{"id":29186,"date":"2021-11-08T11:55:08","date_gmt":"2021-11-07T22:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/?p=29186"},"modified":"2025-01-07T13:50:04","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T00:50:04","slug":"what-is-a-flat-deck-truck-or-trailer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drivingtests.co.nz\/resources\/what-is-a-flat-deck-truck-or-trailer\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a flat deck truck or trailer?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The flat deck refers to the area of the truck or trailer that the goods are loaded onto – it’s a large uniformly flat area which items can be placed on and secured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trailers can be heavy or light, and can be semitrailers or full trailers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flat deck heavy trailer carrying concrete blocks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Simple light trailer that’s sometimes called a flat deck, but it’s often called a machinery trailer. It doesn’t have fold-down sides (the wheels would be in the way), but this allows for the trailer deck to be lower for a lower centre of gravity with the load<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Flat deck trailers and trucks do not have curtains or a hard-side body – they are uncovered – however, they might have stanchions or fold-down gates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Two stanchions on a flat deck truck<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step-deck trailers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If the trailer has a step in it, it’s called a step-deck trailer, drop-deck trailer or transporter trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The step deck or allows for the main loading area to be lower, while the front part of the deck accommodates the fifth wheel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The lower deck means that taller loads can be carried without the risk of the load being over-height.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are b-train flat deck combinations; the first trailer may be a step-deck for more flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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9-axle b-train carrying tractors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How are loads secured to a flat deck truck?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Drivers must know how to secure loads to a truck or trailer<\/a> before using a flat deck truck or trailer because there are no rated curtains or hard sides to contain loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flat deck trailers have anchor points so that loads can be tied down. These can be rope rails, chain hooks or ISO container locks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rope rail with a hook and keeper from a ratchet strap<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Chain hook on a flat deck trailer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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ISO container<\/a> locks on a flat deck trailer so that containers can be transported<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The decks can be metal or metal and wood. Wooden decks have more friction than metal decks, but wear more quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A wooden deck on a flat deck truck showing dunnage strapped with chains, towing a flat deck trailer with a headboard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At the front of the flat deck on a truck is a headboard. Some trailers have headboards, too (as shown in the above photo), and the load should be against the headboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The headboard has protected the cab when this load moved on this flat deck truck – the driver didn’t load it properly<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The headboard isn’t designed to take that much weight – the load still must be strapped down. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If the trailer is a light trailer, the driver must still know how to secure loads to a light trailer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drivers can be fined for transporting an unsecured load.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are flat deck trucks and trailers used for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The flat deck is used for transporting items which are not able to be transported in curtainside or hardside trailers for various reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n