A heavy haul load presents a variety of potential dangers and hazards. North American Heavy Haul pioneered many of the safety precautions that have become industry standards and have been incorporated into industry guidelines. It’s important for clients to know their equipment or machinery will be well taken care of throughout its journey, whether its within the state or across international borders. The primary objective in any heavy haul project is the safety of the load and mitigating any potential risk to other drivers.

Heavy Haul Specifications

In Florida, a heavy haul load is one that exceeds13 ft. 6 in. in height, 80,000 lbs., 75 ft. in length, and 8 ft. 6 in. in width. Special permitting will be required and specialized trailers utilized.

Center of Gravity

It’s essential that loads be situated on a trailer in an optimal position relative to the center of gravity. Weight must be distributed evenly. This presents a lower profile and significantly reduces the potential for tipping while navigating corners and highway ramps. Specialized trailers are available that facilitate lowering the center of gravity.

Clean and Clear

Bumps and humps on highways can lead to the dislodging of any dirt or debris on equipment or machinery. All types of cargo should be cleaned before loading to eliminate dirt and other forms of debris that could become dislodged during transit. If not removed, they can fall off the cargo and create a hazard for other drivers.

Securing the Load

Properly securing the load is a critical practice. Specific guidelines govern the type of tie-down to be used and where it’s placed for optimal safety. Chocks may also be needed to prevent equipment or machinery from moving during acceleration or in the event of a sudden stop. Chains are the preferred method. Straps may be used in some situations, but size and strength of the tie downs are carefully calculated.

Moveable Parts

The trucking company will lower all attachments and moveable parts prior to beginning the transport. In many instances, attachments may be removed and hauled along with the equipment to minimize height or length. Attachments that have been removed are secured separately. Any doors or steering wheels on equipment must be secured so they don’t move.

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The first time you have to hire a heavy haul transport company, you’re likely to be taken aback by the cost. There are number of factors that you need to take into consideration when estimating the cost of shipping your freight. A heavy haul load is far different than any other type of cargo.

Time of Year

Heavy hauling is a specialty and companies are in high demand, especially during summer months. The time of year has an impact on shipping costs. This is true if the shipment will be moved entirely by truck or whether part of the cargo’s journey will be via rail or ocean-going vessel. If you must ship during peak times, it’s going to cost more and you need to schedule early to ensure availability.

The Direct Route Isn’t Always Best

The distance is another factor in cost. The shortest route may not be the optimal one for arriving at a specific dock. The advanced logistics utilized by heavy haul companies will plan the route that presents as few potential hazards and impediments as possible to ensure the safety of the load.

Special Accommodations

Depending on the item to be hauled, attachments such as plows or crane masts may need to be removed before shipping. In other instances, the cargo may require a shipping container to prevent road grime, inclement weather, or ocean spray from coming in contact with the load. The same is true when transporting large boats. If specialized loading equipment is required, it will affect costs.

Some heavy haul loads require special lights, signage and one or more escort vehicles. Depending on the freight dimensions, travel may only be allowed during certain times of the day. If police intervention is required to direct traffic or infrastructure such as electrical lines must temporarily disrupted, that also adds to the overall cost.

Fuel Costs

An often-overlooked expense is the fuel required. The engines in semi-tractors used to haul loads are optimized for power and efficiency. It still requires a significant amount of fuel to provide the power needed to move a heavy haul load.
 

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Best Way to Transport Heavy Equipment

Individuals and companies can move their heavy equipment by rail or truck across the U.S. A full 72.5 percent of all freight, including heavy equipment, is transported by truck. Shipping equipment to its destination by truck is the most cost-effective route, primarily due to the number of trailer options and services available.

Multiple Trailers

Heavy haul companies have a variety of highly specialized trailers available that makes transporting any type of heavy equipment easier. Models are available that allow equipment to be loaded from multiple directions and enables track or wheeled vehicles to be driven on the trailer. Low profile trailers allow transport of equipment that would otherwise not meet height requirements for overland movement. The trailers are specially designed to handle the weight of heavy equipment.

