When your cargo is too long for a 20ft rack and too wide for a standard box, you need the giant of the specialized fleet: the 40ft Flat Rack.

Visible in the TraceContainer.com system as "40 Flat Rack", this unit is the backbone of project cargo logistics. From shipping city buses to massive mining drills, the 40ft Flat Rack provides the platform needed to move the world’s biggest machines.

This guide covers the dimensions, payload limits, and the critical rules for loading these massive units.

What is a 40ft Flat Rack?

Like its 20ft counterpart, the 40ft Flat Rack has a reinforced steel floor and two end walls (bulkheads), but no side walls or roof.

• The Advantage: It offers a clear 12-meter (40ft) deck length.

• Access: Cargo can be loaded from the top (crane) or the side (forklift).

• OOG (Out of Gauge): It is specifically designed for cargo that protrudes beyond the width (over-width) or height (over-height) of the container.

Best Uses: Long & Large

While the 20ft Flat Rack is better for "concentrated" heavy loads, the 40ft Flat Rack is king for volume and length.

Typical Cargo:

• Transportation: Trucks, buses, and large agricultural tractors.

• Marine: Yachts and boats (loaded onto a cradle sitting on the rack).

• Industrial: Long steel pipes, wind turbine blades (sections), and conveyor belts.

• Construction: Cranes and excavators that are too long for a 20ft base.

40ft Flat Rack Dimensions

Dimensions can vary between "Fixed End" and "Collapsible" models, but these are industry averages.

(Note: The internal length is less than 40ft because the thick end-walls take up space).

The "Concentrated Load" Warning

This is the most critical technical detail for 40ft Flat Racks. Because the span is so long (12 meters), you cannot place a massive 30-ton weight on a single small point in the center of the floor—the container might buckle.

• Rule: The weight must be distributed along the length of the floor using "dunnage" (heavy timber beams) to spread the load.

Stacking & Bundling

Just like the 20ft version, most modern 40ft Flat Racks are Collapsible.

• The Bundle: You can fold down the end walls of four empty 40ft Flat Racks and stack them together.

• The Result: The bundle creates a single unit that has the exact dimensions of one standard 40ft High Cube container, making return shipping much cheaper.

Track Your OOG Shipment

Oversized cargo is often high-value and sensitive to delays. If you are moving a million-dollar yacht or a critical factory component, you need to know where it is. Trace your Flat Rack shipment instantly with TraceContainer.com.

Track My Flat Rack