Tarp pay
We ask for it on every load that needs tarps, and get it written on the rate con, not promised on the phone.
Flatbed dispatch that knows the market rate
Steel, lumber and building materials, booked against current market rates with tarp pay on the rate con. We do the calls and the counteroffers. You approve every load before it's booked.
MILE02RATE BOARD
Check an offer against the market
Before we counter a flatbed offer, we compare it to what the market is paying. Try it: put in a rate and miles, take out fuel and tarp pay, and see how the linehaul stacks up against DAT's national flatbed average.
LINEHAUL PER MILE
DAT NATIONAL FLATBED AVERAGE: $2.59 (WEEK ENDING SEP 25, 2026)
SOURCE: DAT weekly flatbed spot report, national average linehaul excluding fuel, week ending Sep 25, 2026. Lane rates differ from the national average.
| Lane (EXAMPLE) | Miles | Offer | What we'd do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL to Charlotte, NC, steel | 390 | $1,300 with tarp | Ask for tarp pay on top; steel tarp work is real work |
| Houston, TX to Dallas, TX, pipe | 240 | $750 | Short load, check the reload out of Dallas first |
| Atlanta, GA to Nashville, TN, lumber | 250 | $800 | Fair if loading is quick; ask about detention |
| Chicago, IL to Indianapolis, IN, machinery parts | 185 | $650 | Counter: strong origin, short haul |
| Phoenix, AZ to El Paso, TX, building materials | 430 | $1,050 | Weak outbound from El Paso; price the empty miles in |
Price your own load in detail with the rate per mile calculator.
MILE03TARP AND SECUREMENT PAY
Get paid for the hard part
Flatbed freight pays more than van freight partly because of the work at both ends: chaining, strapping, tarping and untarping in all weather. A good rate on paper can turn ordinary once you count an hour of tarping you weren't paid for.
Securement time
Coils, pipe and machinery take longer to secure. We factor that into the counteroffer.
Extra stops and drops
Multi-stop building material loads mean more securing and re-securing. Each stop gets priced.
Which tarps you carry decides which loads you can take. Lumber tarps are big and cover tall stacks; steel tarps are smaller with shorter drops for low, heavy loads; smoke tarps cover just the front of a load against exhaust. Shippers often state the drop they need, such as 4 ft or 6 ft. We note what you carry so a tarp requirement never surprises you at the shipper.
Not sure your gear covers a load? Run it through the load securement calculator.
MILE04THE FLATBED NUMBERS
Your deck's numbers
| Spec | Typical value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Deck length | 48 ft (53 ft also common) | Sets which steel and lumber loads fit |
| Deck width | 8 ft 6 in (102 in) | Wider freight needs a permit |
| Deck height | About 5 ft | Freight over about 8 ft 6 in tall can break the 13 ft 6 in limit in many states |
| Federal gross limit | 80,000 lb | Truck, trailer and freight together |
| Typical freight weight | Up to about 46,000 to 48,000 lb | Depends on tractor and trailer weight |
SOURCE: FHWA size and weight overview (checked Oct 2026). Height limits are set by states; most use 13 ft 6 in.
MILE05FLATBED VS HOTSHOT
When a hotshot fits better
Some flatbed freight is light, short and urgent: a single machine part, a partial of steel, a pallet of fittings that has to be there today. Those loads often go to hotshots, which can move fast and run cheaper per load. Heavy, full-deck freight belongs on a semi flatbed. If you run both, we dispatch both, matched to each rig's limits. See hotshot dispatch for the lighter side, or step deck dispatch for taller freight.
MILE06YOUR CALL
Every load lands with you
Flatbed offers come with the commodity, weight, dimensions, securement and tarp needs, pickup and delivery windows, rate and broker. Nothing gets booked until you say yes.
On a yes, the broker emails the rate con straight to you, and you sign it. Check that tarp pay and detention terms are on it before you do. Pass on any load you don't want; it costs nothing and we keep looking.
LOAD OFFER
- EQUIPMENT
- 48 ft flatbed
- PICKUP
- Birmingham, AL · Mon 07:00
- DELIVERY
- Charlotte, NC · Tue 08:00
- LOADED MI
- 390 (deadhead 25)
- WEIGHT
- 44,000 lb, steel coils
- BROKER
- Credit checked, pays in 30 days
- TERMS
- Tarp pay included on rate con
- RATE
- $1,300 ($3.33/mi loaded)
YOUR CALL. NOTHING IS BOOKED UNTIL YOU SAY YES.
