Safety Tips for Hauling Heavy Equipment
Hauling heavy equipment from point A to B is a big job, possibly requiring dozens of hours of work and a full crew of trained professionals. Even if it’s just up the road, failing to prepare for the trip or not following proper safety procedures can result in equipment damage or injuries.
Luckily, completing the hauling project without harming team members or damaging any equipment doesn’t have to feel like rocket science. These are our best tips for safely hauling heavy equipment that you should always follow.
Select the right vehicle and trailer
The first step is choosing an adequate trailer and vehicle to haul your heavy equipment. Obviously, using a truck that’s not rated to pull a heavy load or a trailer that can’t support your equipment simply won’t work. A few of the trailers you can choose from include flatbeds, lowboys, drop decks or gooseneck trailers.
Inspect and secure the load
Improper loading is one of the most common causes of accidents with heavy equipment hauling. So, one of our best tips for safely hauling heavy equipment is to secure everything before you take off. Along with making sure the load is distributed evenly across the trailer and the equipment is locked in place, you’ll likely need to use tie-downs or wedges and checks to keep everything secure.
Only hire trained and experienced drivers
Securing the load and using the right truck and trailer won’t do much good if you have an inexperienced driver behind the wheel. Make sure everyone on the crew has experience with heavy hauling and is capable of safely performing the job.
Know the local road laws and regulatory requirements
Every state has different regulations for heavy hauling—especially when driving down state highways—and those laws can even vary from one town or county to the next. Make sure you understand all of these requirements and have obtained any necessary permits for each town or state you’ll be driving through.
Plan your route ahead of time
Getting behind the wheel and relying on your GPS to get you to your destination might work if you’re driving a passenger car, but that’s not the case with heavy hauling. Our next tip on how to haul heavy equipment safely is to plan your route in advance. Try avoiding roads that are under construction, have toll booths or low-hanging wires. Additionally, plan the trip outside of rush hour, when there are fewer vehicles on the road.
Double-check everything before leaving
You can never be too cautious when it comes to heavy hauling. Before you leave, take a few minutes to perform another inspection of the vehicle, trailer and cargo. It’s not a bad idea to have a few crew members take on this task instead of relying on one person.
We’re the only team you need
At Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair, Inc., we specialize in lowboy hauling to transport heavy machinery, as well as providing utility vehicle repairs. Contact us today to learn more about how to haul heavy equipment safely or to get a quote for hauling or repairing your vehicles.