Flatbed Reload Alerts After Delivery: OpenDeck Setup
A flatbed reload search should start before the receiver pulls the last strap. OpenDeck, powered by Load Work, lets owner-operators and small fleets filter open-deck freight by trailer type, weight and length, then set email and SMS load alerts around a home ZIP and radius. It does not automatically post your truck’s capacity when a delivery closes.
TL;DR
OpenDeck does not automatically post truck capacity after delivery.
Use equipment filters for flatbed, hotshot, step deck, drop deck, RGN, lowboy or gooseneck freight.
Set load alerts around your home ZIP and chosen radius, then use the board to check the delivery market before unloading.
Pro includes up to 25 trucks and five users; Enterprise includes unlimited trucks and users.
What OpenDeck actually does after a flatbed delivery
OpenDeck is a freight discovery tool, not a dispatch system. It does not read a proof of delivery, change a truck’s status or advertise empty capacity to brokers.
The useful post-delivery workflow is simpler:
Set the trailer type, available deck length and weight capacity.
Use the load board to check freight that fits that equipment.
Set alerts around the ZIP and radius you want to watch.
Review the broker details and contact information.
Call the broker on freight that fits the truck, trailer and route.
That keeps the driver in control. A delivered load does not always mean the truck is ready. The deck may need repairs, tarps may need to dry, the driver may be out of hours or the trailer may be changing before the next pickup.
Set the trailer before you search
Open-deck equipment is not interchangeable. A standard flatbed, step deck, double drop, RGN and 40-foot gooseneck can all show different usable deck heights, lengths and payload limits.
Set the equipment to the trailer that will handle the reload. Then enter the weight and length that truck can legally and safely take. OpenDeck uses those details to filter out freight that does not fit.
Check these numbers before calling:
Trailer type: flatbed, hotshot, gooseneck, step deck or the applicable open-deck setup.
Usable deck length: the actual clear deck available after toolboxes, ramps and other equipment.
Weight capacity: the legal payload available after the truck, trailer, fuel and gear are counted.
Freight dimensions: length, width and height after loading.
Required gear: tarps, ramps, coil racks, chains, binders, dunnage or edge protection.
A filtered result is still not a legal approval. Confirm the freight dimensions, route, axle weights, securement and permit requirements with the broker before booking.
Use the delivery market as a reload market
A home ZIP alert is useful for regular lanes, but it does not move automatically with the truck. If a flatbed delivers in another market, search that area directly and adjust the alerts you want to receive.
For example, a truck delivering steel into Birmingham may need to compare freight around Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Huntsville before deciding where to reposition. A hotshot delivering machinery near Dallas may watch a wider radius than a flatbed that needs to stay close to a scheduled pickup.
Use a radius that matches the truck’s real deadhead limit. A 200-mile alert is not useful if the rate cannot carry 200 empty miles.
Set the search area to the market you are willing to deadhead into. OpenDeck does not move the alert automatically.
Set email and SMS alerts
OpenDeck’s Pro and Enterprise plans include unlimited load alerts with email and SMS delivery. Alerts are built to surface matching freight without forcing the driver or dispatcher to refresh the board all day.
Build separate alerts when the equipment or operating area changes. Keep the filters tight enough that the message is worth opening.
A useful flatbed alert includes:
The correct trailer type.
The maximum freight weight.
The usable deck length.
A ZIP and radius covering the intended market.
The lane or area the truck is willing to run.
Do not treat an alert as a booking. It tells you matching freight posted. The driver or dispatcher still checks the load details, broker information, rate, deadhead, securement and schedule.
Check the broker before you call
OpenDeck shows broker ratings and contact details so the carrier can review the company before making the call. Use that information with the freight details, not instead of them.
Confirm:
Broker name and contact information.
Pickup and delivery locations.
Appointment times.
Commodity and accurate dimensions.
Weight and loading method.
Tarp, ramp and securement requirements.
Rate and payment terms.
Any permit or escort responsibility.
If the posting lacks the dimensions needed to confirm fit, ask before accepting the load. “Machinery” is not enough information for a step deck or RGN decision.
Plan access for a small fleet
The two OpenDeck plans are Load Work Pro and Enterprise.
Plan | Monthly price shown on OpenDeck | Users | Trucks | Daily load views | Alerts |
Pro | $109 | Up to 5 | Up to 25 | 12,000 | Unlimited email and SMS |
Enterprise | $249 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 15,000 | Unlimited email and SMS |
Both plans also list the Deadhead Optimizer, finance and insurance partners, Load Work Academy, priority email and phone support, and a dedicated account manager.
For a one-truck operation, Pro provides enough truck and user capacity. Enterprise is built for fleets that need unlimited trucks and users. OpenDeck does not offer the Essential plan because this site is limited to the Pro and Enterprise path for open-deck carriers.
Build a reload routine that matches the platform
Use this routine before each delivery:
Confirm which trailer will be available after unloading.
Check the remaining legal payload and usable deck length.
Search the delivery market and nearby freight markets.
Set or adjust the ZIP-radius alert manually.
Review matching freight and broker details.
Calculate deadhead before quoting the lane.
Call the broker and verify the load.
Turn off or change alerts that no longer match the truck’s position.
This is not automatic capacity posting. It is a controlled reload search using verified OpenDeck features.
FAQ
Does OpenDeck automatically post my flatbed truck as available after delivery?
No. OpenDeck does not read delivery status or automatically post truck capacity. Drivers and dispatchers use the load board, equipment filters and alerts to find the next load.
What can I filter on OpenDeck?
OpenDeck states that carriers can filter freight by trailer type, weight and length.
How do OpenDeck load alerts work?
Set alerts around a home ZIP and chosen radius. Pro and Enterprise include unlimited alerts delivered by email and SMS.
Does OpenDeck book the load for me?
No. Review the broker details and contact information, then call the broker to confirm and book the load.
Can I use OpenDeck for more than one truck?
Yes. Pro includes up to 25 trucks and five users. Enterprise includes unlimited trucks and users.
Does an equipment match mean the load is legal for my truck?
No. Confirm payload, dimensions, axle weights, securement, route and permit requirements before booking.
Find the reload without inventing an automation
OpenDeck helps an open-deck carrier narrow the board, watch a chosen area and contact the broker. The driver or dispatcher still decides when the truck is empty, where it will reload and which freight fits.
Compare OpenDeck plans
Review Load Work Pro and Enterprise for open-deck freight, equipment filters and email or SMS load alerts.
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