The best thing about low-loaders is that the sky is really the limit in terms of transportation options. From building materials and construction machinery to a complete spaceship, if you can imagine, it can probably be towed with the right flatbed truck. For this reason, you should definitely coordinate with your transportation provider. Information about the exact nature of your cargo, including its dimensions, origin and destination, will help them find the truck and trailer best suited to your needs. The length of the graduated deck trailer is between 48 and 53 feet in length with a width of 8.5 feet. The upper deck follows a standard height of 5 feet with a step to a 3.6 feet high lower deck. The lower deck allows loads up to 10 feet high. Most states allow you to carry 20,000 pounds on a single-axle trailer without a license. However, this is not the case for all States. The following list lists states that do not comply with this regulation, including information on what requires a permit.

(Note: In some cases, states allow heavier-than-standard loads): When it comes to transporting goods across the United States, one of the most popular trailers on the road is the low-loader. This trailer is extremely versatile in its ability to easily transport obscure, oversized shipments that are difficult to load and unload. What makes a low-loader so ideal for loading and unloading? Essentially, a low-loader is a long, flat-deck trailer; It has no sides, no back and no roof, so it is completely open. This allows many different options for loading the trailer, the trailer can still be secured a loading ramp for the cargo to be loaded from the back, but one of the most common tools for cargo is the forklift. The forklift has the ability to load and unload cargo on both sides of the trailer or the rear of the trailer. The use of the forklift is very efficient as it can move the cargo up and down the trailer deck and position the cargo while saving time. Another way to load bulky or obscure cargo on these trailers is to use a crane, the crane has the ability to load the cargo directly onto the trailer and then secure it for transport. Loads that meet these length, width and height restrictions are often referred to as legal loads. Cargo that exceeds these limits can be legally transported through the purchase of permits.

For safety reasons, these permitted loads are subject to various restrictions such as the date and time of the trip, route designation, marking requirements and possible requirements for pilot vehicles. If a cargo is divisible in such a way that the legal load limits are respected, no permit will be granted. The Department of Transportation does not specify a federal height limit, but there are general guidelines based on state regulations. The maximum total height is between 13 feet 6 inches and 14 feet. There are also other considerations, including special exemptions for roads and bridges with lower ground clearance and various types of trailers to facilitate the movement of goods without a permit. Loads that exceed both the maximum height and maximum width of the trailer may also incur other costs. There are federal regulations regarding width and weight that often apply to heavy cargo. Your business is unique, and so is the equipment you use. When it comes to meeting the legal dimensions for a flatbed load, it is important to know exactly what type of VMC and trailer you will be using, as rules and regulations vary depending on the trailer.

Some states allow end-to-end loaded front-end overhang up to a certain point, others do not. Some states let shippers load end to end and legally overhang from the back of their platform, nothing more. Properly loaded, secured and protected, a tray can carry almost any cargo. Low loaders are perhaps the most versatile tow trailers on the market. The two most commonly available flatbed loaders are the standard flatbed truck and the stepped flatbed tray. If the height and load of your low-loader are slightly above the legal limits, consider buying or renting a low-deck trailer. A drop-down deck trailer can be less than 2 feet tall, while a standard flatbed truck is 5 feet. With this difference, larger shipments have ample additional customs clearance, which can prevent additional permits. Sliding platforms are almost the same dimensions as a standard platform, but the main deck can be extended up to 80 feet in length, depending on the model.

The legal dimension of this platform is longer than for conventional trailers. Low loaders often have to pick up a load from a depot – such as at a work or production site – and the loading can be done by personnel who may not be familiar with the proper load. In these situations, the driver may need to determine where to place different parts of the load on the trailer and control the loading process. Wyoming is one such exception. In the cowboy state, as long as the total trailer and load length does not exceed 60 feet, no permit is required, so overhanging a 53-foot flatbed trailer is legal. Common dimensions of refrigerated trailers are: Now that you understand how complicated this process can be, you know how important it is to have a competent supplier in your corner. A supplier with the know-how and experience you need to get the most out of your oversized flatbed shipping trip. Lowboys offer a maximum payload of 40,000 pounds for a standard two-axle vehicle. You can add an additional trailer-freight combined weight of up to 95,000 pounds, depending on the number of axles used. States often have exceptions based on routes. We have listed more explanations of these legal dimensions of transportation on our Permits and Escorts by State page.

These pages go into more detail. As with any transportation company, it is important that you equip yourself with the necessary tools and equipment to have the best chance of success. Choosing the right low-loader design is just one piece of the puzzle. A flatbed truck is an ideal large vehicle for transporting oversized goods, as it consists of a typical tractor that houses the engine and cab and a flat trailer without sides or roof, the rear part of the bed that carries the flatbed cargo. In Kentucky and Louisiana, for example, no front overhangs are allowed without an oversized license. Illinois and South Dakota, on the other hand, legally allow up to three and three respectively. Four cantilevered front feet. One of the main reasons why platforms are so commonly used in the truck industry is that they are extremely versatile. Charge them from the top, back, sides or as you see fit. The only caveat is that there are restrictions on the amount of goods you can transport depending on the legal dimensions of the platform. Special regulations like these for low-loaders exist from state to state.

For example, Road Island and West Virginia allow six rear overhang feet, while New Mexico allows seven. The height of the load that can be loaded on a platform varies depending on the type of flatbed trailer and the height of its platform.