MILE07FREIGHT WE BOOK
Flatbed freight we book
| Freight | Securement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steel coils and beams | Chains, coil racks, steel tarps | Heavy and often tarped; pays for it |
| Lumber and panels | Straps, edge protectors, lumber tarps | Seasonal with building |
| Building materials | Straps, sometimes tarps | Often multi-stop to job sites |
| Pipe | Chains, stakes or pipe stakes | Oilfield and utility work |
| Machinery and equipment | Chains and binders, four-point tie-down | Tall pieces may need a step deck |
MILE08FLATBED SEASONS
How the flatbed year runs
These are typical patterns, and any year can break them. The weekly market average on this page is how we check what's really happening, not a guess from last season.
MILE09HOW WE PLAN
How we book a flatbed week
- 01Your gear on file. Deck length, tarps, chains, straps, coil racks, ramps. We only bring loads you can secure with what you carry.
- 02Floor rate and home time. The lowest linehaul you'll take and when you need to be home shape every search.
- 03Counter with data. Every offer is checked against the current market average before we counter, so the number we ask for is defensible.
- 04Reload before unload. Flatbed freight clusters around mills, yards and plants. We look for the next pickup near the drop while you're still on the road.
MILE10FEE
5% standard rate
One flatbed with authority older than 6 months runs at 5% of the gross on loads you haul. New authorities pay 7% until month six; fleets of two or more trucks pay 4%. No setup fee, no minimums, no fee on loads you turn down. Full rules on rates and fees.
FLATBED WEEKNO. 0048
EXAMPLE
- Birmingham to Charlotte
- $1,300
- Charlotte to Atlanta
- $900
- Atlanta to Birmingham
- $850
- Tarp pay
- $150
- Gross
- $3,200
- Fee 5%
- $160
Kept before costs$3,040
MILE11OBJECTIONS
What flatbedders ask us
- "Flatbed brokers are all relationships. A dispatcher can't help."
- Relationships matter, and they stay yours: setups are under your MC. We add hours on the phone and market data you don't have time to watch while you're chaining a load.
- "I don't want to tarp every load."
- Tell us. We can filter out tarped loads, or only bring them when the tarp pay is worth it to you.
- "My trailer has specific limits."
- Deck length, gear, ramps or not: it all goes on file at the first call. Loads that don't fit never reach you.
MILE12FAQ
Flatbed dispatch FAQ
Q01What flatbed lanes pay best?
It changes with the season and the region. Spring and summer construction lifts flatbed demand across the South and Midwest, and steel and lumber markets move their own lanes. We compare every offer against current market averages instead of guessing from last year.
Q02Can you find flatbed loads for a new MC?
Yes. Some brokers want 90 days or more of history, but plenty book new authorities. We work those brokers and build your record. The rate is 7% until your authority is 6 months old.
Q03Do you dispatch hotshot flatbeds?
Yes, on our hotshot desk. Hotshots running flatbed freight are matched to their combined weight rating and deck length. See our hotshot dispatch page for how that works.
Q04How much does flatbed dispatch cost?
5% of the gross on loads you haul for one truck with authority older than 6 months. 7% for an MC under 6 months, 4% for two or more trucks. No setup fee, no minimums.
Q05What securement gear do I need?
At minimum, enough straps and chains with binders for your heaviest common load, edge protectors, and corner protectors. Tarps (lumber and steel, often 4 ft and 6 ft drops) open up a big share of freight. Your gear list goes on file so we only bring loads you can secure.
Q06Do you negotiate tarp pay?
Yes. Tarping takes time and wears your tarps, so we ask for tarp pay on every load that needs it and get it written onto the rate con before you accept.
Q07Do you get detention on flatbed loads?
We ask for detention terms on the rate con before you accept. Job sites and mills can keep you waiting, so we track your times and request detention in writing once the free time runs out.
Q08Can you find flatbed loads near my home?
Usually, depending on what ships near you. Tell us your home base and how far you'll run. We look for freight that starts and ends near home, and tell you honestly when your area is slow.
Q09Do I approve every flatbed load?
Yes. Each offer shows the commodity, weight, dimensions, securement and tarp requirements, rate and broker. You say yes or pass. On a yes the broker sends the rate con straight to you to sign.
Q10Do you book oversize flatbed loads?
Legal-size loads run on this desk. Wide, tall or heavy loads that need permits go to our oversize desk, which coordinates permits and escorts.
See also oversize dispatch, how we dispatch and dispatch for new authorities.