Bear Shift Open-deck freight · arranged with vetted carriers
Flatbed, step-deck and oversize freight
Flatbed shipping in the Seattle area covers machinery, steel and building materials that can't go in a closed van, including oversize pieces that need permits. We arrange open-deck trucks for them with carriers that have the right trailer, the securement gear and the experience. As a licensed freight broker we coordinate; the carrier secures the load and hauls it under its own authority.
Open-deck options
The service in one line: Flatbed, step-deck and oversize loads, with tarps, straps and permits arranged with the carrier. A standard flatbed suits most crated or palletized open-deck freight; a step-deck has a lower rear deck for taller pieces that would stand too high on a flatbed.
Freight that is wider, taller, longer or heavier than the legal limits is oversize or overweight. It needs state permits and, on some routes, escort vehicles or travel limited to certain hours. The carrier applies for the permits and arranges the escorts they require; we coordinate dates, documents and contacts so the move is planned before the truck arrives.
What we arrange on open decks
- Construction equipment, generators and industrial machinery.
- Steel beams, rebar, pipe and other long metal products.
- Lumber, trusses, roofing and other building materials headed to a jobsite.
- Large crates, tanks and parts that must be loaded from the side or from above.
Planning an open-deck load
- You send the dimensions and weight of every piece, photos if you have them, and how it will be loaded and unloaded.
- We check which trailer and permits the load needs and send a price for you to approve.
- We book a carrier with the right deck and gear and coordinate the permits, tarps and any escort with it.
- You track the truck with a link through to delivery and receive the proof of delivery.
Exact numbers matter here
On open-deck freight a few inches change everything: the trailer type, the permits and the route. Measure length, width and height at the widest points, give the real weight of each piece, and tell us where it can be lifted or strapped. Say who loads and unloads, whether there is a forklift or a crane at each end, and if the site has tight access, overhead lines or soft ground.
Tarps, permits and other charges
Tarping, extra straps or chains, permits, escort vehicles and waiting time while a crane is set up are priced with the carrier and either shown in your quote or charged as its terms explain. If the dimensions or weight turn out different from what was declared, the permit may have to change and the price with it, which is why accurate measurements up front save time.
Have a big or heavy piece? Get it priced.
Flatbed and oversize questions
Who gets the oversize permits?
The carrier does. Permits are issued to the motor carrier that operates the truck, so it applies for them with each state on the route. We coordinate: we pass the carrier the dimensions and weights you give us, line up the dates and keep you informed about any restriction the permits set.
Will my load be tarped?
If the freight must stay dry or clean, tell us when you ask for a price and we look for a carrier that brings tarps for that load. Tarping is usually priced as an extra, and the carrier fastens the tarps along with the straps or chains.
What counts as oversize?
In general, a load that is wider, taller, longer or heavier than the legal limits for a standard truck on the roads it will use. Those limits vary by state and by road, so send us the exact measurements and weight and we confirm with the carrier whether the load needs permits or escorts.