There’s a reason why the job outlook for heavy equipment truck drivers is expected to grow by 6% over the next decade. Whether it’s construction or agriculture, dozen of industries rely on these professionals to transport heavy equipment.
Sadly, if it’s not done correctly, you risk damaging the equipment and the safety of others on the road. That’s why we made this article.
In it, we’ll walk you through your transportation options when it comes to heavy equipment. That way, you can get it where you need it efficiently and safely. Let’s get started
Find Out the Equipment’s Weight and Height
The first thing you will need to do is determine the weight and height of the heavy equipment you’re transporting. Make sure you’re being as accurate as possible. There’s no room for estimation in this step.
That is because the Department of Transportation has strict transportation guidelines that revolve around these two factors. So, make sure that you can verify the shipping company in regards to its weight, height, and width.
Contact a Heavy Transport Company and Select Your Trailer
Once you have all the information you need, then it’s time to get in touch with a heavy transport company. Different transport companies provide different transport options. Some provide the driver, truck, and trailer.
Others provide the driver and truck, but let you deal with finding the trailer. If you fall in this category, then you’re likely wondering how to find the right trailer for your needs.
The first thing you should check is that the trailers can hold the weight. You should also make sure that it’s large enough to contain the equipment and distribute its weight evenly.
When selecting a trailer you also need to account for height clearance. The equipment will likely be traveling under overpasses and bridges. The average height limit for trailers on interstates is fourteen feet of clearance.
So, if your heavy equipment is tall, try to look for a lowboy trailer. Once you get the trailer the first thing you should do is inspect it.
If any part of it is damaged, then it could cause serious safety problems when you transport it. If you aren’t sure what to look for, then hire a professional inspector.
Find Out If You Need An Oversized or Overweight Permit
Depending on what state you’re transporting the heavy equipment you made needs additional permits to transport it. Specifically, if your equipment exceeds the size or weight limits set by the state.
If you can help it, you should do everything you can to avoid having to get these permits. They’re expensive and they require additional drivers in the front and back of your vehicle.
Instead, consider breaking the heavy equipment down into smaller parts. Then, transport them separately. This will likely be more affordable than getting an oversized or overweight permit.
Load Your Heavy Equipment
Once you have a driver and trailer, then it’s time to lead your heavy equipment. Most of the time, the heavy transport company driver will load and secure the equipment according to any Department of Transportation.
However, in some cases, you might prefer to load the heavy equipment into the trailer. Most of the time this is fine as long as you do it right. Simply let the transport company know about your preference ahead of time.
Then, schedule a pickup time for the equipment. Move the equipment into the trailer and secure it. We do not recommend securing it yourself if you have no experience.
It requires an in-depth knowledge of securing devices, attachment points, and other equipment components. So, don’t be afraid to seek help if you need it.
Once the equipment is secure make sure to ask the driver whether they can see out of the front or sides of their vehicle. The equipment should not obstruct driver visibility in any sort of way.
How to Find the Best Heavy Transport Company
We mentioned the importance of finding heavy transportation services. Sadly, finding the best transportation can be easier said than done. So, in this section, we’ll go over some things you should look for in this type of business.
First, you should make sure that they can ship the equipment where you need it. Look for people like this heavy equipment shipping company. They ship to all fifty states, so it doesn’t matter where you’re located.
In addition to this, you want someone with a lot of experience in the industry. Sometimes it’s okay to take a gamble on a new company. But, for the most part, experience is the one thing you’re going to want to prioritize.
If you need additional services, then you should make sure that the heavy transport company provides them. For example, let’s say you need the equipment disassembled and reassembled before/after loading.
Make sure that the company can handle something like this. Finally, verify that the heavy transport company provides insurance to protect the equipment you’re transporting.
Even when everything is done right your equipment can still be damaged during transport. So, you want to make sure that you’re covered if something goes wrong. Also, ask about liability insurance if the driver is injured.
Appreciate Learning About Heavy Equipment Transportation Options? Keep Reading
We hope this article helped you learn more about your transportation options for heavy equipment. As you can see, there are a lot of considerations that you need to put time into before you can ship this heavy equipment.
But, at the end of the day, it’s worth it to know that your investment is safe on the road. Did you learn something from this article? If the answer is yes, then keep exploring to find more content that’s just like it.