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Standard flatbed
The workhorse for steel, lumber, pipe, and palletized building materials.
ServicesServices
Flatbed Trucking and Open-Deck Freight
Flatbed · Step deck · Open deck
Open-deck freight loaded, secured, and delivered by a team that owns the outcome.
Ship Smart Solutions provides flatbed trucking and open-deck transportation for freight that won’t fit a standard trailer — steel, machinery, building materials, and oversized loads. Backed by our own asset base and a vetted open-deck carrier network, we handle securement, tarping, and permitting with direct accountability from pickup to delivery across all 48 states.
Trailer matched to freight
Flatbed, step deck, or specialized — spec’d to the load, not the other way around.
Securement & tarping
Chains, straps, tarps, and coil racks applied to DOT standards.
48-state reach
Open-deck freight coast to coast from a central Midwest hub.
One accountable team
Loading, permitting, and delivery handled end to end.
Equipment
Flatbed, Step Deck & Open-Deck Equipment
We match the trailer to the freight, not the other way around. Tell us the dimensions and commodity and we will spec the deck that carries it legally and safely.
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Step deck (drop deck)
Added height clearance for taller loads that exceed flatbed limits.
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Open-deck / specialized
Configurations for awkward, long, or heavy freight that needs a purpose-built deck.
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Tarping, coil racks & securement
The handling that keeps open-deck freight compliant and damage-free in transit.
Need permitted oversized, over-dimensional, RGN, or lowboy transport? That is covered on our Heavy Haul page.
What we haul
Freight We Move on Open Deck
Not sure which trailer your load needs? Describe it in the quote form and we will spec the right equipment.
- 01Steel and metalsCoils, plate, beams, and structural steel with proper securement. See Manufacturing .
- 02Construction materialsLumber, pipe, precast, and building supplies delivered to yards and jobsites. See Construction .
- 03Machinery and equipmentIndustrial machinery and equipment that needs deck loading rather than a dock.
- 04Building productsRoofing, drywall, and bundled materials moved on open deck.
- 05Oversized freightLoads beyond legal dimensions — see Heavy Haul for permitted moves.
Accountability
Why Open-Deck Freight Belongs on an Accountable Carrier
Open-deck freight lives or dies on securement and handling — the parts brokers cannot control once they hand your load to an unknown truck.
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Securement done right
Chains, straps, tarps, and coil racks applied by vetted carriers we hold to documented securement standards.
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One point of accountability
Loading, permitting, and delivery handled by one team — no finger-pointing when something needs a decision.
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Capacity when deck freight tightens
A vetted carrier network plus our asset base keeps deck capacity available when the market tightens.
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Compliance built in
DOT-compliant securement and permitting handled correctly the first time, not corrected at a scale house.
Nationwide open-deck coverage
48-State Flatbed & Open-Deck Freight
From our Naperville, Illinois hub, we move flatbed and open-deck freight coast to coast and across the industrial Midwest — a region dense with steel, machinery, and construction freight. Our central location keeps regional deck lanes efficient and national coverage straightforward.
Simple processSimple processHow Flatbed Shipping
How Flatbed Shipping
Works With Ship Smart
Send dimensions and commodity once. We spec the trailer, handle securement and permits, and you follow the load to delivery.
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Request a flatbed quote
Share dimensions, weight, commodity, and lane so we can price the move accurately.
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We spec the equipment
Flatbed, step deck, or specialized trailer matched to your freight and its legal dimensions.
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We handle securement and permits
Tarping, securement, and any required permitting arranged before the load rolls.
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You track to delivery
Follow your load through to delivery with real-time tracking.
- Flatbed Trucking
- Step Deck
- Open-Deck Freight
- Steel & Coils
- Construction Materials
- Machinery Transport
- Tarping & Securement
- 48-State Coverage
- Flatbed Trucking
- Step Deck
- Open-Deck Freight
- Steel & Coils
- Construction Materials
- Machinery Transport
- Tarping & Securement
- 48-State Coverage
Flatbed Trucking FAQs
What is flatbed trucking?
Flatbed trucking moves freight on an open trailer with no walls or roof, used for loads that are too large, heavy, or awkwardly shaped for a standard enclosed trailer — like steel, machinery, and building materials. Loads are secured with chains, straps, and tarps.
What’s the difference between a flatbed and a step deck?
A standard flatbed has a single deck height; a step deck (drop deck) has a lower rear deck for taller freight that would exceed legal height on a flatbed. We spec whichever fits your load.
What kind of freight do you haul on open deck?
Steel and metals, construction and building materials, machinery and industrial equipment, lumber and pipe, and oversized freight. Permitted over-dimensional loads are handled on our Heavy Haul page.
Do you handle oversized or over-dimensional loads?
Yes — permitted oversized, over-dimensional, RGN, and lowboy transport is covered on our Heavy Haul page, including permits and route planning.
Do you tarp and secure the freight?
Yes. Securement and tarping are part of the service, applied to DOT standards to keep your freight compliant and protected in transit.
Does Ship Smart Solutions ship flatbed freight nationwide?
Yes. We move flatbed and open-deck freight across all 48 states from our Naperville, Illinois hub. See nationwide coverage.
How much does flatbed shipping cost?
Rates depend on lane, dimensions, weight, and any permitting or tarping. Request a quote for an itemized rate; our shipping guides cover the factors that affect price.
How do I get a flatbed freight quote?
Use the quote form with your dimensions, weight, commodity, and lane for an itemized rate.