Flatbed
What is flatbed? A flatbed is an open-deck trailer (typically 48 feet) used to haul oversized, irregularly shaped, or otherwise unenclosed freight like steel, lumber, and machinery.
Full definition
Flatbed work pays better than dry van but demands more skill: tarping, securement (chains, straps, edge protectors), oversize permits, and weather exposure. Equipment costs sit between dry van and reefer.
Flatbed freight tracks construction, manufacturing, and energy cycles closely. When housing starts and oil rigs are humming, flatbed rates outperform; when those slow, flatbed softens faster than dry van.
Step-decks, lowboys, conestoga, and RGN are flatbed sub-segments with progressively more specialized freight and progressively higher rates.