TraceDispatch

Link 01Step deck and Conestoga

Step deck dispatch for tall freight and repeat shippers

Step deck freight rarely shows up as a quick board post you grab in five minutes. It comes from specialized brokers, machinery and equipment makers, and lanes that repeat once a carrier proves reliable. Our step deck dispatch works those sources for you, with every height, ramp and permit question answered before an offer reaches your phone.

We dispatch Conestoga trailers the same way. As with every truck we dispatch, you confirm each load, the broker sends the rate con straight to you, and the broker pays you directly.

Find my step deck freightSame fee as every trailer. No setup fee.
Federal size rules we plan around
Width on the National Network
102 in
Semitrailer length states must allow
48 ft+
Gross weight, Interstate
80,000 lb
Height
set by each state

Link 02Where the freight comes from

Where step deck and Conestoga freight comes from

Four sources feed most step deck weeks. Tap each one to see what it expects from a carrier and the questions we ask before you see an offer. Notice where you sit: at the end of the chain, confirming each load. We work for that link only, and we reach shipper freight through brokers, never directly.

  5. Your truck, confirming each load. We work for this link.

Specialized brokers

Brokerages and desks that focus on open-deck and heavy freight. They know deck heights, permits and securement, and they prefer carriers who do too.

What they ask of you

  • · Deck length, lower and upper deck heights
  • · Ramps, and whether they're flip or slide
  • · Chains, binders, straps and tarps on board
  • · Cargo coverage that fits machinery values

What we ask before booking

  • · Is the load legal height on my lower deck, measured by whom?
  • · Is it loaded by crane, forklift or driven on?
  • · Any permit or escort needed in any state on the route?

Specialized brokers are a world of their own, with different setup expectations from van and reefer brokers. Our guide to heavy haul brokers explains how they work, what they check and how to vet them before you haul.

Why step deck freight rewards patience

A van carrier can find a load in minutes on most days. A step deck carrier often waits for the right piece: a machine that fits the lower deck, a lane that repeats, a broker who already knows the truck. Grabbing the first open-deck post you see can mean hauling flatbed freight at flatbed rates while the tall load that pays for the trailer goes to someone else. Our job is to keep the right sources warm so the right loads find you.

What brokers notice about step deck carriers

Accurate deck measurements, honest answers about ramps and gear, careful securement and photos at pickup and delivery. Machinery is expensive and damage claims are slow, so brokers who move it are cautious with new carriers and loyal to proven ones. We present your truck precisely, so the first load goes well and the second one comes without asking.

Link 038 questions owners ask

Eight questions step deck owners ask us, answered straight

These come up on almost every first call with a step deck or Conestoga owner. If yours isn't on the list, ask it on the call.

  1. 01

    Will I get more loads with a step deck than a flatbed?

    Not more loads, different ones. A step deck can haul most flatbed freight plus taller pieces, which widens your options on slow days. But some flatbed loads need a full flat deck for long pieces, so it isn't a strict upgrade.

  2. 02

    Do you know which brokers move step deck freight?

    We work with brokers and desks that move open-deck and machinery freight, check each one's public record, and keep track of who pays on time across our carriers' loads.

  3. 03

    Who measures the freight?

    The shipper or broker gives dimensions, and we confirm them in writing. If a piece is close to the height limit, we ask how it was measured and whether it sits on blocking, because a few inches change everything.

  4. 04

    What about ramps and drive-on equipment?

    Tell us your ramp type and rating. We only offer drive-on loads your ramps and deck can take, and we ask whether the equipment arrives running or needs a forklift or crane.

  5. 05

    How do you handle tarps on a step deck?

    Same as flatbed: tarp type and drop confirmed, tarp pay as its own line. Tarping a tall piece on a step deck takes longer, so we account for that time.

  6. 06

    Can you build repeat lanes for me?

    That's the goal. When a broker's lane works well for you, we keep the relationship warm with clean paperwork and quick answers so the freight comes back.

  7. 07

    What if the load arrives taller than stated?

    Stop and call us before you leave the shipper. An over-height load without a permit is a safety and legal problem. We get the broker to fix the paperwork or arrange permits, or you leave it.

  8. 08

    Will you dispatch my step deck and flatbed together?

    Yes. Mixed open-deck fleets are common. Each truck gets its own lanes and rules, and brokers are told exactly which trailer is available for each load.

