How should flatbed owner-operators price steel, lumber and machinery?
A flatbed rate is only a good rate after it covers the whole trip. A steel, lumber or machinery load that pays well per loaded mile can still lose money once the empty miles, tarp work, securement time and permits are counted. OpenDeck, powered by Load Work, wrote this guide for owner-operators pricing flatbed loads in 2026, starting from your own cost per mile rather than a board's posted number.
TL;DR
Price a flatbed load against your own cost per mile first, then against the market rate on that lane.
Deadhead miles belong in your cost: divide total trip cost by loaded miles to find break-even.
Steel coil, lumber bundles and machinery each carry their own federal securement rule and time cost.
Quote tarp, securement and detention as separate lines so the rate covers the work.
Start with your own number in 2026: cost per mile
Your break-even is your total running cost divided by every mile you drive, empty miles included. Fixed costs such as the truck payment, insurance, ELD and load board sit in that total, along with running costs such as fuel, tires, maintenance and tolls.
Illustration with example figures, not market data: say your costs come to 2.00 per mile across all miles.
Load: 500 loaded miles, then 150 deadhead miles to the next pickup.
Total miles: 650. Total cost: 2.00 x 650 = 1,300.
Break-even per loaded mile: 1,300 divided by 500 = 2.60.
A load that pays 2.60 per loaded mile covers its share of the empty miles and nothing more. Every dollar above that is margin before any tarp or securement pay you negotiate separately. Run the same math with your own cost sheet before you accept a single load.
What each commodity adds to the trip
Freight | Federal securement rule | What it adds to the trip |
Steel coil | 49 CFR 393.120, metal coils | At least one tiedown over the top of each coil, and tiedowns that stop movement forward, rearward and sideways. |
Dressed lumber in bundles | 49 CFR 393.118, dressed lumber and similar building products | Its own tiedown rules for bundles, on top of the general rules. Plan the strap count and tarp time before you quote. |
Machinery on wheels or tracks, 10,000 lbs or more | 49 CFR 393.130, heavy equipment | Tiedowns with an aggregate working load limit of half the machine's weight, edge protection and a longer loading process. Often needs a different trailer. |
Each row adds time before the truck moves, and time is a cost. A rate quoted without rigging time only works if you rig faster than the job takes, and no one can promise that. Tarp ballooning eats both tarps and hours; How to prevent flatbed tarp ballooning and tearing covers the field fixes.
Price the rigging as its own line
Steel coil, lumber bundles and machinery each add time before the truck moves. Ask for tarp pay and rigging pay as separate lines on the rate confirmation, so the mileage rate is not carrying the labor. OpenDeck, powered by Load Work, shows the commodity and load details on each open-deck listing, so you can price the rigging before you call the broker.
Check the loop, not only the load
A load that clears your break-even on paper can still lose money if the next reload is a long deadhead away. Count the empty miles to your next load in your cost per mile before you accept.
Common pricing mistakes for flatbed owner-operators in 2026
Quoting loaded miles only. A rate per loaded mile hides the empty miles to the next load. Divide the whole trip cost by loaded miles, as shown above.
Doing tarp work for free. Tarping a commodity load takes real time and wears out tarps. Ask for it on the rate confirmation.
Ignoring the reload. A steel or lumber load that pays well can drop you in an area with thin open-deck freight. Check what is likely to come out of the delivery area before you accept.
Forgetting the permit. An oversize or overweight steel or machinery load may need a state permit, and the permit cost and time belong in the rate.
Using the posted rate as your rate. The posted rate is what the broker offers. Your rate is the number that clears your own break-even.
Pricing checklist for steel, lumber and machinery
Run these seven steps in 2026 before you accept any steel, lumber or machinery load:
Your total cost per mile, fixed and running costs together.
Total miles: loaded miles plus the deadhead to your next load.
Break-even per loaded mile: total cost divided by loaded miles.
Rigging time for the commodity: coil racks and straps, bundle tarps, or machinery tiedowns and blocking.
Tarp and securement pay as separate lines on the rate confirmation.
Permits, if the load needs one, priced in.
Only then compare the offered rate to your break-even.
FAQ
How do I calculate break-even per loaded mile?
Divide your total trip cost, loaded and deadhead miles together, by the loaded miles. In the example above, 1,300 divided by 500 loaded miles gives 2.60 per loaded mile.
What rate should a flatbed owner-operator take?
The rate that clears your own break-even, deadhead included. Calculate that from your cost sheet first, then compare the lane's rate against it.
Is tarp pay standard?
No. It varies by broker and by load. Get it written on the rate confirmation before you tarp.
Should securement be priced separately?
Yes. Coil, bundle and machinery securement adds straps, chains, corner protection and time, and the rate has to cover all of it.
Do steel coils follow different securement rules?
Yes. Steel coils follow the metal coil rules in 49 CFR 393.120, which require at least one tiedown over the top of each coil and tiedowns that stop movement in every direction.
Where do I find flatbed steel and lumber freight?
On OpenDeck, powered by Load Work, which lists open-deck loads by trailer type. Plans and pricing are on the OpenDeck pricing page, and signup finishes inside Load Work.
One last thing
Before you accept a steel or lumber load, ask the broker for the commodity weight and the number of coils or bundles. Those two numbers set the securement count and the tarp time, and a rate that does not cover both is a load to pass on.
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