Flatbed demand doesn't move in a straight line, though. According to FreightWaves' 2025 year-end flatbed market analysis, lumber futures spiked near a three-year high of about $695 per thousand board feet in August 2025, then slid to $590–$610 by late October as housing activity cooled. That volatility makes carrier selection even more important — shippers need partners who can scale capacity up or down without breaking a production schedule.
This guide ranks the ten flatbed trucking companies best equipped to serve Mississippi's industrial base, from Natchez-based regional haulers to nationwide heavy-haul specialists.
Key Takeaways
- Shipbuilding, aerospace, timber, and furniture manufacturing drive Mississippi's flatbed demand
- FMCSA safety scores and fleet diversity matter more than brand recognition alone
- Both asset-based carriers and brokerage networks can supply flexible flatbed capacity
- Heavy haul loads often need RGN, lowboy, or step-deck trailers, plus permits and escorts
- FAQs below cover flatbed costs, permit rules, and equipment selection
Overview of Flatbed Trucking in Mississippi's Logistics Industry
Flatbed trucking uses open-deck trailers with no roof or sides, loaded from the top, side, or rear. That flexibility makes it the go-to choice for freight that won't fit inside a dry van: steel coils, machinery, construction materials, and anything oversized or irregularly shaped.
Mississippi's industrial base depends heavily on this equipment type:
- Shipbuilding — Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula employs more than 11,000 people, making it the state's largest manufacturing employer and a steady source of heavy component freight.
- Aerospace and defense — Airbus Helicopters in Columbus has produced more than 1,800 aircraft, requiring precision transport of large assemblies.
- Furniture manufacturing — the Tupelo Furniture Market anchors a cluster of case goods, upholstery, and bedding producers across northeast Mississippi.
- Timber and forestry — the Mississippi Forestry Association reports more than 84,000 jobs and $4.42 billion in wages tied to the industry, much of it moving on flatbeds and log trailers.
- Chemical processing — refineries like Chevron's Pascagoula facility generate consistent project cargo and equipment freight.
Mississippi's port and highway infrastructure supports this freight base. The Port of Pascagoula handles roughly 32 million tons of cargo annually, including forest products, machinery, and project cargo. MDOT classifies I-20, I-55, and I-59 as Tier I freight corridors, linking Gulf Coast manufacturing to inland distribution points.
As shipper needs grow more complex, asset-based freight brokers are playing a bigger supplemental role, offering scalable flatbed capacity when regional fleets hit their limits. The list below ranks the ten flatbed carriers best positioned to serve Mississippi shippers today.
Top 10 Flatbed Trucking Companies in Mississippi
This ranking weighs fleet capability, verified safety data, geographic reach, and specialization, not just brand recognition or price quotes.
1. Sims Global Solutions
Sims Global Solutions is a nationwide, asset-based freight brokerage founded in 2010 and headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas. The company pairs its own heavy haul fleet with a network of more than 35,000 vetted truckload carriers, giving Mississippi shippers flexible access to flatbed and heavy haul capacity without relying on a single trucking company.
What sets it apart:
- SimsTrak TMS provides real-time tracking and consolidated billing across every shipment
- An in-house carrier procurement team vets partners before they touch a load
- 24/7 support and experience serving niche sectors like aerospace, defense, and material handling
| Service Type | Asset-based and brokered flatbed and heavy haul trucking |
| Coverage Area | Nationwide, including Mississippi and surrounding states |
| Key Differentiator | SimsTrak TMS with real-time tracking and 24/7 support |
2. Jordan Carriers
Jordan Carriers has hauled flatbed freight out of Natchez, Mississippi since 1992, giving it more than three decades of experience across the Southeast. The company runs dedicated flatbed and wind-energy divisions, a combination that reflects the state's mix of industrial and renewable-energy freight.
For Mississippi shippers, its biggest advantage is regional knowledge. Natchez-based dispatch means shorter deadhead miles and faster response on in-state pickups.
| Fleet Size/Equipment | Flatbed and wind-energy trailers; fleet size not publicly disclosed |
| Service Area | Southeastern United States |
| Specialization | Flatbed freight and wind-energy component transport |
3. Howard Transportation
Headquartered in Ellisville, Mississippi, Howard Transportation runs a 200-tractor flatbed fleet as a common carrier moving full-load industrial goods across the continental U.S. Its in-state headquarters puts it close to Gulf Coast shipbuilding and chemical-processing freight.
