Flat Rack Containers For Sale

Flat rack containers are open shipping containers with no roof or side walls built to carry oversized and heavy cargo. They come in 20ft and 40ft lengths, are 8ft wide, and a 40ft unit is rated up to 99,000 lbs. They are also used as temporary bridges over creeks, dry beds, and small rivers. Each rack is lifted onto a level pad on each bank, and two set side by side form a 40ft by 16ft bridge rated for trucks and heavy equipment.

Some cargo is too long, too heavy, or too oddly shaped to fit inside a closed shipping container. Flat rack containers solve that problem with a strong, open steel platform that loads from the top or either side.

That same load-bearing deck has found a second role on land, serving as elevated storage racking and even as a ready-made bridge.

This page covers what a flat rack container is, what it is used for, how it becomes a bridge, the bridge styles you can build, and current prices.

If you want to browse stock first, Dry Box keeps a full lineup of shipping containers for sale ready for delivery.

What Is a Flat Rack Container?

A flat rack container is a steel shipping container with a heavy reinforced floor, two end walls, and an open top and open sides. The end walls can be fixed upright or collapsible, which lets empty units fold flat and stack for storage and transport. Like a standard box, it has corner castings, so it can be lifted, locked, and stacked with normal handling gear.

The open design is the whole point. Cargo loads from the top or either side, so wide and tall items that would never fit through a cargo door slide right on. Built from weather-resistant Corten steel, a flat rack shipping container shrugs off rain, sun, and rough handling.

Flat racks convert a non-stackable load into an interlocking stackable load converting odd shaped equipment and products to a geometrically stackable isometric cube.

Extremely oversized loads can be added to top of stack loads on shipping lines and barges.

Flat Rack Container Dimensions

Flat rack dimensions are simple to remember. Both the 20 foot flat rack container and the 40 foot flat rack container are 8ft wide, matching the footprint of standard containers.

The 40ft unit is the workhorse, rated up to 99,000 lbs total, with the center 6ft able to hold a 52,000 lbs concentrated load.

In addition to having certified load ratings flat racks also have a common recertification process by a marine surveyor that certify that the used flat rack is capable of carrying its designed weight in both static and dynamic conditions.

Flat Rack Container Uses

The main job of flat racks is carrying cargo that is too long, too wide, or too heavy for a closed box. The open deck loads from the top or sides, and on a ship a loaded rack interlocks with standard containers.

Common flat rack container uses include:

• Oversized Freight: industrial machinery, pipe, lumber, steel beams, and transformers.
• Vehicles and Boats: cars, trucks, tractors, and watercraft that exceed normal container limits.
• Yard Storage: elevated platforms and oversized pallet racking in industrial yards.
• Job-site Decks: sturdy equipment platforms and temporary roadways.
• Bridges: instant crossings over creeks, dry beds, and small rivers (covered below).

You may also see these called flat containers or collapsible racks, but the open-deck build is the same.

If you need something more specialized than a standard box, Dry Box stocks specialty shipping containers alongside the popular 20ft shipping containers and 40ft shipping containers.

Need cold storage or a job-site workspace instead? Dry Box rents and sells mobile office containers, and short-term needs are covered by flexible storage container rentals.

Flat Rack Container Bridge: The Ultimate Use Case

Here is the use most people never expect. A flat rack container makes an excellent bridge over a small creek, a dry creek bed, or a narrow river.

It is an engineered structure with tested and certified load ratings in both static and dynamic conditions, so it carries real weight with confidence.

Compared with pouring a concrete crossing or dropping in a culvert, a flat rack drops in fast and disturbs far less. Set above the water, it leaves the stream channel open, which protects fish migration and spawning. Loggers lean on this trick to cross soft ground and dry beds, since avoiding ruts helps them sidestep fines and work stoppages.

This approach lines up with established forestry guidance on stream crossings. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System notes that portable steel and panel bridges cause very little impact to a stream during install and removal and can carry loaded log trucks when they meet the weight requirements, which is exactly the gap a steel flat rack fills.

