What a flatbed can and cannot handle for heavy equipment
A standard flatbed trailer sits 48-54 inches off the ground when loaded. Adding even a compact piece of construction equipment brings the total load height to 9-11 feet in many cases. The legal height limit on most roads is 13 feet 6 inches, which means there is a limited margin before height permits are required.\n\nEquipment that typically works on a standard flatbed: compact track loaders and skid steers in the travel position with bucket lowered, small utility tractors, most attachments (buckets, forks, auger units), and generators or light towers.\n\nEquipment that typically requires a lowboy: excavators of any significant size (the raised cab and boom configuration exceeds flatbed height limits on most machines), bulldozers and motor graders (excessive height and often excessive weight), wheel loaders with raised arms, and any machine where the operating height minus the boom lowering clearance still exceeds available height margin.
The lowboy advantage for tall and heavy machines
A lowboy trailer solves the two primary constraints that limit flatbed transport of construction equipment: height and weight.\n\nHeight: A lowboy deck sits 18-24 inches off the ground versus 48-54 inches for a standard flatbed. This 24-30 inch reduction in deck height directly translates to additional clearance for tall machines. An excavator that would exceed legal height on a flatbed typically loads within legal limits on a lowboy.\n\nWeight: Standard flatbed trailers are typically rated for 40,000-48,000 pounds payload. A heavy-duty lowboy rated for 80-120 tons handles machines that no flatbed can legally carry. For large excavators and heavy dozers, the lowboy is the only option.\n\nLoading: Lowboys have a loading advantage for equipment that cannot be driven over a standard flatbed ramp. The detachable gooseneck design allows the front of the deck to lower nearly to ground level, letting machines drive on without the steep ramp angle that standard flatbeds require.
Height and weight calculations before choosing transport
Selecting the right transport starts with accurate machine dimensions — not estimates.\n\nHeight in transport configuration: Measure the machine height with the boom, arm, and bucket fully lowered to the lowest travel position. For excavators this means boom down, arm extended forward, and bucket curled. This is the minimum transport height and what determines whether a flatbed or lowboy is required.\n\nWeight confirmation: Use the machine GVWR rather than the operating weight. The GVWR includes the maximum rated load; using operating weight understates the true load if the machine is fitted with heavier-than-standard attachments or fluids.\n\nTrailer deck height: Confirm the specific trailer deck height with the transport operator rather than assuming. Trailer deck heights vary by manufacturer and age. A transport operator who says they have a flatbed should be able to tell you the deck height in inches so you can calculate whether your machine fits within legal height limits.
Cost difference between flatbed and lowboy transport
The cost difference between flatbed and lowboy transport reflects the equipment investment and operating cost difference between the two trailer types.\n\nA standard flatbed transport for compact equipment typically costs $250-500 for a local move. This assumes a gooseneck or bumper-pull equipment trailer pulled by a heavy-duty pickup or medium-duty truck — the most common configuration for small contractor equipment.\n\nA lowboy transport for mid to large equipment starts at $500-800 for a local move and increases with machine size and complexity. The Class 8 truck and heavy lowboy trailer combination has higher capital and operating costs that are reflected in the base rate.\n\nFor construction companies managing transport costs, the decision to use a flatbed when a machine technically fits — avoiding the lowboy premium — is worth making when the height and weight calculations confirm safety and legality. Never use a flatbed to save money when the machine requires a lowboy — the liability for damage or a weight violation citation far exceeds the cost difference. See construction equipment towing costs for the full rate context. See the complete construction equipment towing methods guide. See how construction companies manage equipment transport.