Howard's scale makes it one of the larger Mississippi-based flatbed operations, giving shippers more day-of capacity than smaller regional haulers can offer.
| Fleet Size/Equipment | 200 tractor/trailers, flatbed configuration |
| Service Area | Continental United States |
| Specialization | Full-load industrial goods |
4. Ace Doran
Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ace Doran has operated for more than 100 years and specializes in open-deck, step-deck, and heavy-haul freight across the continental U.S. and Canada. That longevity translates into deep experience moving steel, aluminum, wind-energy components, and heavy machinery, categories common to Mississippi's metal-processing and shipbuilding sectors.
Ace Doran is a SmartWay partner and promotes a safety-first program across its driver network, a useful signal for shippers moving oversized freight into Pascagoula or Columbus.
| Fleet Size/Equipment | Flatbed, step deck, and heavy-haul trailers |
| Service Area | Continental U.S. and Canada |
| Specialization | Steel, aluminum, wind energy, and heavy machinery |
5. Powell Transportation
Powell Transportation has run irregular-route flatbed service out of Columbia, Mississippi since 1993, with FMCSA records listing 75 power units and more than 70 trucks in active operation. The fleet regularly hauls wooden utility poles, metals, logs, beams, and lumber, a natural fit for Mississippi's forestry sector.
Powell's FMCSA safety rating shows Satisfactory, though the record dates to 2009, so shippers should confirm the live SAFER snapshot before tendering a load.
| Fleet Size/Equipment | 70+ trucks; FMCSA lists 75 power units |
| Service Area | Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest United States |
| Specialization | Utility poles, metals, logs, beams, and lumber |
6. Greenbush Logistics
Established in 2004, Greenbush Logistics runs a fleet of more than 400 lightweight flatbed trailers across the 48 contiguous states. The company was built to serve sister company Great Southern Wood, giving it direct experience with the timber and building-products freight flowing through Mississippi's forestry corridor.
This built-in demand base lets Greenbush move lumber and wood products at a volume most independent flatbed carriers can't match.
| Fleet Size/Equipment | 400+ lightweight flatbed trailers |
| Service Area | 48 contiguous states |
| Specialization | Timber, lumber, and building-products freight |
7. WTI Transport
WTI Transport has operated as an open-deck flatbed carrier out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama since 1989, covering the Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and Northwest. The company holds SmartWay partner status and TWIC access for secure-site deliveries.
WTI's safety record stands out — it was named a TCA Best Fleet to Drive For in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015, a recognition tied to driver retention and safety culture rather than marketing claims.
| Fleet Size/Equipment | Open-deck/flatbed fleet; size not publicly disclosed |
| Service Area | Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and Northwest U.S. |
| Specialization | General flatbed freight with secure-site delivery capability |
8. P&S Transportation
P&S Transportation, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, runs flatbed and specialized equipment nationwide with a focus on machinery, building materials, and over-dimensional freight. That mix makes it a solid fit for Mississippi's construction and industrial-equipment shippers.
The company emphasizes continual driver training and cargo-securement methods, along with regular equipment upgrades, factors that matter most when hauling materials that can shift in transit.
| Fleet Size/Equipment | Flatbed trailers and specialized heavy-haul equipment |
| Service Area | Nationwide |
| Specialization | Machinery, building materials, and over-dimensional freight |
9. Mercer Transportation
Mercer Transportation has coordinated flatbed and heavy-specialized freight since 1977 through a network of more than 1,700 leased owner-operators. Its equipment mix, flatbed, Conestoga, step deck, double drop, and RGN trailers, covers nearly every open-deck configuration a Mississippi shipper might need.
