.
STEPDECK TRANSPORTATION
Stepdeck trailers also come in various lengths, again most common are 48′ and 53′. Stepdecks are 102″ wide. Stepdecks can be low-profile with a deck height as low as 28″ or standard with a deck height of 36″-42″. Stepdecks can also have ramps to load wheeled or tracked equipment. Some Stepdecks carry tarps to protect cargo. Stepdecks can be 2 or 3 axle trailers and have a cargo capacity ranging from 42,000# to 46,000# before a permit is needed.
MAXI TRANSPORTATION
Maxi trailers are 53′ long, 102″ wide and 60″ deck height just like a Flatbed. The distinction between a regular Flatbed and a Maxi is the number of axles on the trailer. A Maxi Flatbed is a multiaxle flatbed used to transport higher weight cargo. Typically a Maxi Flatbed has a cargo capacity of 65,000# depending on the specific states that will be traveled with the load. Each state sets their own overall legal weight limits. Some states, like California, only allow 80,000# gross weight before a permit is needed while other states, like Washington and Oregon, allow higher gross weight up to 105,500 before a permit is needed.
Many of the states have commodity specific rules and laws that dictate which commodities can ship on which trailer type. Some states also have exceptions to their own rules for certain times of the year and for commodities that are critical to that’s states livelihood. Our experience and vast knowledge of the state specific regulations allow us to determine the best method of transport as well as the correct trailer type for each of our customers shipments to remain compliant with the law.
