Complete guide to hauling concrete barriers, jersey barriers, retaining wall blocks, and precast concrete on a flatbed — weight per piece, securement, center of gravity, stacking, and loading tips.
return ( Concrete Loads — Heavy, Stable, and Unforgiving Concrete products are among the heaviest commodities a flatbed operator will haul.
Jersey barriers, retaining wall blocks, precast panels, and concrete pipe are dense, heavy, and can destroy a trailer or injure someone if not loaded and secured properly.
The upside is that concrete loads are plentiful in the Southeast (construction is year-round in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and the Gulf Coast), they pay well, and once you learn the techniques, they are straightforward to handle.
This guide covers the most common concrete products, their weights, how to load and secure them on a flatbed, and mistakes to avoid.
Common Concrete Products and Weights Jersey Barriers (K-Rail) The standard jersey barrier (New Jersey barrier or K-rail) is the most common concrete product hauled on flatbeds.
These are the highway median barriers you see on every road construction project.
10-foot section: approximately 4,000 lbs (standard F-shape, 32 inches tall) 12-foot section: approximately 4,800 lbs 20-foot section: approximately 8,000 lbs Pinned barriers: Jersey barriers with rebar pins for connecting sections — slightly heavier due to pin hardware A typical flatbed load of 10-foot jersey barriers is 10-12 pieces, totaling 40,000-48,000 lbs.
You will hit weight limits before filling the trailer length.
Concrete Retaining Wall Blocks Large retaining wall blocks (Redi-Rock, Verti-Block, and similar brands) come in various sizes.
Common weights: Standard block (roughly 4 ft wide x 2.5 ft tall x 1.5 ft deep): 2,400-3,600 lbs each depending on manufacturer and style Large cap blocks: 1,200-1,800 lbs each Corner and specialty blocks: Weights vary — always ask the shipper for exact piece weights Precast Concrete Panels and Slabs Precast wall panels: 200-400 lbs per square foot depending on thickness.
A single 8x20-foot panel can weigh 20,000+ lbs.
Precast floor slabs (hollow core): 50-80 lbs per square foot.
Precast steps: 2,000-8,000 lbs per unit depending on size Concrete Pipe 24-inch RCP (reinforced concrete pipe): roughly 400 lbs per linear foot 36-inch RCP: roughly 700 lbs per linear foot 48-inch RCP: roughly 1,100 lbs per linear foot Pipe sections: typically 4-8 feet long.
A full load of 36-inch pipe may only be 8-10 sections.
Concrete is roughly 150 lbs per cubic foot.
Every concrete product is heavier than it looks.
Never estimate weight by visual size — always get exact piece weights from the shipper or manufacturer before loading.
An overweight concrete load is dangerous, expensive (fines), and hard to adjust on the road.
Loading Concrete on a Flatbed Equipment Needed Concrete products are loaded by crane, forklift, or loader at the shipper.
Your responsibilities are trailer positioning, directing placement for weight distribution, and securement.
You will need: Chains: Grade 70 transport chains with grab hooks — concrete loads require chains, not straps.
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