Flatbed or Stepdeck

[Trevor Mansell]

Wich do you prefer and why?

[jim lyon]

Probably a step deck even though flatbeds are a little lighter. Step decks allow you to haul a bit more bulk and keep the weight a bit lower but it does take a little more figuring to get an even load. It isn't a huge issue for us, if I forget to ask we may not even know what we are getting until the truck arrives.

[Trevor Mansell]

The other night I loaded a Flatbed then a Stepdeck . I loaded both in the same night they drove the same way home ,and there were more dead bees on the stepdeck. The bees also seemed angrier . So Im wondering if the stepdeck gets the bees hotter or if the suspension was messed up and it beat them more.

[Tom G. Laury]

I always thought that with a lower center of gravity the steps were easier on the bees. With a smooth loading zone I can lift 4 pallets at once ( deep & shallow) on to a step while the straight trailers I would do 2 & 2. You can put more weight on a straight trailer. It's a longer fall from the top of a straight than from a step. I prefer step decks as they are easier to load.

[Nick Noyes]

I would say step decks ride a little hotter (less airflow). The driver has more to do with it than the trailer usually.