Truck Types / Step Deck
Step Deck Dispatch
Tall freight that vans can't clear and flatbeds can't legally scale — machinery, equipment and crates up to 10 ft. Specialized loads targeting $2.80+/mi.
Equipment Overview
The in-between trailer that earns above both
Step decks live in the sweet spot: lower deck height than a flatbed, so freight up to 10 feet tall rides legally — cranes, forklifts, farm equipment, crated industrial machines. Fewer trucks can haul it, so it pays a premium when sourced right.
The catch is dimension discipline: every load needs verified height, axle weights and ramp or crane loading confirmed before you commit. Our dispatchers check all three on every offer.
Core step deck lanes we run weekly
- Equipment east — Chicago ↔ Atlanta ↔ Charlotte dealers, $2.80–3.10/mi
- Ag machinery — Kansas City ↔ Des Moines ↔ Fargo, $2.90–3.20/mi
- Texas industrial — Houston port ↔ Dallas plants, $2.80–3.00/mi
Step Deck Specs
| Max freight height | 10 ft on lower deck |
| Max payload | 48,000 lbs |
| Deck configuration | upper + lower |
| Target rate | $2.80+/mi |
| Ramps / crane loads | verified pre-booking |
| Dispatch fee | 6% of linehaul |
Why step decks run better with Ridgeback
Dimension verification
Height, width and weight confirmed against your exact trailer before any rate con is signed.
Dealer networks
Repeat freight from equipment dealers and auction houses that load step decks weekly.
Partial stacking
Upper and lower decks sold separately when it pays — two partials, one profitable trip.
Step deck questions
Step deck freight is our core here; for RGN/lowboy oversize beyond step deck limits, talk to us first — we permit and route select oversize loads for existing clients.
We verify dims with the shipper before booking and build re-rating terms into the rate con — if freight shows up bigger than quoted, the rate goes up or you deadhead paid.
Tall freight pays. Haul it.
Send your deck specs for machinery loads matched to your trailer.
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