Flatbed trucking matters here because so much of what Ohio produces doesn't fit inside a box trailer. Oversized machinery, irregular steel shapes, and heavy equipment need an open deck, proper securement, and a carrier who knows what they're doing.
This guide ranks the top 10 flatbed trucking companies serving Ohio shippers today. You'll also get practical tips for picking the right partner, whether that's a dedicated carrier or a broker with access to a wider network.
Key Takeaways
- Ohio's manufacturing, construction, and steel sectors depend on flatbed capacity for oversized cargo
- Top carriers differ by fleet size, safety records, trailer variety, and technology adoption
- Freight brokers and 3PLs widen access to vetted flatbed capacity beyond one carrier's fleet
- This list blends Ohio-based carriers with nationally recognized names holding strong Ohio footprints
- The right fit depends on matching your commodity, route, and volume to a carrier's strengths
Overview of Flatbed Trucking in the Ohio Market
Flatbed trailers have no roof or walls, just an open deck typically running 48 to 53 feet long. A standard 5-axle setup can handle payloads in the range of 48,000 pounds, though actual capacity depends on tractor configuration, axle spacing, and federal bridge formula limits.
That open design is exactly why flatbeds move Ohio's heaviest freight:
- Steel coils and beams from the state's dense manufacturing corridor
- Construction materials like lumber, pipe, and precast concrete
- Heavy machinery too large or oddly shaped for enclosed trailers
- Oversized equipment requiring cranes or forklifts for loading
The demand is real. Ohio moved 1.038 billion tons of freight worth $1.240 trillion in 2018, with trucks handling nearly 59% of that tonnage, according to Ohio's Statewide Freight Plan. Truck tonnage is projected to climb another 33.5% by 2045.
Manufacturing reinforces that demand. Ohio's manufacturing GDP hit $133.16 billion in Q3 2023, ranking fourth among all states, per the Ohio Manufacturers' Association. Every ton of that output eventually needs a truck.
Here are the 10 flatbed carriers best equipped to handle that volume.
Top 10 Flatbed Trucking Companies in Ohio
Marketing spend has nothing to do with this list. These carriers were chosen based on fleet size, years operating in Ohio, safety records, trailer variety, and how deep their service footprint runs across the state. They're listed alphabetically, not ranked.
Ace Doran
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ace Doran has been hauling open-deck freight across Ohio for decades. The company focuses heavily on steel, aluminum, and infrastructure freight moving through the Midwest.
What sets Ace Doran apart is trailer variety. Beyond standard flatbeds, the fleet includes step decks, double drops, RGNs, multi-axle rigs, and extendables, giving shippers flexibility for wind energy components and oilfield equipment alongside routine steel loads.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters/Ohio Service Area | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Fleet Size & Trailer Types | 146 power units; flatbed, step deck, double drop, RGN, multi-axle, extendable, dovetail |
| Notable Specialization | Steel, aluminum, industrial machinery, wind and oilfield freight |
Fraley & Schilling
This carrier runs a terminal in Brilliant, Ohio, right along the state's eastern border. It's built a reputation on metal and building-material freight moving through the Ohio Valley.
Fraley & Schilling's fleet size stands out among mid-sized carriers, and the mix of flatbed and Conestoga trailers gives shippers weather protection options without sacrificing loading flexibility.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters/Ohio Service Area | Brilliant, Ohio terminal |
| Fleet Size & Trailer Types | 774 power units; flatbed and Conestoga trailers |
| Notable Specialization | Metal, lumber, building materials, machinery, construction |
Gypsum Express
Gypsum Express operates a terminal and maintenance shop in Shadyside, Ohio. As the name suggests, building materials are the company's bread and butter.
An older industry profile cited over 1,000 flatbed trailers in the fleet back in 2018, though current published figures put active power units closer to 550. Either way, this is a carrier built specifically around bulk and flatbed construction freight.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters/Ohio Service Area | Shadyside, Ohio terminal and maintenance shop |
| Fleet Size & Trailer Types | 550 power units; flatbed fleet |
| Notable Specialization | Metal, lumber, building materials, construction |
Kaplan Trucking
Kaplan is headquartered in Cleveland and operates through a network of more than 70 terminals. It's one of the larger flatbed fleets with deep Ohio roots.
