Step deck dispatch for freight that's too tall for a flatbed
A step deck earns its money on freight other trailers can't take legally: tall machinery, equipment that drives on, loads that would need a permit on a standard flatbed. Run a Conestoga and you add freight that has to stay dry. Our step deck dispatcher looks for exactly that freight and sends every load to you to confirm or pass.
License line
Step deck, flatbed or Conestoga: Class A
No endorsement for general freight. States can add requirements.
Source: 49 CFR 383.91(a)(1) · checked Oct 2026
Hiring a step deck dispatcher vs doing it yourself
Plenty of step deck owner-operators book their own freight, especially once they have regular shippers. Here's an honest look at what each way costs you, so you can decide where your time is worth more.
| Job | Doing it yourself | With our desk |
|---|---|---|
| Finding step deck freight | Searching boards for loads that need a drop deck, between drives | We search boards and contacts for tall and drive-on freight |
| Checking dimensions | You confirm every load fits height and weight limits | We check height, width and weight against your deck before offering |
| Permits and escorts | You learn each state's rules and order permits | We route it, order permits and price escorts into the rate |
| Tarp and securement pay | You remember to ask, or don't get it | Asked for and written on the rate con every time |
| Cost | Your hours and a board subscription | 5% of gross (7% for a new MC), only on hauled loads |
| Who says yes | You | Still you, on every offer |
What a step deck week looks like from the desk
Equipment loads rarely come from a dock with an appointment system. They come from job sites, dealers and rental yards, where someone has to be there with a loader or the keys. So before an offer reaches you we confirm who loads it, whether ramps are needed, the exact dimensions and weight, and whether the delivery site can take a trailer your length. Then we look for the reload near the delivery, because job sites are rarely next to the next load.
When DIY makes more sense
You have steady direct shippers, you enjoy negotiating, and you have time between loads to work the phones. In that case a dispatcher may cost more than it adds.
When a dispatcher earns the fee
You're new to drop-deck freight, you're losing loads to permit and routing questions, or you're spending driving hours on the phone. That's time a step deck dispatcher gives back.
Step deck vs flatbed vs Conestoga: which trailer fits your freight
Choosing equipment is the biggest decision a new open-deck owner-operator makes, and it decides which brokers call you. Pick the freight you want to haul and the trailers that fit it light up. Heights are typical figures; check your own trailer's specs, and remember that most states cap total height at 13 ft 6 in.
On rates: the national reports we use publish flatbed averages, not separate figures for step decks or Conestogas. For context, the national flatbed spot average for June 2026 was $3.69 a mile including fuel and $2.94 without it. Specialized loads often pay above that average because fewer trucks can take them.
Source: DAT Freight & Analytics, national averages for June 2026 (released July 9, 2026) · checked Oct 2026
Best fit for your picks: Step deck.
| Compare | Flatbed | Step deck | Conestoga |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck height (typical) | About 5 ft | About 3.5 ft on the lower deck | Flatbed or step deck base |
| Freight height before oversize (typical) | About 8.5 ft | About 10 ft on the lower deck | Less than the base trailer, due to the frame |
| Physical work | Straps, chains, heavy tarps | Straps, chains, ramps; tarps less often | Sliding tarp system; little manual tarping |
| Freight it's built for | Steel, lumber, building materials | Machinery, equipment, tall loads | Weather-sensitive flatbed freight |
| License | Class A | Class A | Class A |
Legal limits that shape step deck work
102 inches (8.5 ft) maximum width on the National Network; 80,000 lb gross on the Interstate System (or less where the bridge formula says so), 20,000 lb on a single axle and 34,000 lb on a tandem. Height isn't set federally; most states cap it at 13 ft 6 in and some allow 14 ft. Anything over a limit needs a permit.
Source: 23 CFR 658.15(a) · checked Oct 2026
Source: 23 CFR 658.17(b)-(d) · checked Oct 2026
Buying your first drop deck? Ask these first
- Lower and upper deck lengths, and the deck heights loaded
- Ramp type and rating, if any, and whether a Conestoga kit fits it
- Axle spread, which affects how much weight each axle group can legally carry
- Winches, stake pockets and rub rail for your securement setup
Leaning toward a standard deck? See flatbed dispatch. Hauling loads that exceed legal size? See oversize load dispatch for permits, escorts and heavy haul.
Conestoga dispatch and step deck fees, same as every truck
7% of gross while your MC is under 6 months, 5% after, 4% for 2 or more trucks (limited time). Specialized trailers don't pay a higher percentage with us. No setup fee, no contract, and nothing when you don't haul. Pricing and terms.
Every load comes to you first with dimensions, weight, securement and tarp details. Say yes or no; on a yes, the broker sends the rate con to you directly.
We dispatch owner-operators and small fleets with their own authority, so if you drive a company step deck, your carrier dispatches you. If you're planning to buy your own, the equipment table above is a good place to start.
Is step deck better than flatbed for owner-operators?
Neither is better across the board. A step deck carries taller freight without permits and handles machinery that drives on with ramps, which flatbeds can't do as easily. A flatbed has a longer usable deck and fits more steel, lumber and building materials. The best choice depends on the freight in your lanes; the chooser above helps you compare.
Do you handle oversize permits?
Yes, when a load is over legal width, height, length or weight. We plan the route, line up state permits and escorts where the rules require them, and get those costs into the rate before you accept. Most step deck loads are legal size, but tall machinery often isn't.
Do Conestogas get better rates?
Often a little, because a Conestoga protects freight from weather without tarping, and some shippers ask for one by name. The trailer also costs more to buy and maintain, and it carries less height and weight than an open deck. Whether the premium pays depends on how often your lanes call for it.
Can you dispatch a step deck with ramps?
Yes. Ramps open drive-on freight like tractors, skid steers and other equipment that a forklift can't load. Tell us the ramp rating and length, and we'll match equipment loads to it and confirm the shipper has someone to load and unload it.
What does a step deck dispatcher need from me?
Your trailer's deck lengths and heights, whether you have ramps or a Conestoga kit, your securement gear and tarps, payload after fuel and gear, and whether you'll take oversize. With those, we only bring you loads your trailer can legally carry, and you still confirm each one.
Dispatch my step deck on tall and drive-on freight
Apply in about 2 minutes. Tell us your deck heights, ramps and Conestoga kit. Every load comes to you first.