Transporter Having Lowerable Bed

A truck comprising:

• (A) a frame supported on wheels;
• (B) an operator's cab mounted on a front portion of the frame;
• (C) a bed mounted on the rear portion of the frame, the bed including deck plates and deck plate supports mounting the deck plates on the frame, wherein the bed includes a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion being swingable about an arc to raise and lower the rear end of the rear portion relative the frame;
• and
• (D) a ramp attached to the rear portion of the bed, the ramp having longitudinally extending supports and slats that are mounted on the supports and that extend at an acute angle relative to the lateral, wherein the truck has a hauling capacity of at least 10,000 lbs. and a fully loaded gross vehicle weight of no more than 26,000 lbs., wherein at least the deck plates, the deck plate supports, the slats, and the slat supports are made from a ASTM A1011/1011M steel having a grade of 80 or higher.

A method of operating a transporter, the transporter comprising a frame supported on wheels, an operator's cab mounted on a front portion of the frame, and a bed mounted on a rear portion of the frame, the method comprising:

• (A) lowering at least a rear end portion of the bed relative to the frame;
• (B) loading cargo onto the bed to form a loaded transporter, the cargo having a mass of at least 10,000 lbs., and the loaded transporter having a gross vehicle weight of no more than 26,000 lbs.;
• (C) raising the rear end portion of the bed relative to frame;
• and
• (D) legally driving the loaded transporter on a highway in the United States without a CDL license.