Step deck dispatch
Step deck loads that need the drop, booked by people who measure
The reason you run a step deck is the 20 or so inches it gives you over a flatbed. Our job is to find the step deck loads that need those inches: machinery, tall crates, equipment on ramps. Then we check the height before you roll, and price the load like the specialized hauling it is. Step deck trucking, or drop deck hauling if that is what you call it, lives on freight a flatbed cannot take legally.
What a step deck is
The step deck truck, in one picture
A step deck (drop deck) trailer has two levels. The short upper deck rides over the tractor's fifth wheel at roughly flatbed height. Behind a step, the long lower deck sits closer to the ground. On a 53 ft trailer that usually means about 11 ft up top and 42 ft below. A low pro stepdeck goes a few inches lower still on smaller tires.
Those numbers vary by maker and model, and a loaded deck sits lower than an empty one. Two current examples: a 2026 Utility 4000AE drop deck (dealer listing) lists 53 ft overall, 102 in wide, 11 ft upper deck at 59-5/8 in, lower deck at 40-1/4 in, 21 in drop (source), and a Trail King TK85 step deck (dealer listing) lists 53 ft overall, 102 in wide, 36 in loaded lower deck height, 10 to 11 ft upper deck (source). Measure yours and tell us; we book against your numbers.
Typical 53 ft step deck
Flatbed or step deck?
Slide the freight height and watch the line
Most states cap height at 13 ft 6 in. On a flatbed, that leaves roughly 8 ft 6 in for freight; on a step deck lower deck, about 10 ft. Anything in between is step deck freight, and anything above both needs a permit or a lower trailer than we dispatch.
Tall freight also changes tarping. If the shipper wants it covered, see our tarping guide for drop sizes on tall loads.
8 ft 0 in of freight
Deck heights used: 60 in flatbed, 40 in step deck lower deck (typical; your trailer may differ by a few inches, and loaded decks sit lower). 13 ft 6 in is the common state limit; check each state on the route.
Step deck vs flatbed
Flatbed vs step deck, side by side
| Flatbed | Step deck | |
|---|---|---|
| Deck height | About 60 in | Upper about 60 in, lower about 36 to 42 in |
| Tallest legal freight (at 13 ft 6 in) | About 8 ft 6 in | About 10 ft on the lower deck |
| Usable deck length (53 ft) | 53 ft | About 42 ft lower plus 11 ft upper |
| Loading | Forklift, crane, any side | Forklift and crane, plus ramps for drive-on equipment |
| Typical freight | Steel, lumber, building materials, pipe | Machinery, tall crates, tractors, HVAC units, tanks |
| Trade-off | Simpler, more loads on the board | Fewer loads, less competition for tall freight |
Typical figures; check your own trailer and each state on the route.
Step deck freight
Freight that pays for a step deck
- Construction equipment. Skid steers, mini excavators, backhoes and forklifts, often driven up ramps.
- Farm equipment. Tractors and implements in planting and harvest seasons.
- Tall crates and machinery. Industrial machines, transformers and generators that clear 8 ft 6 in.
- HVAC units, tanks and vessels. Light but tall, where height decides the trailer.
When step deck freight is slow, a step deck can still haul regular flatbed loads, so the week does not have to stop. We mix both to keep you moving.
Ramps and equipment loading
With ramps you can take drive-on equipment, which is a large part of step deck transport. We confirm before booking: ramp capacity against the machine weight, who is loading, track or tire, and attachment positions. Under 49 CFR 393.130, machinery of 10,000 lb or more takes at least four tiedowns, with accessory equipment fully lowered and secured. Our load board guide covers the filters that surface step deck freight.
Step deck rates and our fee
An EXAMPLE step deck load
A 9 ft 6 in excavator that would be over height on a flatbed rides legal on a step deck. On step deck vs flatbed rates: the step deck earns its premium only on freight that needs it. Step deck rates are quoted per load; we have not found a published national step deck average, so we price against the lane and the problem the trailer solves. Brokers who move a lot of equipment are the ones we chase for you; see how we vet open-deck brokers.
The fee is the same as for any open-deck truck: 6% of gross, 5% for 2+ trucks. See pricing and how onboarding works, or run the numbers in the rate and profit calculator.
Dispatch my step deck
Pick what you pull. Three short steps, about a minute.
6% of gross for one truck, 5% for 2+ trucks. No haul, no pay.
Rate confirmation
Excavator, 38,000 lb, 9 ft 6 in tall
Peoria, IL to Denver, CO, 960 mi
- Trailer
- Step deck
- Loading
- Ramps, driven on
| Linehaul | $3,550 |
|---|---|
| Gross | $3,550 |
| Dispatch fee (6%) | -$213 |
| You keep before costs | $3,337 |
EXAMPLE numbers. Height on the lower deck: about 3 ft 4 in deck plus 9 ft 6 in machine = 12 ft 10 in, under 13 ft 6 in.
Step deck FAQ
Step deck questions
What is a step deck truck?
A step deck truck is a semi tractor pulling a step deck trailer, also called a drop deck. The trailer has a short upper deck over the fifth wheel and a long lower deck about 20 inches closer to the ground, so it can carry freight that would be too tall on a standard flatbed.
How much weight can a step deck haul?
Legally, the freight plus the empty weight of the tractor and trailer has to stay at or under 80,000 lb gross on the Interstate system, and each axle group has its own limit. With an EXAMPLE empty weight of 33,000 lb, that leaves about 47,000 lb for cargo. Your scale ticket gives the real number.
What is a low pro step deck?
A low profile step deck runs smaller tires and a lower frame, so the lower deck sits a few inches closer to the ground than a standard step deck. Those inches decide whether some machinery and tall crates ride legal or need a permit.
Do step deck loads pay more than flatbed loads?
Often, for freight that only fits on a step deck, because fewer trucks can take it. We have not found a published national average for step decks alone, so we price each load against its lane and the height or loading problem it solves.
Do I need ramps to run a step deck?
No, but ramps open up equipment that drives on and off, which is a big share of step deck freight. Without them you stick to freight loaded by forklift or crane. Tell us what you carry and we filter loads to match.
Put your step deck on loads that need it
Tell us your deck heights, ramps and lanes. We find the tall freight, check it and negotiate it. Part of our open-deck dispatch service.