Step Deck Trailer Definition

A step deck trailer is designed to carry cargo that is too tall to go on a flatbed truck. A step deck truck can help you haul loads without having to obtain special permits for exceeding the legal height limit. These trailers have a lower and upper deck, hence the use of the term “step” in the name. This also makes it much easier to load and unload equipment, especially with a forklift.

There are different types of step deck trailers, such as fixed-neck, gooseneck, or removable gooseneck, which you can use depending on your needs for loading and unloading. A fixed-neck trailer has limited options, whereas a removable gooseneck can be loaded either on the front or back of the trailer. How tall is a step deck trailer? These trailers typically have a lower deck height of 3 feet 6 inches.

Freight Carried on Step Deck Trailer

So what kind of freight is typically carried on step deck trailers? These trailers usually accommodate heavy machinery and freight that tends to be higher. The average load capacity of this trailer, also known as a drop deck or “lowboy,” comes in at around 46,000 pounds, which is why these open trailers are particularly useful when it comes to hauling anything heavy. The typical step deck truck loads include the following items:

• Excavators
• Tractors
• Building Materials
• Agricultural Materials
• Other Machinery

Obviously, these items can be quite high, and depending on the specific state law, they may exceed the maximum allowable height, especially for things like bridge clearance. This is where step deck trailers really come in handy. These trailers have the capability to hold loads of up to 10 feet and 2 inches in height, which makes them perfect for taller items that don’t fit on standard flatbed trailers. The “step” gives the necessary extra room to fit those large freights that would otherwise fail to make it under low bridges.