Truckers are famous for their particular lingo, initially spread via CB radio in the days before cell phones and dealing primarily with spreading useful information about trucking and travel concerns to others on the road. But trucking companies also know the technical terminology, which makes a big difference to their clients, and this is particularly true in the realm of heavy hauling.

Victor Enterprises is a fully licensed and bonded trucking company based in New York, serving clients throughout the Rochester and Ontario areas and beyond. With over a decade of experience, they’ve learned that clients don’t always know the functional difference between a step deck and a flatbed trailer, so the experts explain a few of the terms associated with heavy haul trucking below.

What Is Heavy Hauling?

Most traditional trucking is built around the standard box trailer, which, true to its name, is a perfectly rectangular box on wheels or the flatbed trailer, which is a flat bed stretched across a set of wheels. However, certain loads are either too heavy or too large to be shipped via these containers, and the transport of these non-standard items tends to be referred to as heavy hauling.

What Is A Step Deck Trailer?

As compared to a flatbed, a step deck trailer is differentiated by a literal step, which drops the deck to a lower height immediately behind the rear wheels of the tractor. This allows the cargo to ride lower to the ground, giving the load a lower center of gravity and allowing taller loads to be safely shipped.

What Is A Lowboy?

A lowboy takes the step deck concept to its furthest extreme with a drop behind the rear wheels of the tractor and another in front of the rear wheels of the trailer. This allows the trailer bed to ride virtually at ground level and enables the transportation of even taller or unconventionally shaped loads like excavation machinery.

As an example, Victor Enterprises employs an eight-axle lowboy with a capacity of 55 to 60 tons, which is sufficient to move most commercially available equipment. Whether you have an unusual load or standard freight to transport in northern New York or beyond, contact the pros by visiting the website to learn more about all of the flatbed and step deck trucking services offered, or call (585) 742-2232 to discuss your haul.