The company runs both standard flats and flatbeds with sides, which matters for shippers moving pipe or loose building products that need containment without a fully enclosed trailer.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters/Ohio Service Area | Cleveland, Ohio; 70+ terminal network |
| Fleet Size & Trailer Types | 867 power units; standard flats and flatbeds with sides |
| Notable Specialization | Steel, aluminum, machinery, pipe, building products |
Mawson & Mawson
Mawson & Mawson has been in freight transport since 1895, and its terminal locator confirms an Ohio presence, even if the exact city isn't published on the site.
Air-ride flatbeds with sides are the company's signature equipment, offering a smoother ride for sensitive machinery loads compared to standard spring-suspension trailers.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters/Ohio Service Area | Ohio terminal listed (city not disclosed) |
| Fleet Size & Trailer Types | 250 power units; air-ride flatbeds with sides |
| Notable Specialization | Steel, aluminum, building materials, machinery |
Miller Transfer
Based in Rootstown, with additional terminals in Cincinnati and Cleveland, Miller Transfer leans into specialized freight rather than volume. This isn't the biggest fleet on the list, but the equipment variety is impressive.
Conestoga lowboys, curtainside flatbeds, stretch flatbeds, double drops, and multi-axle heavy haul trailers let Miller serve aerospace and power generation clients, industries most flatbed carriers don't touch.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters/Ohio Service Area | Rootstown HQ; Cincinnati and Cleveland terminals |
| Fleet Size & Trailer Types | 103 power units; Conestoga lowboy/drop deck, curtainside, stretch flatbed, step deck, double drop, multi-axle |
| Notable Specialization | Aerospace, power generation, industrial machinery |
Nick Strimbu Inc.
Nick Strimbu Inc. operates out of Brookfield, Ohio, and has built a solid regional reputation on flatbed and open-deck freight, with a secondary refrigerated division.
The fleet is mid-sized but focused. Metal, lumber, and building materials make up the bulk of what Nick Strimbu hauls across northeastern Ohio and surrounding states.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters/Ohio Service Area | Brookfield, Ohio |
| Fleet Size & Trailer Types | 135 power units; flatbed and open-deck |
| Notable Specialization | Metal, lumber, building materials, machinery, construction |
Ohio Transport Corp.
Ohio Transport Corp. lives up to its name, based in Middletown right in the state it serves. It's a smaller operation but carries deep local knowledge of Ohio lanes.
Flatbed and drop deck equipment cover most of the company's freight, with a particular focus on automotive parts alongside the usual steel and building-material loads.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters/Ohio Service Area | Middletown, Ohio |
| Fleet Size & Trailer Types | 168 power units; flatbed and drop deck |
| Notable Specialization | Steel, automotive, building materials, machinery |
PI&I Motor Express
PI&I is headquartered in Masury, with additional terminals in Cleveland, Middletown, and Canton, giving it one of the denser in-state footprints on this list.
Fleet size figures for PI&I aren't consistently published, but the company's entire identity revolves around one thing: steel and coil hauling, a niche that demands specific securement expertise.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters/Ohio Service Area | Masury HQ; Cleveland, Middletown, and Canton terminals |
| Fleet Size & Trailer Types | Undisclosed; dedicated flatbed fleet |
| Notable Specialization | Steel, coils, building materials, construction |
Watsontown Trucking
Watsontown runs a terminal in Columbus, putting it right in the heart of Ohio's central freight corridor.
The fleet mixes flatbed and open-top equipment, built specifically for metal and building-material freight rather than trying to be a jack-of-all-trades carrier.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Headquarters/Ohio Service Area | Columbus, Ohio terminal |
| Fleet Size & Trailer Types | 555 power units; flatbed and open-top equipment |
| Notable Specialization | Metal and building materials |
How to Choose the Right Flatbed Trucking Partner in Ohio
The most common mistake shippers make? Picking a carrier based on the cheapest quote alone. A mismatched carrier, one lacking the right trailer type or securement training for your commodity, can cause delays, damaged freight, or worse, a safety incident on the highway.
