Stormwater and culvert pipe installation crews haul some of the heaviest, most awkward cargo in the
construction trade — concrete and corrugated culvert sections, riprap, geotextile fabric, hand tools, and
compaction equipment, often in and out of ditches and easements with no paved access. The truck body you
run needs to handle concentrated point loads without denting the deck, give crews a stable platform to work
off of at the tailgate, and survive constant abrasion from pipe, gravel, and mud. At
Star Truck Equipment in Wharton, TX, we build and install
truck bodies for drainage contractors, county road crews, and municipal utility departments across Texas
and Louisiana.
Flatbeds for Hauling Culvert Pipe
A steel flatbed is usually the right call for culvert and stormwater work — the flat, open deck lets you
load pipe sections of varying diameters and lengths without fighting sidewalls, and a full-length steel
deck (as opposed to a lighter aluminum one) stands up better to the point loads and abrasion that pipe
sections create. Brands like CM and
Norstar build heavy-gauge steel decks that
hold up under this kind of repeated, concentrated loading, and both offer stake pocket and headache rack
options for chaining down pipe securely during transport.
Service Bodies for Crew Tools and Compaction Gear
Crews that spend more time on install and less time hauling raw pipe often run a
service body instead — lockable
compartments keep hand tools, laser levels, pipe cutters, and small compaction equipment organized and dry
between job sites, while a lube or fuel package can keep skid steers and mini-excavators topped off in the
field without a return trip to the yard. Our STI
(Service Trucks International) lineup is built for exactly this kind of heavy field use.
What Drainage Crews Should Look For
- Reinforced deck or floor — stands up to pipe sections, rebar, and gravel without denting
- Stake pockets and rated tie-downs — for securing loose culvert sections legally and safely
- Underbody or vertical toolboxes — keep tools out of the mud and off the deck
- Powder-coat finish — resists the abrasion and moisture exposure common on drainage sites
Whether your crew needs a rugged Pronghorn
or Bedrock flatbed for hauling pipe, or a
fully equipped service body for tools and field maintenance, we’ll spec the build around how your crew
actually works — not just what’s sitting on the lot.
Get Your Drainage Crew Truck Built Right
Star Truck Equipment installs truck bodies for stormwater, culvert, and drainage contractors across Texas
and Louisiana from our shop in Wharton, TX. Call us at (979) 532-1486 or browse our
flatbed truck bodies and
service bodies to get started.
