Flatbed trucking is one of the most physically demanding and highly skilled segments of the transportation industry, and flatbed truckers are among the hardest drivers to recruit. 

Unlike dry van or reefer operations where the cargo is enclosed and the trailer does most of the work, flatbed drivers are responsible for active work at every stop: inspecting loads, selecting the right securement devices, applying chains, straps, and tarps, and verifying that every piece of cargo meets FMCSA load securement requirements before they move a single mile down the road.

That combination of physical effort, technical skill, and regulatory knowledge makes experienced flatbed drivers exceptionally valuable. It also makes them hard to find.

Flatbed drivers earn a 9 to 15% premium over standard dry van rates, with per-mile pay averaging $0.72 to $0.78 compared to $0.66 for general freight. Carriers running a flatbed division know that every open seat represents significant lost revenue, especially in 2026 where demand for flatbed freight remains strong across construction, data center buildouts, energy infrastructure, and manufacturing.

Flatbed transportation services are a critical link in the supply chain for any industry that moves specialized freight, oversized equipment, or building materials that cannot fit inside an enclosed trailer.

For carriers and recruiting teams responsible for filling flatbed trucking positions, this guide covers what makes flatbed driving different, what flatbed truckers look for when choosing a carrier, how to recruit both experienced flatbed drivers and new drivers transitioning into open deck freight, and how modern recruiting technology helps flatbed carriers fill seats faster.

What Makes Flatbed Trucking Different

Flatbed trucking involves hauling freight on open deck flatbed trailers, step decks, double drops, and other specialized trailer configurations that leave the cargo exposed to the elements and visible from every angle.

The types of freight flatbed drivers carry span a wide range of industries and commodity types: building materials and lumber, steel coils and structural beams, construction materials and heavy machinery, oversized freight like cranes, generators, and industrial equipment, oil field equipment and pipe, and manufacturing components that cannot fit inside an enclosed trailer.

Because the cargo rides on an open deck, flatbed drivers must properly secure every load using the appropriate securement devices for the commodity type and weight. FMCSA regulations require that the aggregate working load limit of the securement system must be at least half the weight of the cargo. For many flatbed loads, this means using a combination of chains, straps, edge protectors, corner protectors, and tarps to protect the freight during transit.

Load Securement Skills

Load securement is the defining skill that separates flatbed truckers from drivers in other segments. A flatbed truck driver needs to understand which securement devices are appropriate for each commodity type, how to calculate required tie-down strength based on cargo weight, how to apply chains and binders correctly on steel and heavy machinery, when and how to tarp loads to protect freight from weather and road debris, and how to inspect securement at every stop to ensure nothing has shifted during transit.

These skills take time to develop. Many carriers require a minimum of six months to two years of flatbed driving experience before they will hire a driver for their flatbed division. Carriers that invest in training programs for new drivers entering flatbed operations build a pipeline of talent that competitors who only recruit experienced flatbed drivers cannot access.

Physical Demands

Flatbed driving involves physical labor that dry van and reefer drivers rarely encounter. Tarping a load can mean climbing on top of the trailer, wrestling heavy tarps into position, and securing them in wind, rain, or extreme heat.

Loading and unloading often requires working alongside forklifts, cranes, and rigging crews at construction sites, manufacturing facilities, and lumber yards. Flatbed truckers need to carry and use their own securement gear, including chains, binders, straps, tarps, and edge protectors, which adds weight and physical handling to every load.

This active work component is what attracts many drivers to flatbed trucking. Drivers who prefer being physically engaged rather than sitting behind the wheel all day often find flatbed operations more satisfying. But it also means your recruiting messaging needs to be transparent about the physical requirements so candidates can decide whether the role is the right fit for their skills and preferences.

Safety and Compliance

Safety in flatbed trucking carries higher stakes because securement failures on an open trailer can send large freight onto the roadway. A load of lumber that shifts during braking, a steel coil that breaks free from its chains, or a piece of oversized freight that comes loose during transit creates immediate danger for the driver and everyone around them.

Carriers operating a flatbed division need drivers who take safety seriously at every stage: pre-trip inspections, load securement verification at origin and at every stop, compliance with hours of service rules, and awareness of route restrictions for oversized freight. Flatbed carriers that build a strong safety culture attract better drivers and retain them longer because experienced flatbed truckers want to work for operations that prioritize doing things right.

What Flatbed Truckers Look for When Choosing a Carrier

Recruiting flatbed drivers successfully requires understanding what this specific driver population values most. Their priorities differ from company drivers hauling dry van freight.

