Flatbed Trucking in Manhattan, KS

Market rates, top lanes, earnings estimates, and freight insights for flatbed owner-operators in Manhattan.

$3.08

Rate / Mile

$23,100

Est. Gross / Month

$15,015

Est. Net / Month

Midwest

Market Region

About Flatbed Trucking

Flatbed trailers haul construction materials, steel, lumber, machinery, and oversized loads. Rates are typically higher than dry van due to tarping requirements, loading complexity, and specialized skills.

Statewide Flatbed Overview

Flatbed rates, lanes, and regulations across all of Kansas

Flatbed Earnings in Kansas

Detailed earnings data for flatbed owner-operators in KS

Flatbed Market in the Midwest

The Midwest flatbed market is driven by steel production (Indiana, Ohio), agricultural equipment, and construction materials. Detroit's automotive supply chain generates consistent loads of raw materials and components. Seasonal patterns follow construction cycles, with peak demand from March through October. The flat terrain and grid-like highway system allow efficient routing with fewer weather-related restrictions than mountain regions.

Top Flatbed Lanes from Manhattan

Chicago IL → Indianapolis IN

Detroit MI → Cleveland OH

Minneapolis MN → Milwaukee WI

Kansas City MO → Omaha NE

Why Manhattan for Flatbed

Key Industries

Military/Defense
Higher Education
Agriculture/Ranching
Veterinary Science

Key Highways

I-70US-24K-177K-18

Top Shippers

Fort Riley US Army
Kansas State University
GTM Sportswear
Caterpillar (nearby)

Distribution Centers Near Manhattan

Fort Riley supply depot

K-State receiving and distribution

Need Flatbed Dispatch in Manhattan?

Compare top dispatch services for flatbed carriers operating in the Manhattan, KS market. Find the right partner for your lanes and equipment.

Compare Dispatch Services

Flatbed Trucking in Manhattan — FAQ

The modelled flatbed rate for Manhattan is $3.08 per loaded mile. This is a regional baseline for the Midwest region adjusted for metro size — it is an estimate, not observed lane data, and real rates vary significantly by lane, broker, season, and load specifics. Check a load board for live rates before pricing a load.

Based on current market estimates, a flatbed owner-operator based in Manhattan can expect approximately $23,100 gross monthly revenue and around $15,015 net after typical expenses (fuel, insurance, maintenance). Actual earnings depend on miles driven, load selection, and operating efficiency.

Top flatbed lanes from the Manhattan market include: Chicago IL → Indianapolis IN, Detroit MI → Cleveland OH, Minneapolis MN → Milwaukee WI, Kansas City MO → Omaha NE. These lanes reflect the Midwest freight patterns and may vary by season.

Manhattan sits in the Midwest freight region, and its freight base is driven by military/defense, higher education, agriculture/ranching. It is served by I-70, US-24, K-177, so reloads are generally easier to find than in markets off the interstate network. Whether it works for flatbed depends on which of those industries actually ship your equipment type — check a load board for live outbound volume.

Key highways for flatbed freight in Manhattan include I-70, US-24, K-177, K-18. These corridors connect to major distribution centers and freight lanes across the Midwest region.