If you’re in the business of manufacturing construction materials, machinery, or other heavy load items, flatbed carriers are the most efficient way to get your products where they need to go. We looked at areas like pricing, safety, fleet size, and customer feedback for leading Montana flatbed trucking companies and found K & K Trucking Montana, LLC to be the top pick.
Flatbed Shipping Services & Transport in Montana
Why Trust FreightWaves Ratings?
There’s a reason we’re one of the world’s leading authorities on the global freight market. Our expert team has an in-depth understanding of the industry and is up-to-date on employment trends, regulations, and other insights into the trucking workforce.
We conduct thorough research and data analysis to develop our recommendations for the best trucking companies in Montana. Every Montana trucking firm is closely scrutinized based on its service range and capabilities. Our team also verifies companies’ safety records and regulatory compliance and looks at what real users have to say about their experience.
From there, we narrow our focus to select only those top-performing and highest-rated firms to give you an informed and up-to-date list of the best trucking companies in Montana for your commercial shipping needs.
K & K Trucking Montana, LLC
5100 49th St Sw, Great Falls, MT, 59404- Fleet size: 1 to 10
- Fleet age: 5 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
Cargo Types
- Beverages
- Building materials
- Dry bulk commodities
- Produce
- General
- Livestock feed
- Meat
- Refrigerated food
- Paper products
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
K & K Trucking Montana, LLC (DOT: 3762743) is a reputable trucking company founded in 1979, specializing in diverse cargo transport across state lines. They offer full and partial truckload services, leveraging their fleet to handle a wide range of freight types, including general freight, refrigerated foods, beverages, building materials, grain, feed, hay, dry bulk commodities, meat, and paper products.
Renowned for their reliable reefer services, K & K Trucking Montana ensures products stay fresh during transit. Though the company has experienced one crash injury, they maintain a fleet size of 89 trucks with moderate safety records, demonstrated by a 0.84 unsafe driving score. K & K Trucking Montana provides essential insurance coverage, including dental, vision, and life insurance, and offers paid time off, reflecting their commitment to employee welfare. While focusing on general freight, they do not engage in hazardous materials transport, ensuring focused and specialized service.
Safety
- Crashes: 1
- Unsafe driving: 0.84
- Driver fitness: 0.12
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.27
- Vehicle maintenance: 1.64
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 26
- Revenue: $1,468,000
- Miles driven: 2,511,000
Beach Transportation Company
825 Mount Ave, Missoula, MT, 59801- Fleet size: 50+
- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $5,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
Beach Transportation Company (DOT: 190194) is a reputable Montana-based carrier with a longstanding history since its establishment in 1941. The company maintains an impressive fleet of over 50 vehicles, focusing primarily on passenger transport. They offer comprehensive logistics solutions with both full and less-than-truckload (LTL) services, supported by a competent team of over 128 drivers.
Their logistics capabilities extend to dry van and flatbed transport, catering to diverse client needs. With a commitment to safety reflected in their satisfactory safety rating, Beach Transportation Company delivers dependable services. They also invest in employee welfare, providing health, dental, and life insurance, alongside retirement plan options. Their blend of robust operational capabilities and employee-focused benefits makes them an attractive partner for businesses seeking reliable transport solutions.
Safety
- Crashes: 2
- Unsafe driving: 0.0
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
- Vehicle maintenance: 0.0
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 128
- Revenue: $5,873,000
- Miles driven: 150,000
Taylors Transportation, LLC
409 14th St Sw, Great Falls, MT, 59404- Fleet size: 1 to 10
- Fleet age: 5 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Building materials
- General
- Machinery & large objects
- Vehicles
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
Taylors Transportation, LLC (DOT: 1456112) is an experienced trucking company founded in 1980, based in Montana, and offering diverse shipping solutions. They are involved primarily in transporting building materials, machinery, general freight, and motor vehicles, using a fleet that includes flatbed and dry van trailers. Their operation spans across various states, highlighting their capacity for interstate transport. The company’s reputation is supported by a 4.5-star Google rating.
Taylors Transportation provides full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) services, catering to both large and small shipments. While they do not handle hazardous materials, their reefer trailers and driveaway/towaway options offer versatility for different shipping needs. Health and dental insurance, along with paid time off, enhance employee support, underlining their commitment to maintaining a professional and reliable workforce. Despite a record of a minor crash incident, their safety rating remains satisfactory.
