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The Open Deck Blog


Best chain and binder brands for flatbed securement in 2026
The best chain and binder brands for flatbed securement in 2026: US Cargo Control, Mytee, Peerless, VULCAN and B/A Products compared on grade and WLL.

OpenDeck
7 hours ago7 min read
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Best 1-ton trucks for hotshot trucking in 2026
Best 1-ton trucks for hotshot trucking in 2026: Ram 3500, Ford F-350 and the GM 3500HD twins compared on gooseneck ratings, payload and dually setups.

OpenDeck
7 hours ago6 min read
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FlatLoads alternatives for flatbed and hotshot loads in 2026
The best FlatLoads alternative for flatbed and hotshot loads in 2026 is OpenDeck for open-deck-only filtering. Compare DAT, Truckstop and 123Loadboard.

OpenDeck
7 hours ago6 min read
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Best flatbed tarp brands for steel and lumber hauling in 2026
Best flatbed tarp brands for steel and lumber hauling in 2026: US Cargo Control, Mytee Products, Cargo Equipment Corp, Cramaro and Harp's Tarps compared.

OpenDeck
1 day ago8 min read
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Best Conestoga trailer brands in 2026
Best Conestoga trailer brands in 2026: Lode King, Innovative Trailer Solutions, Cramaro and Shur-Co compared on curtainside builds and rolling tarp systems.

OpenDeck
1 day ago6 min read
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Best step deck trailer manufacturers in 2026
Best step deck trailer manufacturers in 2026: Fontaine, Transcraft, Landoll, Trail King and East compared on build, weight and deck design for haulers.

OpenDeck
1 day ago6 min read
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Best fuel cards for flatbed and hotshot owner-operators in 2026
Best fuel cards for flatbed and hotshot owner-operators in 2026: Mudflap, EFS, TCS, Fuelman and AtoB compared on discounts, network coverage and fees.

OpenDeck
2 days ago6 min read
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Best gooseneck trailer manufacturers for hotshot trucking in 2026
Best gooseneck trailer manufacturers for hotshot trucking in 2026: PJ Trailers, Diamond C, Load Trail, Big Tex and MAXXD compared on ratings, build and resale.

OpenDeck
2 days ago7 min read
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Best RGN trailer manufacturers for heavy haul in 2026
Best RGN trailer manufacturers for heavy haul in 2026: Fontaine, XL Specialized, Landoll, Trail King and Talbert compared on capacity, deck height and detach design.

OpenDeck
2 days ago7 min read
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Best pilot car and escort services for oversized loads in 2026
Best pilot car and escort services for oversized loads in 2026: Heavy Haulers, Wide Load Shipping, NTS and US Pilot Cars compared on vetting, coverage and pricing.

OpenDeck
3 days ago6 min read
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Best ELD devices for hotshot and flatbed trucks in 2026
Best ELD devices for hotshot and flatbed trucks in 2026: Motive, Samsara, Garmin eLog and ELD Rider compared on price, contracts and installs for open-deck rigs.

OpenDeck
3 days ago6 min read
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Best weigh station bypass apps for oversize trucking in 2026
Best weigh station bypass apps for oversize trucking in 2026: Drivewyze PreClear vs PrePass on price and coverage, and why permitted loads still pull in everywhere.

OpenDeck
3 days ago6 min read
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How much does trailer maintenance cost for flatbed carriers?
Calculate flatbed trailer maintenance cost from your own records. Separate repairs, reserves and downtime, include deadhead, and check federal inspection rules.

OpenDeck
4 days ago8 min read
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Step deck load planning: deck height, ramps and axle weight
Plan a step deck load in 2026: lower-deck height math, ramp and axle limits, machinery securement and the state height checks that decide the route.

OpenDeck
4 days ago5 min read
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RGN loading procedure for excavators and tracked machinery
How to load an excavator onto an RGN lowboy in 2026: ramp setup, one spotter, the half-the-weight tiedown rule and the road checks that keep it secure.

OpenDeck
4 days ago5 min read
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How should flatbed owner-operators price steel, lumber and machinery?
Price steel, lumber and machinery flatbed loads in 2026 from your own cost per mile, deadhead included, plus the securement time each load adds to the trip.

OpenDeck
4 days ago4 min read
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Is heavy haul trucking dangerous?
Is heavy haul trucking dangerous? Yes. Check machinery securement, axle weights, loaded height and permitted routes before your RGN or lowboy leaves the pickup.

OpenDeck
5 days ago9 min read
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DAT alternatives for flatbed and hotshot haulers in 2026
The best DAT alternative for flatbed and hotshot haulers in 2026 is OpenDeck for open-deck-only search. Compare Truckstop, 123Loadboard, Trulos and DAT pricing.

OpenDeck
5 days ago7 min read
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PickATruckload alternatives for flatbed owner-operators in 2026
The best PickATruckload alternative for flatbed owner-operators in 2026 is OpenDeck for open-deck alerts. Compare free boards, budget plans and DAT pricing.

OpenDeck
5 days ago7 min read
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Veritread alternatives for heavy haul and RGN loads in 2026
The best Veritread alternative for heavy haul and RGN loads in 2026 is OpenDeck. Compare bid marketplaces, permit boards and rate-data pricing side by side.

OpenDeck
5 days ago7 min read
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