Get to know the vital terms of Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
A flatbed is a type of truck or vehicle characterized by an open cargo area with no sides, roof, or any form of enclosing structure. Due to its open design, it allows great versatility and makes it perfect for carrying heavy, oversized, or large items that cannot fit inside an enclosed standard vehicle. Most industries use flatbed trucks due to their flexibility and ease of loading and unloading.
A flatbed truck is structured to be open and flat. This means that cargo may be accessible from all four sides. This feature supports loads that are large or hard to place inside an enclosed truck. Examples of such goods include heavy machinery, building materials, and large equipment.
Another great advantage of flatbeds is that they can handle all types of cargo, from construction equipment to large pipes, steel beams, and even vehicles. This makes it one of the best assets for the construction, agricultural, and manufacturing industries.
Since flatbeds are not enclosed with sides and a roof, they are known to load and unload quite fast and efficiently. Instead of using special equipment to stuff cargo into cornered areas, cranes or forklifts can lift heavy loads right onto the bed.
Although flatbeds do not have walls, they are still equipped with cargo-securing means such as straps, chains, and tarps that keep cargo tight so it does not shift during transport, especially over uneven or otherwise long, rough terrain.
Generally speaking, flatbeds are a great application in many industries as they provide an open design, but they can be used for large and heavy transportation of commodities. In view of the simplicity with access and adaptability, and therefore secure transport systems, it becomes an invaluable option to obtain oversized items efficiently and safely.