Open Deck
An open deck freight truck, or better known as flatbed truck , is a type of open trailer that transport big size items by carrying it on an open deck. The main importance of transportation industry is the open deck trucks as they facilitate the transshipment of goods through their easy loading and unloading features by placing the goods directly on an open deck.
Versatility and Flexibility
The open decks freight trucks are considered to be suitable for a wide range of cargo. These include construction materials as well as heavy machinery, large industrial equipment and bulk-dump cargo. Cargo of all sorts can be transported in an open decks truck without a roof or sides, making them ideal for industries that require large, bulky cargo types.
Types of Open Deck Trucks
There are different types of open deck trucks, each with its own construction and meaning to certain specialized cargo. The three most common types of open deck truck are the standard flatbed truck, step-deck (or drop-deck) truck and double-drop (or lowboy) truck. Standard flatbed trucks are of uniform height, and is useful for most common domestic cargo. Step-deck or the drop-deck truck is used when loads are taller than a regular flatbed and cannot be delivered under normal height level. Double-drop or lowboy is used in extremely tall cargo requiring additional lower deck such as very big equipment.
Safety Considerations
Everyone who utilizes the open deck trucks and their benefits should consider an important aspect of safety. Because of the nature of the open deck trucks – meaning the fact that the cargo is uncovered – it's very important to carefully secure cargo to prevent it from shifting or falling along while the truck is on the move. Both the truck drivers and the loaders must receive special training about best load securing practices so that they can feel secure on the road.
Technological Advancements
There are different types of open deck trucks, each with its own construction and meaning to certain specialized cargo. The three most common types of open deck truck are the standard flatbed truck, step-deck (or drop-deck) truck and double-drop (or lowboy) truck. Standard flatbed trucks are of uniform height, and is useful for most common domestic cargo. Step-deck or the drop-deck truck is used when loads are taller than a regular flatbed and cannot be delivered under normal height level. Double-drop or lowboy is used in extremely tall cargo requiring additional lower deck such as very big equipment.