The truck and lorry industry is home to several different types of vehicles that offer different specifications that suit different tasks. Flatbed trucks are just one of these many types, with this vehicle carrying several unique qualities that separate them from rigid lorries or crane trucks, making them ideal for specialised construction and transportation tasks.
So, what is a Flatbed truck?
Long vehicles with a flat, open bed, you’ve probably seen a Flatbed truck on the motorway while it’s transporting large aeroplane parts or portable fairground rides. An ideal truck for transporting large, heavy items of an awkward shape, the open rear of the Flatbed allows bulky items to be easily and quickly unloaded, making it an optimal vehicle ahead of other means of transport.
While trailers and shipping containers are restricted by their rigid size, Flatbed trucks can carry a variety of different kinds of goods, giving them endless uses in the logistics industry. Its open nature makes the Flatbed truck ideal for everything from heavy building materials to enormous specialised parts that are too large to be transported using any other means.
What types of Flatbed trucks are there?
Just like many different types of trucks, not every Flatbed comes built in the same way, with various vehicles being made for a variety of different purposes.
Standard Flatbed truck: This is the type of truck that we’ve already been discussing, built with an open, flat bed that makes it ideal for lugging large loads.
Step Deck Flatbed truck: With staggered levels of height, the Step Deck truck is ideal for tall cargo that would otherwise be too large to carry on Standard Flatbed trucks.
Double Drop Flatbed truck: If height restrictions are still being exceeded, a Double Drop Flatbed might be the vehicle for you, featuring a deck that’s very close to the ground, making it ideal for tall pieces of cargo.
Extendable Flatbed Truck: Sharing many similarities to the Standard Flatbed truck, the Extendable model allows the back of the unit to be lengthened, making it ideal for the transportation of such cargo as aeroplane parts.
Curtainside Flatbed truck: Where Standard Flatbeds are open to the elements of the outdoors, Curtainside Flatbeds have large retractable curtains that protect the cargo and hide it from view.
It’s important to remember that, no matter which truck you opt for, you may have to secure a new kind of licence to drive it, with there only being a small selection of large vehicles you can drive with a standard licence.
What are the positives and negatives of a Flatbed truck?
Every kind of truck comes with its own list of positives and negatives, no matter if it claims to be an exemplary all-around vehicle or not.
Positives
- Versatility:
Thanks to their length and bed size, Flatbed trucks can carry pretty much anything you can think of, making them an ideal choice ahead of many other types of vehicles. There are, however, weight restrictions in place for Flatbed trucks that must be adhered to.
- Accessibility:
Thanks to the lack of sides or a roof, loading and unloading a Flatbed truck is easy. This effortless process reduces the chances of the cargo being damaged.
- Durability:
Thanks to the sheer size of the materials they carry, Flatbed trucks are built to withstand challenging road conditions, making them durable titans of the road and reliable options for precious cargo.
Negatives
- Manoeuvrability:
As you might be able to gather from its appearance, Flatbed trucks aren’t the easiest vehicles to drive, requiring skilled professionals behind the wheel. Thanks to their rigid build, they are tricky to negotiate on the open road, meaning abiding by Flatbed truck safety tips is crucial.
- Route planning:
Where smaller truck options require less route planning, using a routing software tool for a Flatbed is crucial to ensure the safety of the cargo. Route planning can be complex and time-consuming.
- Loading and securing:
It might be quicker to load and unload a Flatbed truck, but this doesn’t mean that it’s not complex to secure awkwardly shaped pieces of cargo. This process can be expensive, meaning the use of specialised equipment.
Flatbed truck or a Dropside truck?
In appearance there may seem to be plenty of differences between a Flatbed truck and a Dropside truck, yet, in application, they share several similarities. The key difference between the two types of trucks is that Flatbeds are far longer than Dropsides, and Dropsides have sideboards that can be put up and down, containing any cargo that it might be carrying.
You’ll regularly see Dropside trucks in or around construction sites, carrying equipment or heavy materials from one place to the next, with larger items being loaded onto its rear with a forklift. Meanwhile, Flatbed trucks aren’t as common, being used exclusively for weighty, oversized pieces of specialised materials that can’t be carried by any other kind of vehicle.
Buy a new Flatbed Truck with Smith Bros.
If you’re on the lookout for new Flatbed trucks or other Lorries for sale then you’ve come to the right place. At Smith Bros, we have over 50 years of experience in the industry and come prepared with an unparalleled level of knowledge that can help you make the right decision for you and your business. Get in touch with us now to find out what we can do for you.
Offering competitive prices on each and every one of our vehicles, we’re so sure that you’ll find the best trucks with us that, if you can’t, we’d be happy to source your desired vehicle from another destination in the UK.