A note for Conestoga owners

A Conestoga sits between a step deck and a van: open-deck loading with a rolling tarp that closes like a curtain. It saves tarping time and protects freight that can't get wet, but its interior height is lower than an open step deck's, and the system adds weight. We list your interior clearance, side-load ability and the condition of the tarp system in your packet, and we check each load against those numbers rather than the trailer's open-deck heights. When a broker wants a Conestoga, we ask for the premium to show on the rate con.

Link 04Heights and legal limits

Loading heights and legal limits

The whole point of a step deck is height. Its lower deck sits closer to the road than a flatbed's, so taller freight can stay under the legal height without a permit. But there is no federal vehicle height limit . Each state sets its own, and a route that crosses several states is only as tall as its strictest one, plus any low bridges or local restrictions along the way.

Width is federal on the National Network: states may not set it above or below 102 inches . Anything wider needs permits from each state on the route. Gross weight on the Interstate is capped at 80,000 pounds with axle limits and the bridge formula , and heavy machinery can hit axle limits well before the gross limit.

Before you confirm a tall load, we check the freight height on top of your actual deck height for the specific route, not just the most common limit. If it's close, we ask the broker how the piece was measured and whether it sits on blocking or a pallet. If it's over in any state, the load needs permits, and we confirm who orders them and that the cost is on the rate con.

State weight and size rules vary more than most carriers expect. The truck weight limit checker lets you look up a state's limits before you take a heavy load. Your deck heights go in your carrier profile on day one, so every search starts from your real trailer.

Permit loads: what we confirm before you say yes

Permits are issued to the carrier by each state, with their own routes, travel hours and sometimes escort rules. On an oversize step deck load, we confirm the exact dimensions and weight, who orders the permits and pays for them, whether escorts are needed and who books them, what travel times the permits allow, and how much extra time the route adds. All of it goes on the offer, and the cost arrangement goes on the rate con. If the broker expects you to handle permits yourself, you'll know before you commit, along with a realistic estimate of the extra days.

Link 05Fee and questions

What step deck dispatch costs

7% of the rate con gross while your MC is under 6 months, 5% after, and 4% per truck for fleets of two or more. Lumper reimbursements excluded. Billed weekly on delivered loads, with no setup fee and no minimums. Full detail on what we charge, and the step by step on how we work.

Ready? Apply for step deck dispatch with your deck heights, ramps and gear.

In the first week we record your lower and upper deck heights, ramp type and rating, gear list and the freight you won't haul. Then we start with brokers already set up with you, add specialized desks in your lanes and send offers with every dimension and permit question answered.

Step deck dispatch FAQ

Questions carriers ask

How much does step deck dispatch cost?
The same as every trailer type: 7% of the rate con gross while your MC is under 6 months, 5% after that, and 4% per truck for fleets of two or more. Lumper reimbursements are excluded. There's no step deck or Conestoga premium, no setup fee and no minimum, and you can cancel with 30 days notice.
Do you dispatch Conestoga trailers?
Yes. Conestoga freight needs open-deck loading with weather protection, and fewer carriers run the equipment, so brokers who move it look for reliable Conestoga trucks. We list your interior height, side-load capability and tarp system condition in your packet, and we ask for the Conestoga premium to be shown on the rate con rather than buried in the rate.
What freight needs a step deck?
Freight too tall to ride legally on a standard flatbed: machinery, construction and farm equipment, tall crates, industrial components and some building materials. The lower deck sits closer to the ground, which gives extra height clearance under each state's limit. Ramps let some equipment be driven or rolled on. Exact fit depends on your deck heights and the piece's dimensions.
Do step deck loads pay more than flatbed?
Often the rates differ because fewer trucks can haul the freight and loading takes more care, but it varies by lane, season and load. We don't promise rates. What we do is compare each step deck offer against your cost per mile and the time the load really takes, including loading, securement and any permit delays, before it reaches you.
Do you handle permits for oversize step deck loads?
Permits are issued to the carrier by each state on the route. When a load is oversize or overweight, we confirm the dimensions with the broker, check who is ordering the permits and escorts, and make sure the cost and any route limits are on the rate con before you confirm. Many brokers arrange permits; if they don't, you'll know before you commit.
Can I choose my lanes?
Yes. On the first call you tell us the regions you run, the ones you avoid, your home time and your floor rate. We search inside those rules and send every offer for your yes or no. If a lane outside your rules pays unusually well, we may mention it, but nothing gets booked without your confirmation.

Tall freight, checked before it's offered

Heights, ramps, permits and terms confirmed with the broker. You make the call on every load.

Find my step deck freight

We work for this link

Carrier

Hauls the load under its own MC and signs the rate confirmation.

Paid by the broker (or through a factor) at the carrier rate.