Step deck and oversized loads
When the load stands too tall for a flatbed, a step deck buys you the clearance to stay legal. And when it still does not fit, we handle the permits.
Freight that stands too tall
Construction equipment
Excavators, dozers, loaders and lifts that clear legal height once they sit on a standard deck.
Process and plant equipment
Vessels, separators, heat exchangers and skids bound for refineries and plants.
Structural and precast
Trusses, tanks, culverts and precast sections destined for jobsites.
Over-dimensional
Over width, over height or over length, with state permits and escorts arranged.
Long steel
Beams, pipe and bar stock that need the full run of the lower deck.
Crated machinery
Boxed equipment whose crate height rules out a flatbed.
Why the lower deck matters
| Equipment | Typical deck | Max legal cargo | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step deck | 53' | 45,000 lbs | The deck sits lower, so taller freight still clears legally |
| Flatbed | 48' / 53' | 45,000 lbs | When height is not the constraint and a single level works |
| Permit load | Beyond legal dimensions | By route | Moves under state permit, with escorts when the route demands them |
The whole fleet runs air ride suspension. The trailer absorbs the road instead of passing it to the deck, which matters when what you are shipping is calibrated machinery, electronics or anything that does not react well to being shaken for six hundred miles.
Weights shown are what our equipment carries. Loads beyond legal dimensions are still movable under permit — tell us the dimensions and we will tell you what it takes.
The truck at your dock is ours
We own the equipment and employ the drivers. When something changes on the road, you hear it from the company moving your freight, not from someone relaying a message.
Dispatch answers directly at (800) 905-4935. No ticket queue, no waiting on a carrier to call a broker back.
The same drivers, trained on the same securement standards, load your freight every time. That consistency is hard to get from a rotating pool of subcontractors.
$1,000,000 auto liability and $100,000 motor truck cargo. Certificate of insurance available on request — ask dispatch and it goes out the same day.
Based in Houston, running the lower 48
Houston puts us inside the Gulf Coast industrial corridor, so short-notice pickups around the port, the ship channel and the refining complex are routine rather than exceptional.
From there we run the contiguous United States. Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma lanes are the ones we cover most often.
Pickup and delivery — city and state is enough to start What it is — commodity and whether it is crated, coiled or loose Dimensions and weight — length, width, height and total pounds Dates — when it is ready and when it has to land How it loads — dock, forklift, crane or driven on
Before you call
What is the difference between a flatbed and a step deck?
A flatbed is a single-level open trailer. A step deck drops to a lower deck behind the tractor, which buys you extra vertical clearance. If your load is taller than roughly 8 feet 6 inches, a step deck usually keeps you legal without permits.
How tall can my load be before it needs a permit?
Most states allow a total height of 13 feet 6 inches from the ground, which is what sets the practical cargo limit. A step deck sits lower, so it absorbs roughly a foot and a half more cargo height than a flatbed before permits come into play.
Who arranges the permits and escorts?
We do. Send the dimensions and weight and we come back with the route, what the permits cost and whether escorts are required.
How does the equipment get loaded?
Driven on by ramp when it rolls, or lifted on by crane or forklift when it does not. Tell us how it loads and we bring the right setup.
Do your trailers have air ride?
Yes, on every unit. Air ride suspension lets the trailer absorb the road instead of passing it through to the deck. It matters for calibrated machinery, electronics, instrumentation and anything else that does not react well to being shaken for six hundred miles.
Are you asset-based or a broker?
Asset-based. We own our trucks and trailers and employ our drivers. The truck that shows up at your dock is ours.
Tell us what you need moved
Dimensions, weight, where it is and where it has to go. We will come back with a firm number.