A flatbed has very little body to brand. There are no side walls, only a deck, a headboard and the chassis below. That leaves fewer surfaces, but it does not make branding less valuable, as the visible parts of a flatbed are seen clearly on the road.
The load is also part of the picture. Steel, timber, machinery and containers pass through on a flatbed, so the branding on the truck needs to be recognisable even when the load blocks much of the view.
What we can brand
- Headboardmain logo
- Cab doorsname and fleet number
- Toolboxeslogo and contact panel
- Chassis skirtsreflective trim
- Rear underrun barreflective strip
- Deck edge raillettering band
Where branding goes
The headboard is the main panel, and it faces forward over the cab. Decks have a rave or edge rail that can take a narrow band of lettering. Chassis skirts, toolboxes and the sides of the cab take logos and numbers. Rear lights and the rear underrun bar are left clear but can carry reflective strips.
Toolboxes and equipment
Many flatbeds carry lockable toolboxes, ratchet-strap racks and load bars along the chassis. These metal boxes are good, flat surfaces for logos and contact panels, and they stay in view when the deck is empty or loaded.
Branded straps and tarpaulins
Where a flatbed carries loose loads under a tarpaulin, the tarp can be printed. Branded ratchet straps and edge protectors also help identify a truck's load. Printed tarps are described on our truck tarpaulin branding page.
Deck-edge visibility
An unloaded flatbed is low and wide at night. Reflective trim along the chassis and rear underrun bar improves its visibility without changing the look of the livery. We add it as part of the branding rather than as a separate job when you ask us to.
Preparing a flatbed for branding
Flatbed cabs and headboards pick up a lot of oil film, brake dust and old adhesive from earlier stickers. Wash the truck a day before the appointment, and tell us about any past graphics, filler or repainted panels so we can allow time for cleaning and removal.
Send photos of the headboard, both cab doors, the toolboxes and the rear underrun bar, together with the make and model. That is usually enough for us to confirm which surfaces can be branded and to start on artwork. The vehicle preparation guide lists what to do before the truck arrives.
Mixed fleets
Many flatbed operators also run box trucks or bakkies. We can build one identity and size it for each vehicle, so a flatbed with a headboard logo and a box truck with a full side graphic still look like the same business.
Suitable branding options
At a glance
Flatbed truck branding deals with a vehicle that has very little body to brand: no side walls, just a deck, a headboard and the chassis below. That leaves fewer surfaces, but it does not make branding less valuable, because the visible parts carry the whole identity. The cab doors, roof and bonnet, the headboard and the deck edges become the places where your name will actually be seen by customers, site security and other road users.
A flatbed is often used to carry loads that belong to someone else, such as steel, pipes, containers and machinery, so the branding must stay clean and readable while loads, straps and chains move around it. We design bold, simple graphics for the cab and headboard, and add deck-edge lettering or reflective strips where they will not be damaged by securing equipment. Flatbed operators in Johannesburg, Sandton, Pretoria, Midrand, Centurion, Durban and Cape Town can request a flatbed truck branding quote, including a matching livery for the rest of the fleet. Photos of the cab and headboard help us price accurately and propose a layout quickly. A site visit is not needed for most jobs.
Common questions
Is it worth branding a flatbed with so little surface?
Yes, the headboard, cab and toolboxes are seen constantly. Many flatbed operators brand these and nothing else.
Can you print on tarpaulins for flatbed loads?
Yes, as printed PVC tarpaulin, sized to your deck.
Will load straps damage graphics?
Straps rubbing across the surface can scuff vinyl. We keep graphics away from strap lines where possible.
Do you brand flatbed tow trucks?
Those are on their own pages. See recovery truck branding.