Mercer's safety culture runs deep: more than 450 of its owner-operators have logged over a million safe miles each, a benchmark the company has built its reputation around for nearly five decades.
| Fleet Size/Equipment | 1,700+ leased owner-operators; flatbed, Conestoga, step deck, double drop, RGN |
| Service Area | North America, Mexico to Alaska and California to Newfoundland |
| Specialization | Flatbed and heavy-specialized freight |
10. Bennett Motor Express
Part of the Bennett Family of Companies in McDonough, Georgia, Bennett Motor Express has operated for more than 50 years with a network exceeding 4,500 owner-operators running flatbed and step-deck equipment. Its reach extends across North America, including cross-border service into Mexico.
For Mississippi shippers with freight moving beyond state lines, Bennett's cross-border experience and security-cleared teams offer a practical option for legal flatbed and over-dimensional loads.
| Fleet Size/Equipment | 4,500+ owner-operators; flatbed and step deck |
| Service Area | North America, including cross-border Mexico |
| Specialization | Legal flatbed, over-dimensional, and heavy freight |
How We Chose the Best Flatbed Trucking Companies in Mississippi
Many shippers default to picking a carrier on price alone, then discover mid-shipment that the trucking company lacks the right trailer type or has a spotty safety record. That mistake gets expensive fast when a load sits waiting on the correct equipment or arrives damaged from inadequate securement.
We evaluated each company against five factors:
- FMCSA safety scores: a Satisfactory rating and clean crash history reduce the odds of delays or claims. Always confirm the live SAFER Company Snapshot before tendering a load, since ratings change over time.
- Fleet diversity: carriers offering step deck, RGN, and double-drop trailers alongside standard flatbeds can handle a wider range of freight without subcontracting.
- Years in business: longevity often correlates with established lane relationships and fewer onboarding surprises.
- Geographic coverage: carriers with Mississippi-based terminals or Southeast density typically offer faster pickup times.
- Customer feedback: repeat business and driver retention rates, like TCA's Best Fleet awards, signal operational consistency.
None of these factors alone guarantees good service. A carrier with a huge fleet but poor safety scores creates more risk than a smaller company with a clean record and the right trailer on hand. The strongest partners combine capacity with verifiable safety data shippers can check themselves.
Conclusion
Choosing a flatbed partner in Mississippi comes down to matching capacity and safety data to your actual freight, not chasing the biggest name on a list. A carrier that excels at hauling logs may not be the right fit for an oversized aerospace component, and vice versa.
Before signing a long-term contract, check whether the carrier can scale up during demand spikes and whether it offers real visibility into where your freight sits at any given moment. Those two factors matter more over time than a slightly lower rate quote.
If you're weighing options for flatbed or heavy haul capacity across Mississippi, Sims Global Solutions combines its own specialized fleet with a vetted carrier network. That combination, backed by SimsTrak tracking technology, gives shippers flexible access without sacrificing visibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is flatbed trucking and how is it different from other freight services?
Flatbed trucking uses open platform trailers with no roof or sides, loaded from the top, side, or rear. Dry van trailers are enclosed and typically loaded only from the rear at a dock, limiting them to freight that fits standard dimensions.
How much does flatbed trucking cost in Mississippi?
Pricing depends on mileage, load weight and dimensions, permit requirements, tarping needs, and current market demand. Because these variables shift by lane and season, request a specific quote rather than relying on a general estimate.
What types of freight require flatbed trucking?
Common flatbed freight includes construction materials, steel, heavy machinery, lumber, pipe, and oversized industrial equipment. Anything too tall, wide, or irregularly shaped for a dry van typically ships on an open deck instead.
How do I choose the best flatbed trucking company in Mississippi?
Check the carrier's FMCSA safety rating, confirm it has the right trailer type for your freight, and verify its service area covers your pickup and delivery points. Customer reviews and driver retention data add another layer of confidence.
Do Mississippi flatbed carriers handle oversized or heavy haul loads?
Yes. Many carriers and brokers serving Mississippi offer specialized heavy haul service using RGN, lowboy, and multi-axle trailers, along with permit processing and escort coordination for over-dimensional freight.
What permits are needed for flatbed trucking in Mississippi?
Mississippi requires permits for loads exceeding 8 feet 6 inches wide, 13 feet 6 inches tall, or 80,000 pounds gross weight. MDOT's permit manual outlines escort rules and fees, which carriers typically handle for shippers.
