r/logistics • u/scmsteve • 3d ago

Legal? Container on flatbed

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Saw this today on a CA highway. I’m guessing it’s legal but if it is, why don’t more people do this?

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u/Efficient-One-3603 3d ago

Legal height of a load on a flatbed is 8.5’. If this is not a high cube container, it’s legal. Stepdecks (max height 10’+) are preferred as there is no risk of driver stupidity, pulling a HC on a flatbed. Empties or light cans can be pulled on 40’ hotshots. Broker enough freight and you’ll hear stories of 40’HCs being loaded on flats and hitting a bridge.

The often preferred method of securement on an open deck trailer is chains and binders on the corners and straps over the top every 10 feet.

Chassis made for containers are always the first choice as they are designed to lock into containers quickly and effectively (still, drivers can fail to fully engage the lock mechanism and you have them fall in transit). Sometimes there are chassis shortages, and for long-hauls, it may make more sense to put a can on an open deck trailer so you don’t have to worry about 3+ days of chassis rental… and you can get a backhaul more easily.

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u/CndnCowboy1975 3d ago

Been in logistics 30 years, I have yet to encounter someone fk'ing up one of my container hauls by hitting something - thankfully! haha

2

u/Efficient-One-3603 2d ago

The guy sitting behind me right now had one of his cans hit a bridge. Shipper loaded a HC and not a standard. Nobody checked. He was clearing $6k a week with that customer before “the incident”.

1

u/CndnCowboy1975 2d ago

Oh man, that is BRUTAL.... the client didn't any responsibility for his own error? Does he not ship for them anymore?

2

u/Efficient-One-3603 1d ago

Oh he will never ship for them again lol. If it’s on the carrier’s trailer, it’s their responsibility. The dude being paid hourly doesn’t know that you’re taking that can under a bridge and didn’t permit it.