Dismantling Services

A heavy haul company also provides dismantling of machinery to separate attachments ranging from booms to plows is available. The service allows attachments to be hauled on the same trailer as the equipment to facilitate transport.

Logistics and Tracking

Heavy haul companies offer advanced logistics to map the best route for transport, enabling equipment to arrive safely and on time, whether its being shipped cross country or being delivered to a dock for shipping abroad. The company obtains all relevant permits and provides tracking. Clients know exactly where their property is throughout every leg of its journey. The companies are also cognizant of the different laws and requirements each state maintains regarding heavy hauls.

Specialized Needs

The height, width, weight and length of the machinery may require the use of lights, signage or escort vehicles. A heavy haul trucking company provides all of these whenever they’re needed.

Reduced Risk

There are many components associated with transporting heavy equipment and they must work in harmony. A heavy haul trucking company takes care of every element to reduce and minimize risk for clients.

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Heavy Equipment Transport Best Practices

Transporting heavy equipment requires an elevated level of expertise, experience, an eye for detail, and a commitment to safety. It’s a highly complex process and equipment must conform to very specific weight, height, width, and length requirements that’s not uniform across all states. Equipment transport also requires the use of specialized trailers. North American Heavy Haul pioneered many of the best practices that are now standard procedure within the industry. The following are just a few of the best practices that are employed for equipment transport.

Remove Dirt and Debris

Prior to loading, equipment must be clean and free of dirt or debris that could come off during transport.

Placement

It’s critical that equipment be loaded so weight is distributed evenly.

Load Securement

Every load must be secured prior to beginning its journey. Chains are the preferred method. Refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations whenever possible for securement points. Secure any articulation points. Loads should be checked periodically throughout the transport to ensure there’s been no movement or tampering.

Wheel Bracing

Make sure all wheeled of the equipment are chocked, cradled or wedged to prevent movement.

Lower Moveable Parts

If the equipment has attachments such as booms, arms or plows, make sure they’re completely lowered and secured to the trailer. If they’ve been removed from the equipment, they must be secured separately.

Load Dimensions

Ensure that all width, height, length and weights are within the appropriate parameters.

Warning Equipment

Ensure that any requirement such as warning lights, special signage, escort vehicles, and permits are all in place.

Safety is the Key

Precautionary measures and adhering to accepted standards are the keys to keeping equipment, personnel and other motorists safe. It’s just one of the reasons that North American Heavy Haul has earned a reputation for excellence among customers and peers within the industry.

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Transporting heavy equipment is a highly complex process. It’s made more difficult as there are no uniform rules and requirements across all states. Regulations often change from county to county within the same state The specialists at North American Heavy Haul are cognizant of the regulations across the U.S. and beyond that governs heavy haul loads. The company also innovated many of the safety standards that are best practice within the industry.

High Demand

Construction equipment is one of the most often transported of heavy haul loads. Construction equipment encompasses an extensive variety of machines for building new structures to creating infrastructure. It includes dump trucks, bulldozers and trenchers to cranes, asphalt pavers and road graders.

Cross County or Foreign Country

North American Heavy Haul provides transportation for equipment anywhere within the U.S. The company transports to Canada and Mexico, along with docks for shipping abroad. The advanced logistics and tracking provided by the company ensures timely and cost-effective transport and delivery. Arrangements for shipping containers are available when needed for aboard a ship or if part of the equipment’s journey is by rail.

Routes and Permits

There are many roads that can lead to the same destination, but they’re not all equal. The professionals at North American Heavy Haul map out the best route for each individual load, mindful of any bridges, underpasses and road construction that could cause disruptions or delays.

Every equipment delivery will require permits, some of which will be digital. The specialists are knowledgeable about all applicable permits and obtains them to ensure a smooth transport whether locally or across country boundaries.

Smart Decision

For the safest transport of multiple types of equipment, it makes good financial sense to schedule with a leader in the industry. North American Heavy Haul has the experienced drivers, technological systems, and specialized trailers to ensure loads arrive at their destination on time, every time.
 

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The owners of large vessels know the dangers of trying to pilot their craft from either coast of the U.S. or destinations abroad. Storms, high seas, unpredictable weather, and dangerous docks are just some of the pitfalls that can damage even a large ship. For those and many other reasons, boat owners choose North American Heavy Haul to transport their vessels.

