Guide to hauling drywall, roofing materials, concrete products, bricks, siding, and mixed building material loads on a flatbed — securement techniques, weight distribution, tarping requirements, and delivery site considerations.
return ( Building Materials — The Backbone of Flatbed Freight Building materials are the bread and butter of flatbed trucking in the Southeast.
With construction booming across the Southeast nationwide, there is a constant demand for drivers to move drywall, roofing materials, concrete products, bricks, siding, insulation, and a wide variety of other construction commodities.
These loads are steady, the shippers are repeat customers, and the rates are competitive — especially for drivers who can navigate tight construction site deliveries.
Building materials present unique challenges: they are often weather-sensitive (requiring tarps), come in mixed loads with different securement needs, and frequently deliver to active construction sites with poor road access.
Here is how to handle every aspect of this freight.
Drywall (Sheetrock/Gypsum Board) Loading and Securement Drywall is one of the most common building materials on flatbeds.
Sheets come in standard sizes (typically 4'x8', 4'x10', or 4'x12') and are loaded in bundles or stacks: Weight: A standard 4x8 sheet of 1/2-inch drywall weighs approximately 57 lbs.
A full truckload of drywall weighs 42,000-48,000 lbs — often near the legal weight limit.
Loading pattern: Drywall is loaded flat in stacks.
Stacks should be centered on the trailer and evenly distributed front to rear.
Securement: Use straps — chains can damage drywall edges.
A minimum of 4 straps for a full load, evenly spaced.
Use edge protection under straps to prevent strap edges from cutting into the drywall paper facing.
Dunnage: Place 4x4 timbers or dunnage strips under the stacks to allow strap passage and to keep drywall off the deck (moisture protection).
Tarping Drywall Drywall must be tarped.
Drywall is completely destroyed by water — even a brief rain shower will ruin an untarped load.
A single rejected drywall delivery can result in a $10,000-$30,000 damage claim .
Use a tarp that fully covers the load with no gaps Secure the tarp tightly — wind can work under a loose tarp and tear it off at highway speed Check the tarp for holes or tears before loading — a small hole lets water in and damages multiple sheets Tarp immediately after loading — do not wait for the "chance of rain" to decide Drywall damage claims are among the most expensive in flatbed trucking.
If even one edge of the stack gets wet, the entire stack can wick moisture throughout and the receiver will reject it.
Always tarp drywall, even if the forecast shows zero chance of rain — weather changes, road spray is real, and dew can form overnight.
Roofing Materials Shingles Weight: Architectural (dimensional) shingles weigh 65-80 lbs per bundle.
Three-tab shingles weigh 60-70 lbs per bundle.
A full load of shingles is extremely heavy — often 44,000-48,000 lbs.
Loading: Shingle bundles are typically palletized and loaded with a forklift.
Position pallets evenly across the deck.
Shingle loads stack low but are very dense.
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