What Is the Legal Height of a Flatbed Load

In many cases, you don`t need a 53-foot trailer for your 52-foot load, as you can legally overhang cargo on a 48-foot low-loader. And just behind the Kingpin, states like Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Washington regulate that the total length of a cargo and trailer cannot exceed 53 feet. 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 four feet of front overhangs, respectively. Maximum load length – Depending on the length of the trailer, the maximum load length on a trailer is usually the length of the trailer, but in some situations, loads up to 4 feet may be suspended from a 48-foot trailer where no overhangs are allowed on a 53-foot trailer. A stair trailer, also known as a lower-deck trailer, is a common alternative to the traditional flatbed truck. It offers two bed sections of different heights: an initially higher upper deck at the top leads to a lower deck closer to the ground. Finally, when transporting bulky or oversized loads, it is important to ensure compliance. This applies both to compliance with legal loading heights and weights and to compliance with operating time rules that ensure safe driving on our roads. An FMCSA-compliant ELD solution is not only legally required for many commercial fleets, but also significantly reduces log maintenance and administrative costs. 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. 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. This final low-loader design is an interesting compromise between a standard walled semi-trailer and a platform. Curtain trailers have a built-in sliding plane mechanism that allows you to cover the load and protect it from damage and elements without fixed walls. Tarpaulins allow accessibility on 3 sides when opened, while providing a protective layer for delicate or delicate cargo. A standard low-loader typically rides between 48 and 53 feet long, 8.5 feet wide and 5 feet high.

With a standard bed height of 5 feet, they can pull objects up to 8.5 feet tall. These trailers rest 5 feet above the ground and are used nationally to move cargo that fits their 8-foot, 6-inch-wide deck and falls below 8 feet 6 inches in total height. 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. Like the overhang at the back of a bunk bed, these regulations vary greatly from state to state. Trucks can carry loads of more than 80,000 pounds on trucks with additional axles. However, any load over 80,000 pounds is an overweight load and, as with oversized loads, an operator must be granted permission to carry the overweight load. Fees for overweight loads increase with weight, and fees vary from state to state. Here at TTY, we often get this question and just like the previous questions, this one doesn`t have a catch-all answer. You see, just like the legal overhang of the back of a bunk bed with a single piece of material, the rules for loading multiple pieces of material end-to-end are not uniform across states.

This illustrates the first challenge. Suppose a load is 14 feet high, from the road surface to the top of the load. Is an over-design permit required? The answer is “it depends.” If the condition you bring has a height limit of 14.5 feet, no oversized permit is required for height. However, if you are traveling to a neighboring state where the altitude restriction is 13.5, you must apply for and obtain a permit for that state. As you can see, many states base their permit requirements on the total length of the platform in conjunction with the length of its 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. Many loads do not exceed the dimensions of a routine load, but may exceed legal weight limits. The limiting factor for weights is the number and configuration of the truck`s axles. A typical eighteen-wheeler has a maximum legal weight of 80,000 pounds. (total weight of semi-trailer and load), the weight being evenly distributed between the axles and groups of axles. A typical properly loaded semi-trailer with a maximum weight has 12,000 pounds on the front, steered axle and a maximum of 34,000 pounds on each pair of axles.

Note that at the time of weighing, it is possible for a truck to weigh less than 80,000 pounds while being overweight and liable to fines on a set of axles. Some trailers are equipped with axles that can be repositioned under the trailer to redistribute the load. The weight of the load must be correctly distributed (see Axel weight limit calculator).