Safety
- Crashes: 1
- Unsafe driving: 2.29
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.61
- Vehicle maintenance: 4.0
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 24
- Revenue: $1,341,000
- Miles driven: 2,974,400
Great Western Petroleum
1002 East Broadway, Missoula, MT, 59802- Fleet size: 20 to 49
- Fleet age: 5 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Liquids & gases
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
- Tanker
Great Western Petroleum (DOT: 203450) is a renowned petroleum transportation company founded in 1958 in Montana. They specialize in transporting liquids and gases, utilizing a capable fleet that includes tanker and flatbed trailers. Their operation is keenly focused on delivering full truckload services across interstate routes, ensuring reliable and efficient transport for their clients.
In addition to offering competitive general driver salaries ranging from $55,000 to $70,000, Great Western Petroleum provides sign-on bonuses and full benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a 401(k) retirement plan. Safety is paramount for their operations, with the company maintaining a satisfactory safety rating and prioritizing fitness and vehicle maintenance. They manage a small fleet size of 8 power units and 6 drivers, emphasizing dedicated service quality for commercial shipments.
Safety
- Crashes: 0
- Unsafe driving: 0.0
- Driver fitness: 0.66
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.03
- Vehicle maintenance: 2.4
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 1
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 6
- Revenue: $228,176,000
- Miles driven: 275,000
Beaver Transport, Inc.
20 Bend View Ln, Great Falls, MT, 59404- Fleet age: 5 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
Cargo Types
- Liquids & gases
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
- Last-mile delivery
Beaver Transport, Inc. (DOT: 1018965) is a Montana-based freight trucking company. They specialize in providing full and partial truckload services, efficiently handling cargo such as liquids and gases across interstate routes. With a fleet comprising five trucks, they focus on reliability and efficiency in transportation.
Beaver Transport emphasizes driver well-being, offering benefits like health, vision, dental, and disability insurance, along with a retirement plan. Despite the modest fleet size, they ensure thorough service coverage, particularly excelling in dry van and flatbed transport. Their commitment to safety and quality service reflects in their business operations, attracting commercial clients looking for dependable shipping solutions.
Safety
- Crashes: 0
- Unsafe driving: 0.0
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
- Vehicle maintenance: 0.0
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 3
- Revenue: $367,000
- Miles driven: 150,000
Tece Trucking, Inc.
9120 Stainless Drive, Missoula, MT, 59808- Fleet size: 1 to 10
- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $5,000,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- Chemicals
- General
- Liquids & gases
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
Tece Trucking, Inc. (DOT: 733934) is a dynamic freight trucking company based in Montana. The company is equipped with a modern fleet primarily consisting of dry vans and flatbeds, which are ideal for transporting commodities such as chemicals, general freight, and liquids/gases. They leverage their total fleet size of 36 to offer efficient full truckload and less-than-truckload services.
Tece Trucking places a significant emphasis on safety with a satisfactory safety rating, and despite a single reportable crash with a tow-away, they have had no injuries or fatalities. They provide comprehensive employee benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, along with paid time off for their staff. While they currently do not offer team or specialized driving opportunities, their focus remains on providing top-notch service and support for interstate carriers and shippers.
Safety
- Crashes: 1
- Unsafe driving: 0.0
- Driver fitness: 1.66
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
- Vehicle maintenance: 4.21
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 5
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 17
- Revenue: $2,231,000
- Miles driven: 987,756
Blue Sky Transportation
8560 Pheasant Dr, Missoula, MT, 59808- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $750,000
Cargo Types
- Beverages
- Farm supplies
- Produce
- General
- Livestock feed
- Meat
- Refrigerated food
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
Blue Sky Transportation (DOT: 1432706) is an active carrier based in Montana, providing specialized freight services with a focus on full truckload (FTL) and less than truckload (LTL) transport. They handle a diverse range of cargo, including agricultural supplies, fresh produce, grain, hay, and refrigerated foods, making them a versatile choice for businesses requiring dependable delivery of farm and food products.
With a fleet size of ten and a dedicated team of five over-the-road drivers, Blue Sky Transportation underscores their commitment to safety with low unsafe driving scores and exemplary vehicle maintenance ratings. They offer regional driver services and maintain an emphasis on employee benefits, providing health, dental, and a retirement plan. Despite maintaining a smaller operation, they are noted for their reliable service and high customer satisfaction, as reflected in ratings on platforms like Google and Indeed.
