Open-Deck Capacity for Steel, Machinery & Oversize Freight
Open deck capacity for steel, machinery, and high-value freight. Securement done right.
What Is Flatbed Trucking?
Open-deck capacity for freight that won't fit inside.
Flatbed trucking is the workhorse of open-deck freight: a trailer with no walls and no roof, built for cargo that loads from the side, top, or rear, or that's simply too large or awkward to fit inside an enclosed van. When your freight needs forklift access from both sides, overhead crane loading, or the kind of chain-and-strap securement that only an open deck allows, flatbed truck transportation is the right call.
Laufer's flatbed fleet runs out of Hartford, Wisconsin, moving the kind of freight where securement skill matters as much as on-time delivery. We're a flatbed carrier that treats straps, tie-downs, and chains as craft — not afterthoughts.
| Open-deck trailer | Usable deck length | Usable width | Max payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard flatbed | 47 ft | 102 in | 48,000 lb |
| Step deck flatbed | Upper 9 ft / lower 41 ft | 102 in | 47,000 lb |
Flatbed Dimensions and Capacity
Standard flatbed and step deck specs side by side.
Laufer's standard flatbed offers 47 feet of usable deck length, 102 inches of usable width, and a maximum payload of 48,000 pounds. For freight that sits too tall for a standard flatbed, our step deck flatbed drops to a lower rear deck, adding vertical clearance while keeping the same open-deck loading access.
A standard flatbed legally carries freight up to about 8 feet 6 inches wide and the same off the deck before width or height permits come into play, and the full rig is capped at 80,000 pounds gross by federal rule. Loads taller than a standard flatbed can clear are better matched to our step deck flatbed, which lowers the rear deck for extra height. For the step deck's full specifications, see our step deck trailers page.
Securement Done Right — The Laufer Difference
On a flatbed, the load doesn't just sit there — it has to be held. Every strap, every chain, every binder, and every piece of blocking is a decision. That's why Laufer treats securement as a core skill, not a formality. Our drivers know the difference between a chain that holds and a chain that looks like it holds, and they know that steel coil securement is where a flatbed carrier either proves its worth or fails the test.
Steel coil hauling in particular demands exact placement: chains rated for the coil's weight, blocking against forward movement, and bracing that accounts for every shift the road might throw at it. Hauling steel coils is not general freight — it's specialized work that requires experienced hands and the judgment to know when a load is ready to move and when it needs one more chain. Our two full-time mechanics keep the trailers and securement gear in ready condition, so the equipment our drivers reach for is the equipment they can trust.
For shippers, that skill translates to freight that arrives in the same condition it left in — and to a carrier that doesn't treat an open deck as an excuse to cut corners. The flatbed is one of four trailer types we run; for a side-by-side view of how it stacks up against our dry vans, step decks, and Conestogas, see our Wisconsin trucking services overview.
What Laufer Hauls on Flatbeds
Our flatbed freight covers the manufacturing and industrial base of the Midwest. That means steel products and steel coils moving from mill to fabricator, plastic injection molds shuttling between tool shops and production plants, machinery and weldments too large for enclosed trailers, and high-value manufacturing freight where the condition of the load at delivery is as important as the delivery time itself.
These are loads that need the open deck's loading flexibility — overhead cranes, side-loading with forklifts, or top-loading with spreader bars — and the kind of flatbed freight that benefits from a carrier with deep experience in securement, not just a driver with a CDL.
What We Focus On — And What We Don't
Laufer's flatbed operation is built around steel, machinery, and high-value manufacturing freight that fits within legal flatbed trailer dimensions. We do not haul oversized loads that require permits, escorts, or special routing, and we do not transport antiques or classic vehicles. That focus is intentional: it keeps our equipment, our drivers, and our schedules aligned with the work we know cold.
If your load is oversized or falls outside our standard scope, we'll tell you upfront and point you toward a carrier equipped for that specialty. We're a flatbed carrier that knows its lane — and stays in it.
Laufer's Flatbed Service
Laufer is an asset-based, family-owned trucking company. We own the flatbeds, we employ the drivers, and we dispatch every load from our Hartford headquarters. The carrier on your rate confirmation is the carrier on the dock — not a broker stitching together capacity from a load board.
Our lanes cover Wisconsin and the regional Midwest: in-state moves, Chicagoland runs, and the surrounding states our customers ship into and out of every week. Reliability means what we say it means — when we book a 3pm pickup, we mean 3pm. Quote and freight inquiries get a response within 15 minutes during business hours. For shippers with regular flatbed volume, we offer drop-trailer and preload service: we'll spot a flatbed at your facility, you load it on your own schedule over the next 24 hours, and we pull it when it's ready.
Behind the trucks, two full-time mechanics keep the fleet in ready condition. That's the difference between a carrier that runs equipment until it breaks and one that keeps it running before it ever gets the chance.
Need Weather Protection? Consider a Conestoga
If your freight is open-deck but needs protection from weather and road spray without the cost and delay of hand-tarping, a Conestoga trailer may be the better choice. A Conestoga is a flatbed with a retractable tarp-and-curtain system that covers the load from above and the sides — so you keep the open-deck loading flexibility while your freight stays dry and clean across long Midwest hauls.
For taller freight that won't clear a standard flatbed, see our step deck trailers page — the lower deck height gives you extra vertical clearance for machinery and fabrications that sit too high for a standard flatbed but still need open-deck access.