A Reputation for Excellence

The company is well-known for its experience and expertise in boat transports. The company can move large vessels from dry dock to a slip, across the nation, to Canada or Mexico, or to docks for transport by ocean going ships.

Gentle Handling and Advanced Technology

Advanced logistics, tracking, knowledge of permits, and highly-trained professional boat handlers ensure watercraft arrives at its destination safely and on time. The company can also arrange for a shipping container, escort vehicles, lights and signage when applicable.

Specialized Trailers and Disassembly Services

Any destination is possible with North American Heavy Haul. The experts in maritime transport have the specialized trailers to accommodate a wide variety of vessels. If a watercraft has its own trailer, it can typically be left on the trailer and the entire assembly loaded onto one of the company’s specialized heavy haul trailers for transport. There are very specific height limits for heavy hauls and vessels can often exceed requirements. The professionals can remove masts, towers and bridges prior to transport to ensure the entire load conforms to regulations.

Cost Effective Movement

It doesn’t matter where on the planet a boat is bound; it will eventually need to be transported overland during its journey. North American Heavy Haul is the most cost-effective way to transport a boat of any size.

An Innovative Force in the Industry

North American Heavy Haul pioneered many of the techniques that have become standard practice within the heavy haul industry. Safety is always a prime consideration. The company’s team of expert boat haulers treat each vessel as if it were their own.

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While the vast majority of payloads arrive safely and securely, smart shippers always carry insurance on their cargo, whether it’s being transported in a shipping container by truck, train, ship, or a combination of the three.

Unfortunately, many individuals have termed it “grudge insurance,” since they grudgingly purchase the protection. Without insurance, you’ll be left with a huge loss and no recompense if a disaster or accident occurs.

Potential Problems

Cargo containers are transported on trucks, by rail, and on ocean-going vessels. One of the reasons for using a shipping container is to protect the payload from damage due to weather considerations encompassing rain, hail, ice, and snow, to salt spray on ships. There are also natural disasters and phenomena over which there’s no control such as dense fog, tornadoes, hurricanes, forest fires, earthquakes, flooding and volcanic activity, along with sinkholes, landslides and avalanches.

Manmade Interruptions

That doesn’t even delve into infrastructure decline that can result in a crumbling dam, along with a collapsed bridge or overpass. When being transported by rail, train cars can be derailed due to defective equipment. In high seas, containers can be swept overboard. Loss due to theft can occur and shipping containers do become lost, even with technological tracking advances.

While all of those situations are rare, they represent very real situations against which shippers must be prepared by properly insuring their cargo.

Outside Influences

Cargo is subject to a variety of natural forces ranging from friction and gravity to vibrational influences and centrifugal force due to sudden starts, stops and turns. When at sea, a ship can move in 6 different directions, which significantly affects cargo containers. All that’s required is one defective tie down to cause a container disaster during any mode of transport. Insurance is an essential protection for anything being transported in a cargo container.

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The amount of weight considered to be a heavy haul will largely depend on the state, but in general, it’s defined as anything that exceeds 80,000 lbs. in gross weight. Heavy haul companies regularly transport items ranging from 80,000 lbs. to 200,000 lbs. Any weight over 200,000 lbs. is classified as a super load.

Hauling capacity is reliant on a number of factors that includes the axle configuration and trailer type. Depending on the load, the heavy hauler may need special signage, lighting, permits, and 1 or more escort vehicles. The truck may only be allowed to travel during certain hours of the day – there may also be restrictions on the days they may travel.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) calculates load weights based on multiple variables – and they can vary widely by state. Those calculations are based on factors that include axle spacing, axle groups, number of tires, and the manufacturer’s rating.

No Uniformity

All states are required to allow trucks up to 80,000 lbs. traverse the federal interstate highway system. However, load weight limits can get complicated and confusing, depending on the state. Some states allow heavier loads without requiring special permits. The weight per axle can also vary, depending on the state. Heavy haulers have to be aware of the rules in the states in which they’ll be required to traverse.