Safety
- Crashes: 0
- Unsafe driving: 2.94
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
- Vehicle maintenance: 4.83
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 5
- Miles driven: 411,798
Montana Transfer
209 Commerce St, Missoula, MT, 59808- Fleet size: 20 to 49
- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $750,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Cargo Types
- General
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Reefer
- Flatbed
- Last-mile delivery
Montana Transfer (DOT: 514197) is a Montana-based trucking company that has been active since 1982. The company specializes in general freight and household goods, leveraging their well-maintained fleet that includes dry vans and flatbed trailers. They offer a range of services, including full truckload and less-than-truckload options, catering to various shipping needs.
Montana Transfer is committed to quality logistics support with regional and local drivers ready to deliver. Despite a moderately small fleet size, they ensure reliability and safety, boasting a satisfactory safety rating. The company values its workforce by providing benefits such as health, dental, life, and disability insurance. With a reputation for efficiency and customer satisfaction, Montana Transfer is a solid choice for businesses seeking dependable transportation solutions.
Safety
- Crashes: 0
- Unsafe driving: 0.0
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 1.42
- Vehicle maintenance: 13.2
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 8
- Revenue: $1,604,000
- Miles driven: 80,000
Mcmahon Trucking, Inc.
1480 Douglas Dr, Missoula, MT, 59808- Fleet size: 1 to 10
- Fleet age: 5 years
- Insurance: $1,000,000
Cargo Types
- Liquids & gases
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
- Last-mile delivery
Mcmahon Trucking, Inc. (DOT: 1105636) is an established cargo transportation carrier operating primarily in interstate regions from Montana with a total fleet size of six and an average fleet age of five years. Known for their reliability, Mcmahon Trucking specializes in transporting liquids and gases, offering both full truckload and partial truckload services. Their operations include the use of flatbeds, dry vans, and a focus on last-mile delivery.
Mcmahon Trucking, Inc. supports its personnel with a benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, and life insurance, alongside a retirement plan with 401(k) options. Although they do not offer paid CDL training or hazardous material transport, they pride themselves on a robust track record of no crash injuries or fatalities. With competitive driver salaries ranging from $50,000 to $70,000, Mcmahon Trucking provides a blend of professional support and dependable transport services for business owners seeking trustworthy logistics solutions.
Safety
- Crashes: 0
- Unsafe driving: 0.0
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
- Vehicle maintenance: 0.0
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 3
- Revenue: $319,000
- Miles driven: 40,323
OFF The Beaten Path, LLC
7 East Beall Street, Bozeman, MT, 59715- Fleet age: 3 years
- Insurance: $1,500,000
- Safety rating: Satisfactory
Truck Types
- Dry van
- Flatbed
OFF The Beaten Path, LLC (DOT: 1047009) is a dynamic trucking company that has been operating since 1985 in Montana. With a focus on flexible and reliable transportation solutions, they offer services like full truckload and less-than-truckload shipping. They specialize in transporting passengers and employ a team of skilled local drivers, ensuring their capability to meet diverse logistical needs.
The company maintains a fleet that includes flatbeds and dry vans, demonstrating versatility in handling various types of cargo. OFF The Beaten Path, LLC places a strong emphasis on driver welfare by offering comprehensive benefits such as health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Their exemplary safety record is bolstered by a satisfactory safety rating, making them a dependable partner for commercial shipments seeking both reliability and dedicated service.
Safety
- Crashes: 0
- Unsafe driving: 0.0
- Driver fitness: 0.0
- Hours-of-service compliance: 0.0
- Vehicle maintenance: 1.0
- Controlled substances: 0.0
- Hazardous materials violations: 0
More Info
- Routes: interstate
- Drivers: 7
- Revenue: $1,747,000
- Miles driven: 10,000
How Safety Ratings Work in Montana
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA’s) Compliance, Safety & Accountability (CSA) program evaluates trucking companies using BASICS (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories)
Here’s a look at what each of the BASICS cover:
- Crashes: Trucking companies are required to report any accidents that result in injury or death. The FMSCA uses these state-reported crashes to determine any patterns of crash involvement and potential behaviors contributing to that pattern.
- Unsafe driving: This CSA category covers behaviors like texting and speeding that can lead to accidents
- Driver fitness: The FMCSA requires trucking companies to keep up-to-date records on their drivers. That includes identification and paperwork like CDLs, annual driving reviews, and any relevant medical certifications or documentation. Violations of this category will result in lower overall safety scores.