Match Equipment to Your Cargo
Not every flatbed is the same. Before booking, confirm the carrier has:
- Step decks for tall cargo that would exceed height limits on a standard flatbed
- RGNs for equipment that needs to drive directly onto the trailer
- Extendable trailers for unusually long loads like beams or pipe
- Multi-axle configurations for anything approaching maximum legal weight
Check Safety Practices Beyond a Website Claim
Ask for specifics, not just a general safety statement:
- Request their SAFER authority status and current safety rating (Satisfactory, Conditional, or Unsatisfactory)
- Ask about CSA percentiles across categories like Vehicle Maintenance and Unsafe Driving
- Confirm driver training on load securement and tarping for your specific commodity
- Review average equipment age, since older trailers can signal deferred maintenance
Evaluate Technology Honestly
A 2025 freight industry survey found that 16% of carriers still rely on spreadsheets and phone calls for coordination, while 61% report only partial automation. Don't take "we have GPS tracking" at face value. Ask for a live demo showing real-time position, ETA updates, and exception alerts before you sign a contract.
Why Partner with a Freight Broker for Flatbed Shipping in Ohio
Working with a single carrier means you're limited to that company's trucks, on that company's schedule. When Ohio's flatbed capacity tightens, particularly during construction season, that limitation gets expensive fast.
A freight broker or 3PL solves this by tapping a much wider pool of vetted capacity. Instead of hoping one carrier has an available truck, you gain access to a network built for flexibility.
Sims Global Solutions is a practical example. The company operates its own asset-based heavy haul division, running RGN, lowboy, double drop, and multi-axle trailers directly, alongside brokerage access to a network of 35,000+ truckload carriers. That combination matters:
- Owned equipment means fewer scenarios where a shipment gets turned away for lack of capability
- SimsTrak, the company's proprietary TMS, gives shippers real-time tracking and consolidated billing across Ohio and nationwide lanes
- 24/7 operational support, backed by a dedicated heavy haul team, handles permitting and route planning for oversized loads
- A+ rated supplemental cargo insurance adds protection for high-value flatbed freight beyond standard carrier liability
For shippers juggling tight timelines or unusually shaped freight, that blend of owned assets and broker flexibility often closes gaps that a single carrier simply can't.
Conclusion
Choosing the right flatbed partner in Ohio comes down to matching a carrier's equipment, safety record, and technology to the freight you actually move, not simply picking the biggest fleet on paper.
Before committing long-term, evaluate how a carrier performs over multiple shipments, not just one quote. Key questions to ask include:
- Pricing transparency across repeat loads, not just the initial quote
- Capacity to scale as your shipping volume grows
- Consistency in on-time delivery and communication
If you'd rather skip the vetting process entirely, Sims Global Solutions can walk you through a customized flatbed shipping quote or help source vetted carrier capacity across Ohio and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is flatbed trucking used for in Ohio?
Flatbed trucking moves cargo that can't fit inside an enclosed trailer, including steel coils, construction materials, industrial machinery, and oversized equipment common across Ohio's manufacturing corridors.
How much does flatbed trucking cost compared to dry van shipping?
Flatbed rates typically run higher due to specialized equipment and handling requirements. National spot averages hit $3.09 per mile for flatbed versus $2.52 for dry van in March 2026, according to DAT data reported by Transport Topics.
What certifications or qualifications should I look for in a flatbed carrier?
Confirm active DOT operating authority, a current CSA safety rating, and documented driver training on load securement and tarping procedures specific to your commodity type.
How do I find reliable flatbed carriers in Ohio?
Check industry directories, ask for referrals from other shippers, or work with a freight broker that maintains a pre-vetted carrier network. Brokers can save significant time during capacity crunches.
What is the difference between a flatbed carrier and a freight broker?
A carrier owns and operates its own trucks and trailers. A broker coordinates shipments across a network of carriers, matching your freight to the best available capacity and rate.
What size loads can a standard flatbed trailer carry?
Standard flatbeds typically run 48 to 53 feet long, with payload capacity around 48,000 pounds on a 5-axle setup, though actual limits depend on axle spacing and federal weight regulations.
