When looking for a shipping solution to transport your heavy equipment, you need to consider the type of trailer that will be used and its capacity. Whether you’re moving your machinery across town or across the country, you need a convenient trailer that can transport your shipment safely. Various trailers are used to transport heavy loads, so it is essential to choose the most reliable one for your goods. For example, an open deck trailer is the best choice for large, wide or super loads.
But what is an open deck trailer and when is it best to use it for transportation? Read on to learn more about an open deck trailer, including its features and specifications, when it’s convenient, and the most common transportation that goes with one.
Features and specifications of an open deck trailer
Before discussing the features and specifications of an open deck trailer, it is important to understand what it is.
As the name suggests, open deck trailers are types of trailer that are completely open on the sides and top. In other words, they are easily accessible from all sides, making them versatile and flexible and the best choice for extremely heavy and awkwardly shaped loads.
When it comes to the features and specifications of an open deck trailer, you should consider the different types of open deck trailers that are commonly used. Here are the three common open deck trailer options:
- Flat trailer: A flatbed is an open deck trailer that is typically 48 feet long, but some are as long as 53 feet. It can carry goods up to 8½ feet high and a total weight of 48,000 pounds.
- Step trailer: Stepped deck trailers are similar to flatbeds, except they have steps or two levels instead of a flat deck. The lower deck allows them to carry taller items that exceed the height limit of a standard pallet. The staggered deck trailer size is 53 feet, with the lower deck extending 43 feet and the upper deck measuring 10 feet. They can carry goods up to 10 feet tall and have weight capacities ranging from 43,000 to 62,000 pounds.
- Removable Gooseneck Trailer (RGN): These open deck trailers have a detachable front part called a gooseneck that makes the loading and unloading process easier. RGNs are 48 feet long and only 20 inches off the ground, making them convenient for freight up to 12 feet.
When you should use an open deck trailer
Open deck trailers are preferred for their flexibility, practicality and versatility compared to enclosed trailers. Due to their characteristics, open deck trailers are best suited to transport:
- Bulk dense products of all types that can withstand exposure to the elements
- Cargo of irregular shape and size that needs extra space when transported
- Super loads that are massive and extremely heavy
- Longer-than-normal loads that need top loading by cranes.
Open deck trailers have several advantages, including the ability to carry heavier, taller and bulkier loads and easy loading and unloading. As such, they can adapt to seasonal demands and align with specific industry needs. Additionally, an open deck trailer offers room for modifications to meet unique cargo demands. They are therefore suitable for goods that do not fit neatly and safely in an enclosed trailer.
The most common commodity shipped in an open deck trailer
Open deck trailers are commonly used to transport goods that cannot fit in an enclosed trailer. This includes:
Heavy Equipment: An open deck is suitable for transporting large and heavy machinery such as cranes, excavators, bulldozers and backhoes.
Construction materials: include steel beams, concrete pipes, wood, sheet metal sections and other structural components.
Agricultural and agricultural equipment: An open deck trailer is the most convenient way to transport farm equipment such as harvesters, tractors, loaders, mowers and shredders.
vehicles: Open deck trailers are also used to transport various vehicles including trucks, cars and other large vehicles.
Industrial equipment: An open deck trailer can transport boilers, transformers and other heavy industrial machinery.
Final thoughts from heavy haulers
When transporting heavy and large goods, it is vital to choose the right trailer to meet your freight demand. If the trailer does not have the capacity and functional components to carry your type of cargo, it will not deliver it safely and cost effectively. Before settling on an open deck trailer, understand its features and specifications to determine if it meets your unique shipping needs.
Heavy Haulers has high-quality open deck trailers to get the job done, whether you’re hauling bulky, bulky or awkwardly shaped equipment. We are proud to be the leading trailer transport company, transporting open deck trucks to various destinations.
