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About Flatbed Trucks

Flatbed trucks offer versatility for hauling wide and oversized loads, oddly shaped materials, and equipment that may not fit in a regular truck bed. The flatbed truck’s open platform allows easy loading and unloading of materials and equipment without the restrictions of a rear door or a fixed bed configuration. 

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2021 Ford F250 SD XL Flatbed Truck

Tree care and landscaping professionals benefit from flatbed trucks’ flexibility in hauling branches, tree trimmings, soil, fertilizer, equipment, and more. These trucks are also useful in transporting logs to sawmills and other processing facilities. Tie-down systems, straps, cargo nets, removable stakes, side rails, and other options help operators secure cargo for safe transport.

Flatbed Platforms

Flatbed trucks are available in multiple cab and bed sizes, with regular, extended, and crew cab options. Flatbed sides range from 10 to 24 feet (3 to 7.3 meters) long. Any loads longer than 24 feet are typically hauled using a flatbed trailer. The legal width of a flatbed platform in the U.S. and Canada is 8.5 feet (2.59 meters); wider loads are considered oversized and may require a permit to haul.

Many older flatbed platforms were made of wood, but manufacturers have developed stronger, more durable platforms using combinations of wood, aluminum, and steel. Flatbed truck beds are commonly constructed of heavy-gauge steel with durable wood or aluminum flooring. 

Flatbed trucks typically have a receiver hitch or another type of trailer hitch. Look for a gooseneck ball hitch for heavy-duty towing or a pintle hitch for rough terrain loads in industrial or agricultural settings.

Security & Safety Features

Generally, flatbeds don’t have sides but do have metal frames, dropsides, or stake pockets, offering extra stability for loads. Because flatbed trucks lack a cover, operators must ensure loads are properly strapped, chained, or roped down. Flatbed bodies also include steel headboards directly behind the cab to protect operators. 

Flatbed trucks accommodate front and rear overhangs for oversized and oddly shaped loads, although operators must use proper safety measures (such as flags and warning lights) and follow federal and state restrictions when hauling such loads. Many flatbed trucks include stake pockets and tie-downs for extra security.

Flatbed Truck Benefits For Tree Care & Landscaping

Flatbed trucks are practical—and often essential—vehicles for arborists, tree surgeons, tree trimmers, urban foresters, landscape designers, groundskeepers, and other tree and landscape professionals. These trucks are useful for hauling small and large trees, bushes, limbs, brush, debris, yard waste, and tools such as chainsaws and tree trimmers. 

Many flatbed trucks have under-body toolboxes for convenience. Many can also transport relatively small wood chippers, stump grinders, and log splitters.

Using a flatbed truck brings versatility to every work environment. The truck’s open platform allows easy access from any side of the bed. It facilitates loading and unloading by allowing cranes, forklifts, and skid steers with grapple or bucket attachments to place materials. 

Find The Right Flatbed Truck

Explore TreeTrader.com to find new and used flatbed trucks for sale from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Ram, and other leading manufacturers. Popular models include the Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F350, and Ram 3500.