OOG, Flat Rack & Open Top Container Drayage in Florida (2026)

Not everything fits in a box. Machinery, transformers, boats, steel structures, and project cargo routinely arrive at Florida ports on flat racks and in open-top containers — out-of-gauge (OOG) freight that stands taller, wider, or heavier than a standard container allows. Moving it from the terminal to its final site is a different discipline from standard drayage, and shippers who treat it the same discover that at the worst possible moment: at the gate, with the meter running.

Flat rack vs open top: what you’re actually moving

An open-top container handles cargo that’s too tall to load through doors but still within width limits — it ships with a tarp or bows over the top and can often move like a normal box if the cargo doesn’t protrude. A flat rack has no roof or sidewalls, carrying cargo that exceeds width or needs top/side loading: machinery, vehicles, coils, crated equipment. Once cargo protrudes beyond the container envelope, the move becomes out-of-gauge and picks up permit and equipment requirements on the road.

The equipment question

Standard chassis won’t always work. Depending on height and weight, OOG drayage may need low-boy or step-deck trailers, Landoll trailers for roll-on loading, or an RGN for the heaviest pieces. Height is the silent killer: Florida’s standard legal limit is 13’6″, and a tall crate on a standard chassis can exceed it even when the cargo itself seems modest. Your drayage provider should calculate loaded height before the container ships, not after it hits the terminal. Go Freight runs low boys, Landolls, and RGNs alongside 450+ chassis as part of our container drayage and heavy hauling fleets, which is exactly the combination OOG moves demand.

Permits and escorts in Florida

Loads exceeding legal dimensions (8’6″ wide, 13’6″ tall, 80,000 lbs gross in most configurations) need FDOT oversize/overweight permits, with county add-ons for local streets. Wider or taller loads trigger pilot cars and daylight-only travel windows; the biggest pieces route around low bridges entirely. Permit lead time ranges from same-day for simple oversize to weeks for superloads. The practical advice: send your drayage partner the packing list and dimensions while the cargo is still on the water — see our Florida pilot car rules guide for escort thresholds.

At the terminal

OOG containers don’t flow through the stacks like standard boxes. Many move via special handling areas, some require terminal flat-bed delivery, and free time is just as unforgiving. Because OOG units often need specific chassis or trailers, a pre-pull into yard storage near the port is frequently the cheapest insurance against demurrage while permits finalize.

Cost drivers to expect

OOG drayage prices on: specialized trailer type, permit fees and escorts, route survey needs, crane or rigging at destination, and time — terminal special handling plus slower road travel. A realistic quote needs exact dimensions and weight, pickup terminal, delivery site conditions (crane? dock? open yard?), and timing. Guessing any of these guarantees change orders. Get dimensions to us early via a quick quote and route planning happens in parallel with the ocean leg.

Frequently asked questions

Does an open-top container always count as out-of-gauge?

No. If the cargo stays within the container’s dimensional envelope (no protrusion above or beyond the sides), it can move like a standard container. It becomes OOG when cargo protrudes, which triggers oversize rules on the road.

How much lead time do OOG port moves need in Florida?

For simple oversize, a few business days for permits and equipment. For loads needing escorts, route surveys, or superload review, start planning two to six weeks before vessel arrival.

Who arranges the crane at delivery?

Either party can, but it must be coordinated with the drayage carrier’s trailer type and arrival window. Many shippers have the 3PL handle trucking and rigging together so one dispatcher owns the timeline.