Flatbed Trailer Types: The Complete Comparison

Standard Flatbed (Skateboard Trailer)

The standard flatbed is the workhorse of the open-deck fleet. Truckers call it a skateboard because of its flat, rectangular profile — it looks like a giant skateboard rolling down the highway. It has no sides, no roof, and no walls. Freight sits directly on the deck and is secured with chains, straps, and binders according to FMCSA cargo securement regulations (49 CFR 393.100-136).

Standard flatbeds haul the broadest range of freight in the open-deck world. Steel coils, I-beams, rebar bundles, lumber, building materials, pre-cast concrete, farm equipment, and oversized industrial components are all common flatbed loads. The open deck allows top loading with cranes and side loading with forklifts, which makes flatbeds essential at construction sites, steel mills, and lumber yards where enclosed trailers cannot be loaded efficiently.

The trade-off is exposure. Everything on a flatbed is exposed to rain, snow, sun, and road spray. Many loads require tarping, which takes 30-45 minutes and can be physically demanding. Tarping is the single biggest reason some drivers avoid flatbed work entirely. Shippers may pay a tarping fee ($50-$100 per load), but many do not, so the tarping cost is absorbed by the carrier.

Standard flatbed rates in 2026 average $2.40-$3.20 per mile depending on the lane, season, and commodity. Flatbed rates run 15-25% higher than dry van rates because of the specialized skills required for load securement, tarping, and the physical nature of the work. Steel and construction materials tend to pay at the higher end; lumber and agricultural products tend to pay at the lower end.

Step Deck (Drop Deck) Trailer

A step deck trailer — also called a drop deck — has two deck levels. The upper deck near the gooseneck is at the same height as a standard flatbed (roughly 60 inches), and the main lower deck drops down to approximately 38-42 inches off the ground. The step between the two decks is what gives this trailer its name. That lower deck height gives you an extra 18-22 inches of vertical clearance compared to a standard flatbed.

Step decks are the go-to trailer when freight is too tall for a standard flatbed but does not require a full lowboy. The most common step deck loads are tall machinery, large HVAC units, industrial generators, tall agricultural equipment, and pre-fabricated building sections. Anything between 8.5 and 10 feet tall that weighs under 48,000 pounds is a step deck candidate.

Loading a step deck differs from a standard flatbed. Some step decks have rear ramps, allowing equipment to drive on from the back. Others require crane loading from the top or side. The upper deck is typically used for smaller, lighter items or left empty — loading the upper deck with heavy freight shifts the center of gravity forward and can create steering and braking issues.

Step deck rates typically run $0.10-$0.25 per mile higher than standard flatbed rates because the specialized equipment limits the number of available trailers. Owner-operators who run step decks often earn more per mile but may wait longer between loads because step deck freight volume is lower than standard flatbed volume.

Double Drop (Lowboy) Trailer

The double drop trailer — commonly called a lowboy — is designed for the tallest legal loads. It has three deck sections: an upper front section behind the gooseneck, a sunken well (the lowest point of the trailer sitting 18-24 inches off the ground), and a rear section that rises back up over the rear axles. The well section is where tall freight rides, and with only 18-24 inches of deck height, you get maximum vertical clearance — up to 11.5 feet of legal load height without permits.

Double drops are used primarily for heavy construction equipment that is too tall for a step deck: excavators, large generators, transformer units, industrial boilers, and pre-assembled building modules. The low well also lowers the center of gravity, which improves stability for top-heavy loads.

The well section on a standard double drop is typically 24-29 feet long — shorter than the usable deck space on a standard flatbed or step deck. This limits the length of freight you can haul. Weight capacity is also reduced compared to a standard flatbed. Most double drops are rated for 40,000-42,000 pounds on the well section because the structural engineering required to create that low profile reduces the trailer's overall weight rating.

Double drop rates are significantly higher than standard flatbed rates — typically $3.00-$4.50 per mile for legal loads and even higher for permitted oversize/overweight freight. The higher rates reflect the specialized trailer, the skill required for loading and securement, and the limited number of double drops in the national fleet.

RGN (Removable Gooseneck) Trailer

The RGN trailer is the heavy haul workhorse. RGN stands for Removable Gooseneck, and that removable front section is what makes this trailer unique. When you detach the gooseneck and lower the front of the trailer to the ground, it creates a ramp that allows heavy equipment to drive directly onto the deck under its own power. No crane needed. Bulldozers, excavators, wheel loaders, motor graders, and even tanks roll right on.

