Tarped flatbed trucking, or a Conestoga with no tarp
Fission Logistics runs 10 open flatbeds out of Mississauga, 53 ft tandems with tarps, chains and coil racks on board. When a load has to stay covered, we either tarp the open deck or send one of our 90 Conestogas, where the cover slides shut and nobody tarps at your dock. Tell dispatch what the freight is and we send what fits.
Open flatbed, tarped flatbed or Conestoga
| Your load | Trailer we send | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dry freight that fits under 102 inches | Conestoga, 53 ft tandem | The cover slides shut. No tarping at your dock. |
| Freight that can ride open: steel, pipe, structural | Open flatbed, 53 ft tandem | Loads from the side, the top or the whole length of the deck. |
| Open deck freight you want covered | Open flatbed with tarps | The driver tarps it after it is secured. |
| Tall machinery and equipment | Step deck or double drop, tarped if needed | Step deck takes loads up to 120 inches high. |
| Heavy steel staying in Ontario | 6 axle curtainside | Up to 86,000 lb on 1 truck. |
When an open deck is the right call
- The load is taller or wider than a Conestoga cover takes.
- A crane sets it along the full length of the deck. Cranes can load a Conestoga through the open top too, but some shippers want an open deck.
- Long beams, pipe and lumber that load from the end or the full side.
- The receiver unloads from both sides at once.
When a Conestoga wins
- The freight has to arrive dry and clean: coil, aluminum extrusions, finished machinery, building products.
- Your dock has no room or time for a driver to tarp, or your site doesn't allow anyone up on the deck.
- The receiver wants it off fast. The cover rolls back and the forklift starts.
See what a Rolltite trailer is for the longer version.
What rides on our open decks
Lumber, structural steel and rebar, pipe, plate, machinery and construction equipment. Every flatbed carries chains and binders, 4 inch straps, edge protectors, timbers, coil racks and tarps. Each load is secured to National Safety Code Standard 10 and the US rules. See our load securement procedures.
Getting a flatbed load quoted
Send the pickup, the delivery, the commodity, the weight, the dimensions of the biggest piece and whether it has to stay covered. Dispatch names the trailer with the price, within 1 business hour, 7 am to 6 pm ET. Dispatch answers at (905) 799 7900, press 1, 24 hours.
Questions shippers ask
Do you tarp flatbed loads?
Yes. Every open flatbed carries tarps, and the driver tarps the load when you want it covered. If the load fits a Conestoga, we can send one instead and skip the tarp.
Tarped flatbed or Conestoga, which should I book?
If the freight fits under a 102 inch cover and has to stay dry, a Conestoga is usually faster at the dock. If it is taller, longer or crane loaded along the whole deck, an open flatbed with tarps fits better. Dispatch names the trailer with the price.
How heavy a load can a flatbed take?
Up to 45,000 lb on a 53 ft tandem. Heavier steel staying in Ontario can go on a 6 axle unit, up to 86,000 lb.
What if the load is too tall for a flatbed?
It goes on a step deck, which takes loads up to 120 inches high, or a double drop. Both can be tarped.
Do you run open deck loads into the US?
Yes. Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky through Detroit and Buffalo.
Related
Rather talk it through?
Call dispatch with the load and the lane. They'll tell you which trailer it goes on, and someone picks up 24 hours a day.