Road Damage

The primary reason that the DOT enacted load limits is to prevent damage to roadways. Interstate highways regularly handle the weight of heavy haulers. However, the majority of roadways aren’t built to handle that much weight without experiencing some damage.

Safety

Another reason regulations have been put in place is for the safety of other motorists. Heavy haulers need additional space to get up to speed, stop, turn, and maneuver among traffic. A collision or accident involving any tractor-trailer rig is likely to be fatal.

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The differences and advantages in one trailer over another may not be immediately discernable to the inexperienced. A professional heavy haul company is able to select the best trailer for the job based on the cargo to be transported. Trailers are specifically designed for certain types of transport requirements that exceed designated weight, width, height and length standards.

Heavy haulers routinely transport items ranging from mining equipment, agricultural machinery and boats to military vehicles, fire trucks and SWAT vehicles.

Flatbed

They’re versatile, with open sides, back and front. They can be loaded from multiple directions and are appropriate for items that aren’t affected by precipitation, though the cargo can be tarped when needed.

Step Deck

They have two deck levels and accommodate equipment such as cranes. The trailers have ramps for easy loading. Similar to a double drop deck trailer, they have an upper and lower deck where the freight sets. The upper level can be used for detachable accessories such as plows.

Stretch Single Drop & Double Drop Deck

Commonly known as a lowboy, a drop deck is a multi-level trailer with the center built lower than the front and back end, allowing cargo to ride lower to the ground. Some of its many uses is to transport tall items such as boats, farm equipment, and earth moving machines. Extendable drop deck trailers accommodate extra-long loads. The stretchable beds can be extended to carry items such as pipes and lumber.

Removable Gooseneck (RGNs)

Designed to carry long and tall loads, the front is detachable and the bottom portion can be lowered to create a ramp for loading wheeled and track vehicles. The vehicles can be driven onto the trailer and they’re offered in standard and extendable options.

Dual-Lane

They’re giants of the highway, equipped to haul particularly heavy or long loads. They’re routinely used to transport turbines, transformers, generators, industrial equipment, and can be adapted to perfectly fit the payload.

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Safety, efficiency and experience are definite benefits when seeking a heavy haul company. There are dozens from which to choose and it pays to shop around. All heavy haulers don’t provide overland transportation to destinations ranging from Canada and Central Americar to ports for shipment overseas. The heavy hauler you choose shouldn’t be reticent about providing a free quote.

Talk to Peers

It can be helpful to talk to peers and others in your industry to discover who they’ve hired for their heavy haul loads. You’ll be able to ascertain if there were any areas in which the companies were lacking.

Reputation

Some heavy haul companies are innovators, while others are happy with the status quo. North American Heavy Haul pioneered many of the methods, techniques, and procedures that are currently common practice within the industry.

Years in Business

One of the things to look for in a heavy haul company is longevity. Premier heavy haulers are in high demand. Those that provide less than optimal service don’t stay in business long.

Expertise and Services

You want a heavy haul company that has experience and expertise in hauling the type of equipment or machinery you need to move. Some are also skilled in hauling vessels ranging from cabin cruisers to multi-million-dollar yachts. Experienced heavy haulers will provide flatbed transport, super load hauling, heavy equipment exporting, and provide catastrophic recovery. They’ll arrange for container shipping when needed for ocean going loads or those that need to travel by rail.

Licensing and Logistics

Reputable heavy haulers are fully licensed, bonded and always provide insurance on the loads they transport. It’s a good idea for anyone to have their own insurance on their equipment or machinery. Superior haulers offer 24/7 state-of-the art tracking and logistics, ensuring you always know where your load is located.

Rules and Regulations

Experienced heavy haulers are cognizant of the rules and regulations governing loads when passing through different states and those associated with foreign countries. The company will know what permits are needed and obtain them to ensure the transport proceeds smoothly.

Trailers

There are multiple types of trailers designed for specific kinds of loads. The heavy haul company will have the best trailer to accommodate loads of any size, height, width or weight. When applicable, heavy haulers also provide break-down services so the load conforms to regulations, which can result in considerable savings for shippers.

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