Flatbed dispatch in Texas
Texas is the best flatbed state in the country, and the rate follows the rig count. Knowing that is the difference between a good year and a confusing one.
or $400/week flat
Flatbed in Texas is driven by two industries that rarely stop at the same time: energy and construction. Oilfield equipment, pipe, drilling components and frac sand move around the Permian Basin, the Eagle Ford and the Gulf Coast. Structural steel, precast, lumber and building materials feed a construction market in DFW, Austin, San Antonio and Houston that has been running hard for years.
Houston adds a third layer — port and petrochemical freight generating breakbulk, project cargo and oversize work that suits step deck and RGN as much as standard flatbed.
What we watch for you
- Rig count movement. Oilfield flatbed rates track drilling activity closely. When it drops, we shift you toward construction and building materials rather than sitting on energy lanes.
- Permian positioning. Midland and Odessa pay well inbound and can be difficult outbound. We plan the exit before the entry.
- Tarp pay as a separate line. Texas heat makes tarping genuinely hard work. It's negotiated on its own, never folded into the linehaul.
- Permits for oversize. Texas oversize permitting and route restrictions get built into the rate and the transit time before you accept.
- Securement checked against your gear. Coil, pipe and machinery all have specific requirements. We confirm against what you actually carry.
Answers
Flatbed in Texas — questions
Is flatbed good in Texas?
It's arguably the strongest flatbed market in the country. Energy freight around the Permian, Eagle Ford and Gulf Coast runs alongside a sustained construction market in DFW, Austin, San Antonio and Houston. Rates track drilling activity, so they move with the rig count rather than staying flat.
How much is flatbed dispatch in Texas?
8% of gross linehaul, or $400 per truck per week flat — the same as our national flatbed rate. Tarp pay, detention, permit reimbursement and fuel surcharge are yours in full and never included in the percentage.
Do you handle Texas oversize permits?
Yes. We coordinate Texas state permits, route restrictions and escort requirements where needed, and the permit cost and additional transit time go into the negotiated rate before you accept the load.
Running flatbed out of Texas?
Send your MC number and your lanes. We'll pull live loads you could take this week and show you the rates first.