The right trailer depends on four things: how tall and heavy your freight is, how it loads, whether it has to stay dry, and how much of a truck it fills. This guide walks through how we decide. For deck lengths, widths, legal heights and weights for each trailer, see our Trailer Guide.
Start With Four Questions
- How tall is the freight once it’s on a trailer? Total height from the road is usually limited to about 13 ft 6 in, and some states allow 14 ft. Deck height determines how much of that your freight can use.
- How does it load? From a dock with a forklift or pallet jack, from the side or top with a forklift or crane, or driven on under its own power?
- Does it need to stay dry and enclosed? Boxed goods, paper, electronics and finished products usually do. Steel and many building materials can ride open with tarps.
- How much space does it take? A few pallets, part of a deck, or a full trailer?
Dry Van: Enclosed Freight That Loads at a Dock
Choose a dry van when freight is palletized or boxed, fits inside an enclosed trailer and loads from the rear at a dock. It keeps freight out of the weather and is the most common choice for finished goods. The trade-offs: freight has to fit through the rear doors and under the inside ceiling, and loading is from the back only. Our Pennsylvania and New Jersey to Texas lane runs almost entirely on dry van.
Flatbed: Side or Top Loading for Steel and Long Freight
Choose a flatbed when freight is long, heavy or awkward to load from the rear: steel, pipe, lumber, beams, prefab and pre-engineered structures and many machines. Forklifts and cranes can load from the sides or top, and the freight is secured with straps or chains and tarped when needed. The trade-off is height: a standard flatbed deck sits higher than a step deck, so it leaves less room for tall freight. Learn more about flatbed and open deck freight.
Step Deck: When Freight Is Too Tall for a Flatbed
A step deck (also called a drop deck) has a lower main deck behind a short upper deck. That lower deck gives roughly an extra couple of feet of legal freight height compared with a flatbed, which is why we use it for taller machinery, lifts and fabrications. Some step decks have ramps for equipment that can drive on. The trade-offs are a shorter main deck and slightly less weight capacity than a flatbed in many setups. When freight is too tall for a flatbed, we use step deck on lanes like Arizona to California and Arizona to Colorado.
RGN and Lowboy: Tall or Heavy Equipment
When freight is too tall or too heavy for a step deck, a lowboy or removable gooseneck (RGN) carries it in a deck that sits close to the ground. An RGN’s front detaches so equipment like dozers and excavators can drive on. These trailers are often used for permitted oversize or overweight moves, which may need route planning, permits and sometimes escorts. Send us the dimensions and weight and we’ll tell you what the move requires.
Conestoga: Flatbed Loading With Built-In Cover
A conestoga is a flatbed or step deck with a rolling tarp system. The cover slides back so freight can be loaded from the side or top like a flatbed, then closes to protect it like a van. It’s a good fit for freight that needs flatbed-style loading but shouldn’t be exposed, or where tarping at the dock is difficult. Inside height under the bows is lower than on an open deck, so check your freight’s height first.
Partial Loads and LTL: When You Don’t Fill a Truck
If your freight takes only part of a deck, a partial load lets you share the trailer and pay for the space you use. Partials are common on open deck, where several shippers’ steel or structures can ride on one flatbed. For a few pallets of enclosed freight, LTL freight is usually the better fit. LTL moves through terminals with more handling, so good packaging matters. Our LTL freight prep guide covers how to get it ready.
Quick Comparison
- Dry van: enclosed, rear dock loading, palletized and boxed freight
- Flatbed: open, side or top loading, long or heavy freight within standard height
- Step deck: open, more freight height than a flatbed, taller machinery and fabrications
- RGN / lowboy: lowest deck, tall or heavy equipment, often permitted moves
- Conestoga: flatbed-style loading with a built-in cover
- Partial / LTL: share a trailer when you don’t need the whole thing
For the numbers behind each trailer, see the Trailer Guide.
FAQs
When should I use a step deck instead of a flatbed?
When your freight is too tall to stay within legal height on a standard flatbed. The step deck’s lower main deck gives more room for height, typically around an extra couple of feet.
Can flatbed freight be protected from weather?
Yes. Open deck freight can be tarped, or it can ride on a conestoga, which has a rolling cover. If freight must stay fully enclosed and can load from a dock, a dry van may be simpler.
What if my freight doesn’t fill a whole trailer?
We can arrange a partial load on open deck or a van, or LTL for smaller palletized shipments, so you pay for the space you use.
What if I’m not sure which trailer I need?
Send us the dimensions, weight, commodity, and how it loads and unloads. We’ll recommend the trailer and quote it.