Pay That Reflects the Skill and Physical Effort

Flatbed truckers know their skills command a premium. The average flatbed truck driver earns more than drivers in enclosed freight segments, and experienced flatbed drivers with specialized skills in oversized freight, hazmat loads, or heavy haul operations can earn significantly more. Carriers offering competitive rates that acknowledge the physical demands, the securement expertise, and the additional time required for tarping and load securement at each stop will attract stronger candidates.

Pay structures vary across the industry. Some flatbed carriers pay per mile (CPM), others pay a percentage of line haul revenue, and some use hybrid models that include base pay plus commodity-based accessorial charges for tarping, oversized loads, or multi-stop deliveries.

Whether someone is a company flatbed driver on salary and benefits or a flatbed company truck driver paid per mile, be transparent about your pay structure on your website and in recruiting conversations so drivers can accurately evaluate the opportunity.

Quality Equipment and Gear

Flatbed drivers depend on their equipment every day. They want well-maintained trucks with adequate power for heavy flatbed loads, trailers in good condition with functional securement points, and access to quality tarps, chains, straps, and other securement gear.

Carriers that provide company-supplied tarps and securement equipment rather than requiring drivers to purchase their own have a meaningful recruiting advantage.

The condition of your flatbed trailers matters more than in other segments because drivers are physically working on and around the trailer at every stop. A trailer with bent stake pockets, worn deck boards, or damaged rub rails makes load securement harder and signals to experienced flatbed drivers that the carrier cuts corners on maintenance.

Consistent Freight and Strong Shipper Relationships

Flatbed freight is more project-based and seasonal than dry van freight, which makes freight consistency a top concern for flatbed truckers. Carriers with strong shipper relationships in construction, manufacturing, oil and energy, and building materials can offer drivers more consistent loads throughout the year.

Drivers want to know whether your operation has enough customers and freight volume to keep them running, especially during traditionally slower periods.

Regional flatbed operations and dedicated flatbed accounts can also be strong recruiting tools. Many experienced flatbed drivers have reached a point in their careers where they value predictable schedules and home time over maximum miles. Carriers that offer regional routes with consistent freight and reliable home time schedules attract drivers who might otherwise leave the flatbed segment entirely.

Training and Support for New Flatbed Drivers

The flatbed driver pool is limited, and many carriers compete for the same experienced drivers. Carriers that invest in flatbed training programs for new drivers and company drivers transitioning from dry van or reefer operations create their own talent pipeline rather than depending entirely on recruiting from a shrinking pool of experienced flatbed truckers.

Effective flatbed training covers load securement techniques for different commodity types, proper tarping procedures, safe use of securement devices including chains, binders, and straps, working safely around forklifts, cranes, and loading equipment, oversized freight permitting and route planning, and FMCSA compliance requirements specific to flatbed transportation.

Carriers like PGT Trucking and Schneider have built flatbed training programs that serve as competitive advantages in recruiting, allowing them to hire driver trainees and develop them into skilled flatbed drivers over time.

Referral Bonuses and Team Culture

Flatbed truckers talk to each other. They share experiences at job sites, at truck stops, and in online communities. A carrier with a strong reputation among flatbed drivers will generate organic referrals that no job board can match. Formalizing this through a referral bonus program (typically $500 to $2,000 per hired referral) turns your current drivers into your most effective recruiting channel.

The team culture at your flatbed division matters more than many carriers realize. Flatbed drivers face unique challenges that company drivers in other divisions do not experience. When flatbed truckers feel that dispatch understands the time required for proper load securement, that safety is genuinely prioritized over speed, and that the company values the specialized skills they bring, they stay. When they feel treated the same as a dry van driver with no recognition of the additional effort their job requires, they leave.

How to Recruit Flatbed Drivers in a Competitive Market

The flatbed driver talent pool is small and competitive. Carriers that rely solely on job boards and generic CDL driver advertising will struggle to fill flatbed positions. Here are the approaches that work.

Target Flatbed-Specific Channels

Advertise on platforms and in communities where flatbed drivers spend time. Industry-specific job boards, Facebook groups focused on flatbed trucking and open deck operations, and advertising at trade shows and construction industry events put your openings in front of drivers who already have the skills you need.

Recruit from Adjacent Segments

Experienced dry van or reefer company drivers who want more active work, better pay, and a change of pace can be strong flatbed candidates if your carrier provides training. Marketing your flatbed division as a career advancement opportunity for CDL drivers looking to build specialized skills and earn more money expands your candidate pool beyond the limited number of drivers who already have flatbed experience.