A standard 3-axle RGN can legally haul 42,000-44,000 pounds without permits. But RGN trailers are built to do much more. By adding additional axles (4, 5, 7, 9, or even 13 axles), an RGN can carry permitted loads exceeding 150,000 pounds. Multi-axle RGN trailers are the backbone of the heavy haul industry, moving the largest and heaviest equipment across the country.

Loading an RGN requires a flat, solid surface — you cannot detach the gooseneck on soft ground or an uneven surface. The driver must disconnect the gooseneck hydraulically, drive the tractor forward to separate the neck, wait for the equipment to drive onto the trailer, then reconnect the gooseneck and secure it with pins and locking mechanisms. The entire loading process takes 30-60 minutes depending on the equipment and site conditions.

RGN rates are the highest in the flatbed world. Standard legal loads command $3.50-$5.00 per mile, while permitted oversize/overweight loads can exceed $8.00-$15.00 per mile depending on weight, dimensions, route, and permit requirements. Heavy haul RGN drivers are among the highest-paid in the trucking industry, but the work requires specialized skills, pilot cars, route surveys, and extensive permit knowledge.

Conestoga Trailer

The Conestoga trailer is a flatbed with a retractable rolling tarp system. The tarp assembly slides on tracks along the top and sides of the trailer, opening and closing like an accordion or a shower curtain. When fully retracted, the Conestoga functions like an open flatbed — you can load from the top or sides with a crane or forklift. When closed, it provides full weather protection like an enclosed trailer.

The name comes from the Conestoga wagon used by American pioneers, which had a canvas cover stretched over wooden bows. Modern Conestoga trailers use the same concept with engineered aluminum bows and heavy-duty PVC or vinyl tarp material.

Conestoga trailers solve a specific problem: freight that needs both flatbed-style loading access and enclosed weather protection. Finished metal products (polished aluminum, stainless steel sheets), paper rolls, treated lumber, high-value machinery, and specialty building materials are common Conestoga loads. These commodities would be damaged by rain or sun exposure but cannot be loaded through a standard trailer's rear door due to size or loading requirements.

The biggest operational advantage is tarping time. A manual flatbed tarp takes 30-45 minutes to install and requires climbing on the load. A Conestoga system opens and closes in 3-5 minutes from the ground — no climbing, no wrestling with tarp fabric, no bungee cords. Over a week of flatbed work, this saves 2-4 hours of labor and eliminates the fall risk associated with manual tarping.

Conestoga rates are comparable to step deck rates: $0.10-$0.30 per mile above standard flatbed. Some shippers specifically request Conestoga trailers and pay a premium because they know their freight will be protected without the inconsistency of manual tarping. The major downside is trailer cost — a Conestoga system adds $15,000-$25,000 to the trailer purchase price, and the tarp mechanisms require regular maintenance.

Side-by-Side Comparison: All Flatbed Types

Here is every flatbed trailer type compared across the specifications that matter most when matching a trailer to your freight:

How to Choose the Right Flatbed Type

Choosing the right flatbed trailer comes down to four factors: load height, load weight, loading method, and weather sensitivity. Here is the decision framework experienced flatbed dispatchers use:

For a detailed head-to-head on the two most common types, read our skateboard vs step deck comparison. For specific load types and which trailer to use for each, see our flatbed load types guide. And if you are buying or leasing your first flatbed, our choosing the right flatbed trailer guide covers the purchase and lease economics in detail.

Load Securement Requirements by Trailer Type

Every flatbed type must comply with FMCSA cargo securement rules (49 CFR 393.100-136). The basic principle is the same: the combined working load limit of all tiedowns must equal at least 50% of the cargo weight. But the practical application differs by trailer type because of deck height, deck surface, and freight access.

Standard flatbeds and Conestogas have the most tiedown points — typically every 2 feet along both sides. Step decks have tiedown points on both the upper and lower decks, but the step between decks can make it difficult to run straps across the transition. Double drops and RGNs have tiedown points along the well edges, but the low well can limit chain and strap angles.

For a complete breakdown of securement rules, chain and strap specifications, and tiedown count calculations, see our flatbed load securement guide.