flatbed
FLAT-bed
/ˈflætbed/
A truck or trailer with a flat, open body and no sides or roof, used for carrying heavy loads.
Specifically implies a vehicle where the entire car is lifted onto the back, rather than being dragged behind on its own wheels.
The story behind the word. A straightforward compound of 'flat' (from Old Norse flatr) and 'bed' (from Old English bedd). It emerged in the early 20th century to describe open railway cars and trucks designed without sides to carry oversized loads.
Word relationships
- platform truck: Platform truck is a more generic industrial term, while flatbed is the standard automotive and towing term.
Commonly confused with
- tow truck: A generic tow truck might drag a car by its wheels, whereas a flatbed carries the entire vehicle on its back.
Collocations
- flatbed truck
- flatbed trailer
- load onto a flatbed
Example sentences
- "They loaded the luxury sports car onto a flatbed to prevent any damage to its bumper during transport." Transporting a luxury or severely damaged vehicle.
Memory hook
It is literally a 'flat bed' for your car to sleep on while being moved. A flat bed for cars.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to a standard hook-and-chain tow truck.
Fun facts
- Flatbed trucks are preferred for transporting all-wheel-drive vehicles because towing them with wheels on the ground can destroy the transmission.
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