Flatbed carriers, owner-operators, dispatchers, safety teams, and load planners
Flatbed Load Planning Toolkit
A free interactive flatbed load checklist and printable planning record for comparing all-mile economics and carrier-entered equipment fit while organizing cargo facts, securement review, route and permit questions, loading hazards, inspection timing, documents, and exception handling.
Interactive planning worksheet
Compare the move, cargo, and carrier-entered equipment.
Use the exact flatbed configuration and values the carrier would operate. The worksheet compares the entries and organizes review; it does not calculate required tiedowns or working load limits, determine legal size or weight, approve permits, certify securement, or decide whether the load should move. Commercial inputs remain in this browser. Analytics records only the result band, equipment-fit status, and checklist count.
Gate 1
Preserve the current cargo and source facts
A flatbed label does not establish the article count, dimensions, weight, center of gravity, loading method, securement method, or current availability. Keep source facts and unanswered questions attached to the decision.
Current source record
Record the authorized source, load ID, availability recheck time, locations, stops, appointments, contact path, rate, and every source restriction or unresolved item.
Cargo identity
Record commodity, piece count, individual and total weight, dimensions, packaging, orientation, shape, rolling or tipping tendency, center-of-gravity concerns, and declared condition.
Loading and unloading
Confirm crane, forklift, drive-on, side-load, rear-load, or other method; site access; appointment duration; driver-assist expectations; and who controls placement.
Unknowns stop the plan
Treat missing cargo, equipment, route, securement, permit, appointment, accessorial, payment, or contact facts as questions. Do not fill gaps with a typical flatbed assumption.
Gate 2
Compare the exact trailer and loading fit
Use records for the equipment configuration that would actually move the load. The interactive worksheet compares carrier-entered values only and does not determine legal or safe capacity.
Trailer configuration
Record trailer type, deck length and height, axle configuration, ratings, usable deck, headboard or bulkhead, rub rails, anchor points, ramps, dunnage, tarps, and carried equipment.
Available payload
Use current carrier records after tractor, trailer, fuel, driver, tools, chains, binders, straps, tarps, dunnage, and other carried weight. Preserve scale evidence when required.
Placement and distribution
Have qualified carrier personnel review article placement, axle and gross weight, concentration, balance, center of gravity, overhang, clearance, turning, and loading constraints.
Stop on mismatch
A cargo-weight or longest-piece mismatch requires equipment, placement, route, dimension, permit, and securement review. The worksheet does not authorize an alternative configuration.
Gate 3
Build the securement review from current rules and ratings
Securement depends on the actual articles, vehicle, structures, devices, ratings, arrangement, and applicable general and commodity-specific requirements. Do not use this page as a tiedown-count or working-load-limit calculator.
Applicable rule set
Review 49 CFR part 393, subpart I and any commodity-specific section that applies. Commodity-specific requirements can add to or supersede parts of the general method.
Devices and structures
Inspect tiedowns, chains, straps, binders, anchor points, front-end structures, blocking, bracing, chocks, wedges, cradles, dunnage, and protection for damage, weakening, markings, and proper use.
Qualified securement plan
Have qualified carrier personnel determine required devices, aggregate working load limit, article restraint, placement, direct or indirect attachment, blocking, bracing, rolling prevention, and edge protection.
No generic approval
A checked box records that review occurred; it does not prove the selected method, device rating, tiedown count, inspection result, or regulatory compliance.
Gate 4
Resolve route, permits, time, and whole-move economics
A workable securement concept is not enough. Confirm every jurisdiction, route restriction, operating window, cost, and carrier approval before the move is accepted.
Route and jurisdictions
Review origin, destination, intermediate jurisdictions, local roads, bridges, construction, grades, turns, clearances, weather, wind exposure, parking, and facility access.
Size, weight, and permits
Compare the actual loaded configuration with current federal, state, local, toll-road, and facility requirements. State and other authorities issue permits; this worksheet does not.
All-mile estimate
Use loaded miles, pickup deadhead, expected repositioning, the truck's operating cost per mile, and flatbed-specific costs such as tarps, dunnage, permits, escorts, loading help, tolls, scales, and parking.
Time and accessorials
Confirm appointments, loading and unloading time, tarping exposure, stops, detention evidence, layover, TONU, permits, escorts, driver assist, and reload effect.
Gate 5
Control loading, inspection, and driver handoff
Preserve what was actually loaded, secured, inspected, and communicated. The final configuration can differ from the source description and must be reviewed before departure.
Loading record
Record article placement, orientation, dimensions, weights, devices, anchor points, blocking, bracing, dunnage, tarps, edge protection, exceptions, loader, driver, and time.
Pre-departure inspection
Confirm cargo distribution and securement, vehicle components, tarps and equipment, visibility, movement, emergency access, and every carrier-required condition before the vehicle moves.
Reexamination plan
Plan the inspections and adjustments required by current 49 CFR 392.9 and any applicable exception, plus stricter carrier, commodity, permit, customer, or jurisdiction requirements.
Driver handoff
Provide the route and permit packet, inspection schedule, adjustment tools and supplies, weather and stop-work triggers, contact chain, document process, and escalation authority.
Gate 6
Record the carrier decision and actual result
This resource organizes the review; it does not approve securement, certify safety, issue a permit, or book freight. The authorized carrier retains the decision.
Carrier decision
Record approval, rejection, conditions, open questions, decision owner, time, exact equipment, and the source and documents reviewed.
In-transit exceptions
Preserve shift, looseness, damage, weather, route, permit, delay, securement, tarp, equipment, inspection, and communication events without rewriting the pickup record.
Delivery evidence
Record arrival, seal when used, securement and cargo observations, unloading condition, signed documents, photos when authorized, exceptions, and disposition instructions.
Planned versus actual
Compare miles, time, fuel, permits, escorts, loading, securement supplies, accessorial recovery, service, exceptions, and estimated versus actual cost.
Source and scope notes
This resource supports operating review. It is not legal, tax, insurance, accounting, safety, or financial advice, and it does not replace current source terms, professional review, or carrier approval.
Related workflows
Corrections and partner use
Link to this resource freely. For corrections, classroom use, accessibility formats, or a reviewed collaboration, contact LoadLadder with the exact section and proposed change.
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