How to Install a Flat Rack Container Bridge

The process is straightforward, but the prep work is what makes it safe. Skipping the foundation step is the most common mistake, so give each stage its due.

Delivery is part of the magic too. A single truck can carry a pair of 40ft flat racks in one load, so a two-rack bridge can arrive on site together. Dry Box handles shipping container delivery to tight and remote spots across the West.

Types of Flat Rack Container Bridges

You are not locked into one design. The right flat rack container bridge depends on the span you need to cross and the width of the traffic using it.

Single 20ft or 40ft (8ft Wide)

One flat rack laid across the gap gives you an 8ft wide crossing. This style fits light traffic where vehicle width is not a concern. Can be done with a single 20ft or a 40ft flat rack container.

A single flat rack is rated for up to 99,000 lbs, with the center 6ft able to hold a 60,000 lbs concentrated load.

Common uses include:

• Foot bridges and pedestrian paths
• Golf cart and ATV trails
• Park, trail, and recreation access
• Light agricultural crossings between fields

Short 20ft Span (8ft or 16ft Wide)

For narrow creeks and ditches, a 20 foot flat rack container gives a tidy, lower-cost crossing. Pair two together when you want a wider running surface over a short gap.

Common uses include:

• Small creek, wash, and ditch crossings
• Temporary crossings during culvert work
• Pasture and field access points
• Irrigation and pivot equipment paths

Long 40ft Span (8ft or 16ft Wide)

The most common build sets two 40ft racks side by side, creating a 40ft long by 16ft wide bridge.

The doubled deck pushes the concentrated rating past 100,000 lbs in the center and over 160,000 lbs across the full length.

Common uses include:

• Ranch and farm roads for trucks and tractors
• Logging and forestry access for loaded log trucks
• Construction site entrances and haul routes
• Private driveways that cross a creek or wash

For real-world weight ratings on this style, see the 40ft used flat rack spec sheet.

Flat Rack Container Prices

Pricing depends on size and condition. Used units are graded as IICL, Cargo Worthy, or As-Is, with marine surveys available for the higher grades. When you compare a flat rack container for sale, the grade matters as much as the length, since it sets the resale value and the structural margin you have to work with.

One note on transport: a loaded 40ft flat rack often exceeds legal highway weight limits, so plan permits and routing for heavy cargo.

Not sure which flat rack fits your project? Our team can walk you through grades, uprights, and forklift pockets to find the right match. Contact the Dry Box team for a quote, and ask about shipping container modifications if you want features added before delivery.

Flat Rack Container FAQs

Can a flat rack container be left outside permanently?

Yes. Flat racks are built from Corten steel for ocean service, so they hold up to weather year-round. For a permanent bridge or platform, keep the deck draining well and touch up any deep scratches to slow surface rust. The marine wood decking may require resealing with deck oil every few years to extend the life.

How long does a flat rack container last?

With basic care, a flat rack can serve for decades. Lifespan comes down to drainage, coating upkeep, and avoiding standing water on the deck. Units set as bridges often outlast the equipment crossing them.

Do I need a permit to build a flat rack bridge over a creek?

Often, yes. Many states and counties regulate work near streams and wetlands, and federal rules can apply to fish-bearing waters. Check with your local permitting office and your state fish and wildlife agency before placing any crossing.

Can you stack flat rack containers for storage?

You can. Collapsible-end flat racks fold flat and stack like standard containers, which saves yard space when they are empty. Fixed-end units stack as well, though they take up more room.

What is the difference between a flat rack and a platform container?

A flat rack has two end walls that brace cargo, while a platform container is just the deck with no walls at all. Platforms suit extra-long loads, and flat racks give you tie-down points and end support for heavier, taller freight.

Dry Box provides storage container rentals and new and used shipping containers for sale with professional modifications across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, and Florida. Call 360-262-0500 or visit DryBoxUSA.com to get your free quote today.

Call us today or fill out our quote form here.