Lead with What Matters to Flatbed Drivers

Your recruiting messaging should speak directly to what flatbed truckers care about: pay that reflects the physical demands, quality equipment and securement gear, consistent freight from established shippers, a safety culture that supports doing the job right, and a team that respects the work flatbed drivers do. Generic "we're hiring truck drivers" messaging will not resonate with this audience.

Move Fast on Qualified Leads

Experienced flatbed drivers are in high demand. When a qualified flatbed truck driver expresses interest in your operation, speed to first contact determines whether they end up in your orientation or a competitor's. Every hour your team waits to follow up is an hour where that driver could be talking to another carrier with consistent flatbed freight and competitive pay.

How Double Nickel Helps Flatbed Carriers Recruit Faster

Recruiting flatbed truckers requires the same fundamentals as any driver recruiting, speed, communication, compliance, and data, but applied to a candidate pool that is smaller, more specialized, and harder to reach. Double Nickel gives flatbed carriers the tools to compete for this talent.

Engage Flatbed Leads Within Minutes

Double Nickel's AI Virtual Recruiter contacts new leads within minutes of their application, making outbound calls, verifying CDL qualifications and endorsements, answering initial questions about your flatbed operation, and scheduling a detailed conversation with your recruiting team. For flatbed carriers where every qualified lead is high value, that immediate engagement ensures drivers hear from you before they hear from a competitor. Organizations using Double Nickel consistently achieve over 80% lead contact rates.

Screen for the Right Experience and Qualifications

Background check integrations let your team order MVRs, PSP reports, and criminal checks with one click. Your recruiters can review a candidate's inspection history and driving record directly within the platform, identifying patterns relevant to flatbed operations, like securement violations or overweight infractions, before making a hiring decision. Results store directly in the driver's DQ file, keeping your fleet audit-ready from day one.

Maintain Compliance Across Your Flatbed Division

Double Nickel's DOT-compliant driver application captures all FMCSA-required data fields, federal and state releases, and driver consents with a single signature. The expirations dashboard monitors every document across your driver base in real time, flagging medical certificates, annual MVR reviews, license renewals, and other time-sensitive compliance documents before they lapse. For flatbed carriers where drivers operate in high-visibility, high-consequence environments, that level of compliance rigor protects both the driver and the carrier.

Build Relationships Over a Longer Recruiting Cycle

The Driver Communication Hub puts calls, texts, emails, recordings, transcriptions, and AI-generated conversation summaries in a single interface tied to each candidate. For flatbed recruiting, where the conversation often involves detailed discussions about freight types, securement expectations, equipment quality, and pay structures, having the complete history of every interaction in one timeline helps your team build the trust that experienced flatbed truckers require before they commit to a carrier.

Know Which Channels Produce Your Best Flatbed Hires

Pipeline analytics give your recruiting leadership source-level visibility into every stage of the funnel. Understanding which channels produce qualified flatbed drivers (not just general CDL leads) lets you allocate your recruiting budget toward the sources that actually fill flatbed seats.

Proven Results

Recruiters at Custom Transport (275+ trucks) are making 15 to 18% more calls with auto-dial and having quality conversations with over 70% of all their leads. Maverick Transportation (1,700+ trucks) saw a 13% increase in applications sent to processing and a 10% increase in weekly hires within 90 days.

Across the board, Double Nickel customers report a 20% reduction in cost to hire and more than 10 hours saved per recruiter per week. For flatbed carriers where every open seat represents premium revenue, those efficiency gains translate directly into more trucks on the road hauling freight.

The Bottom Line

Flatbed truckers are among the most skilled and hardest-to-recruit professionals in the trucking industry.

They bring specialized load securement expertise, physical endurance, and a level of hands-on engagement with freight that other driving segments do not require. Recruiting them demands a carrier that understands what flatbed drivers value, offers competitive pay and quality equipment, and can move quickly when a qualified candidate enters the pipeline.

The flatbed carriers that consistently fill seats are the ones that reach drivers first, communicate transparently about the job, screen thoroughly, and deliver on the commitments made during recruiting. That is what Double Nickel is built to support. If your flatbed division is ready to recruit experienced drivers faster and build a stronger talent pipeline for the future, it is time to see the platform in action.

Ready to fill your flatbed seats with qualified drivers? Book a call with the Double Nickel team today.