- Hours-of-service compliance: The FMCSA cites truckers and trucking companies that do not follow or enforce hours-of-service regulations that limit how much time a large commercial vehicle operator can be on the road without rest.
- Vehicle maintenance: Truckers are responsible for completing inspections before hitting the road on a route. They must also log any issues and have repairs to those identified problems completed before operating the truck.
- Controlled substances: As with all vehicle operators, truckers must be sober behind the wheel. This category accounts for violations issued to a trucking company’s driver(s) for being under the influence of or in possession of alcohol and street drugs or prescriptionor over-the-counter medicines that could impair judgement.
- Hazardous materials violations: Trucking companies and their drivers must exhibit proper loading and handling of hazardous materials, including labeling these items correctly, ensuring packaging meets regulations, and follows all restrictions and rules for the vehicle type.
Companies scoring a zero for any or all of the above categories did not receive any citations or other violations within a given month. Essentially, any trucking company that has multiple zeroes in these categories can likely be considered a safe freight shipper in compliance with all FMCSA standards and regulatory requirement.
Choosing the Right Flatbed Trucking Company for Your Montana Shipments
If you run a construction company, manufacturing business, or industrial operation in Montana, it’s important to consider the following before selecting a Flatbed trucking company:
- Specialized Flatbed options: Some companies offer specialized Flatbed vehicles like stretch or double-drop trailers that may be necessary for extra-long or heavy loads.
- Fleet Condition and maintenance: Choose a company that prioritizes fleet upkeep, as well-maintained trucks reduce the risk of delays and improve safety for your shipments.
- Weather-resistant protection: Flatbed carriers have an open deck, which make them ideal for loading and unloading bulky items. But open transport means exposure to the elements, so for more sensitive equipment or materials, look for carriers that provide tarping and other weather-protection services to safeguard cargo during transport.
- Experience with permits and regulations: Ensure the company is knowledgeable about handling oversize load permits, escort vehicles, and other regulatory requirements specific to Flatbed shipments.
- Load size and weight limits: Flatbed carriers have different weight and size capacities, so choose a company that can accommodate your cargo dimensions and meets Montana regulations.
- Geographic coverage: You’ll want to confirm that a carrier provides routes in your required shipping areas to ensure timely delivery.
- Tracking and communication: Carriers with advanced tracking technology and responsive communication help provide real-time updates on your shipment’s status.
- Driver experience and training: Experienced drivers are essential for safe and efficient flatbed transport, especially for complex hauls or challenging routes. Find out what basic and ongoing training a carrier requires.
- Insurance coverage: Confirm that the company’s insurance policies cover the value of your cargo, especially for high-value or heavy-duty loads.
- Customer reviews and reputation: Look for a company with positive consumer feedback, specifically from Flatbed customers.
FAQs
What types of shipments are best-suited for Flatbed shipping?
Shipments that require specialized handling or unique configurations — such as oversized, heavy, or oddly-shaped items — are best-suited for Flatbed shipping. Industries like construction and manufacturing often use Flatbed shipping for transporting machinery, raw materials, or equipment. Flatbed trucks have an open deck, making them particularly useful for products that cannot fit within the confines of standard trailers.
How can Flatbed shipping benefit my business in Montana?
Flatbed shipping can benefit your business by providing flexible transport options for loads that may not fit on more conventional trucks. They allow for easier loading and unloading, which in turn reduces handling time and potential damage for oversized or delicate items.
What are the biggest factors I should consider when choosing a Flatbed shipping provider?
Some of the biggest factors to consider when choosing a Flatbed shipping provider include experience with that transport type. Companies that have double-drop trailers and protective tarps are likely well-versed in Flatbed shipments. It’s also important to choose a company with skilled drivers and a well-kept fleet. You can review a company’s FMCSA score to check for safety violations and see maintenance records.
Other Types of Transport Options for Your Shipments
Depending on the types of products your business retails or manufactures, you may have several shipping options to choose from.
- Hopper Bottom Shipping Services
- Beverage Shipping Services
- Box Truck Shipping Services
- Drayage Shipping Services
- Dry Bulk Shipping Services
- Dry Van Shipping Services
- Hot Shot Shipping Services
- Intermodal Shipping Services
- LTL Shipping Services
- Parcel Delivery Shipping Services
- Pneumatic Shipping Services
- Power-Only Shipping Services
- Reefer Shipping Services
- Tanker Shipping Services