Six Tips for Safe Heavy Hauling
Moving heavy-duty machinery from point A to B is never easy, especially if the equipment is broken and needs to get to a repair shop. After all, it’s not like you can just drive bulldozers or other construction equipment down the street to its destination.
Heavy hauling often requires a lowboy—a semi trailer that sits low on the ground with a weight capacity of 40,000 pounds. As experts in lowboy hauling, we put together this post with some helpful lowboy hauling tips.
Understand the scope of the job
Our first tip is to understand the scope of the project before you start anything else. Knowing the load dimensions, load weight and travel distance makes planning the logistics much easier and helps guarantee your equipment will make it to the destination in one piece.
Select the proper trailer
Not all heavy-hauling trips can be accomplished with the same semi trailer. A lowboy trailer is often the best bet for most heavy machinery, but this isn’t always the case. The cargo you’re transporting and the road conditions are just a few of the factors that affect the type of trailer you choose to haul your load.
Obtain the appropriate permitting
Now that you have your heavy-load dimensions, have selected the trailer and know the route, you can start gathering the proper permits for the haul. You’ll likely need an oversized trucking permit, and you may need multiple permits if you’re traveling through multiple counties or states. This process can take a while, so apply for these permits ASAP.
Map your route
One of the most important lowboy hauling tips is to plan your route far ahead of time. Failing to map your route and account for things like rush hour or poor road conditions can lead to delivery delays and impact the total cost of your haul.
It’s not a bad idea to have a backup route in mind just in case something goes wrong with your first plan.
Plan your pickup and drop-off
Your pickup and drop-off locations are just as important as the roads you’ll be driving down. Heavy machinery often requires the use of cranes, forklifts or other heavy machinery to load and unload the equipment. Ensure your pickup and drop-off locations have enough space to accommodate your needs. Additionally, make sure you’ll have the staff available to assist with the pickup and drop-off.
Work with a trusted heavy-haul trucking company
Do your research to find a reputable heavy-load hauling partner. When you work with an experienced team, you can rest easy knowing your gear will make it to its destination safely and on time. A few things to look for include industry experience, high-quality lowboy equipment and a company’s commitment to safety.
For the best heavy-load hauling, look no further than Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair, Inc. We have all of the right equipment and years of experience to safely move your equipment wherever it needs to go. Plus, our mechanics can make any necessary repairs to keep your business up and running.