Tall machinery the step deck carries
The step deck, also called a drop deck, moves tall machinery and equipment that would clear too high on a flat deck. The two-level design drops the cargo lower to the ground, adding vertical clearance so taller loads travel legally without a height permit. Long Road runs this trailer as part of its oversize and heavy haul work and across its wider equipment fleet. Typical loads include:
- Machinery and industrial equipment
- Generators and tanks
- Crated equipment
- Structural steel and building materials
Step deck specifications
The trailer carries a 53' total length across two decks, an upper deck for shorter freight and a longer lower deck for the tall pieces. Its specifications:
- Total length: 53'
- Upper deck: 11' long at 4'8" deck height
- Lower deck: 42' long at 3' deck height
- Weight: 10,000 lbs
Step deck as a flatbed alternative
When a load stays within legal height, width, and weight, the step deck stands in for a standard flatbed. It handles standard deck freight the same way a flatbed does, and Long Road runs it on those loads once the customer confirms the cargo is non-overweight and non-over-dimension.
Call (425) 800-4609 for a 53' step deck that carries tall machinery and equipment under legal height, no height permit.
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Step deck specifications
| Figure | Flatbed | Step deck (ours) | RGN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total length | 53 ft | 53 ft | 53 ft |
| Deck height | 5 ft 1 in | Upper 4 ft 8 in · lower 3 ft | 1 ft 7 in – 2 ft |
| Deck layout | One level | Upper 11 ft · lower 42 ft | Well between neck and axles |
| Trailer weight | 13,020 lbs | 10,000 lbs | 15,000–31,000 lbs |
| Freight height before a permit | ≈ 8 ft 6 in | ≈ 10 ft | ≈ 11 ft 6 in – 12 ft |
| Loads without a crane? | No | Ramps, lighter machines only | Yes — drives on |
Flatbed vs step deck: how to choose in one question
How tall is the freight? That is genuinely the whole decision for most loads.
Under about 8 ft 6 in, take the flatbed. It is the cheapest open deck on the road and nothing about a step deck helps you.
Between roughly 8 ft 6 in and 10 ft, take the step deck. The lower deck sits about two feet closer to the road than a flat deck, and those two feet are usually the difference between a normal move and an over-height permit with a routed survey behind it. The trailer also weighs around 3,000 lbs less than our 4-axle flatbed, which goes straight back into payload.
Above 10 ft, or when the piece is too heavy to lift and has to drive on, you are past what a step deck can do and into RGN territory.
One thing shippers miss: the step deck is not only a tall-load trailer. Whenever the freight is within legal height, width and weight, it does everything a standard flatbed does. If it is the trailer that is available, it is the trailer that moves your load — no premium for the extra deck.
Frequently asked
What is a step deck trailer?
A step deck, also called a drop deck, is an open-deck trailer with two levels: a short upper deck over the kingpin and a longer lower deck that sits closer to the road. The drop buys vertical clearance, so taller freight travels inside legal height instead of needing an over-height permit.
What is the difference between a flatbed and a step deck?
Deck height, and nothing else that matters. A flatbed is one level at about 5 ft 1 in; a step deck drops to 3 ft on its lower deck. That gives roughly another eighteen inches of legal freight height. Both load from the side and top and both carry the same kinds of freight otherwise.
How tall a load can a step deck carry?
With the lower deck at 3 ft, freight of roughly 10 ft rides inside the legal height most states use. Taller than that becomes a permitted move, and at that point an RGN is usually the better trailer anyway.
Can machinery drive onto a step deck?
Lighter machines can, on ramps. But the deck does not reach the ground the way an RGN does once its gooseneck is removed, so anything heavy or awkward is loaded by crane or forklift — or moved to an RGN, which is what we would usually suggest.
Move your tall load with Long Road
Send your dimensions, weight, and delivery address, and Long Road matches the step deck to your load and plans the route. Call (425) 800-4609 or request a quote to get started.
- 2020 Asset-based since
- 200+ Private chassis & equipment
- 2 PNW ports, every terminal
- 3-acre Tacoma yard & depot
- 24/7 Capacity & repair shop
Call (425) 800-4609 with your dimensions and weight, and Long Road matches the step deck to your tall load.
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