People move houses for a variety of reasons. They may really like their home, but not the location. It also costs about a third of the money to build a new home. Moving an entire structure can cost as little as $15,000 or as much as $200,000, depending on the size of the structure and the distance to where it will be relocated.

Moving Houses

Moving a house is a job for a heavy hauler and requires a specific level of knowledge and expertise. The four-part process requires preparation of the site, elevating the building, the physical relocation, and setting the structure up in its new location.

The home is disconnected from all utilities and the doors to cabinets and other areas are closed and secured. While not absolutely necessary, many people prefer to remove items from walls, shelves and mantles to prevent the potential for breakage. An average of 10 feet is needed around the home to accommodate excavations. Then the process of lifting the home begins.

The home is elevated from its foundation in a painstaking process that raises the house in very small increments with a series of interlinked hydraulic jacks that all work at the same time. When the house is high enough, steel support beams are placed under the home. They work in conjunction with interlocking wooden posts to help steady the structure. Jacks are then placed under the steel beams to further lift the home.

When the needed height is attained, sliding beams are placed underneath and are used to pull the house onto specialized dollies. The dollies are attached to a semi-tractor that will begin the slow and meticulous task of moving the house to its new location at a very slow pace.

Traffic control is required to block oncoming traffic and direct it away from the home’s path. The house moving company has a crew that will remove and then replace mailboxes and other items as needed. The local power company will be needed to move electric lines out of the way.

CONTACT US TODAY

A super load is any equipment, machinery or item that exceeds a state’s standard limits. It includes items that can’t be broken down or dismantled in some way to be within compliance of a “normal” load. According to federal regulations, a super load is one that exceeds 16 ft. in height, 8.5 ft. in width, and 120 ft. in length. It includes loads of 120,000 lbs. and 150,000 lbs. on interstate highway systems.

Super Load Hauling

However, each state also has its own set of regulations. In Florida, a super load is one that exceeds 15 ft. in height and 14.6 on some two-lane roads. Loads over 14 ft. high and 8.6 ft. wide aren’t allowed on the Florida Turnpike. Heavy haul companies are cognizant of the rules and regulations across any state, enabling them to transport any load safely and efficiently wherever it is needed.

Logistics and Escorts

A top-rated heavy haul company has the advanced logistics to track loads and a variety of trailer types to accommodate loads of any type. They secure loads and break them down when necessary to remain compliant with all regulations.

The companies provide escort vehicles, signage and appropriate warning lights, and map out the best routes to ensure that loads arrived safely and efficiently. There can be limitations on the times of the day in which a heavy haul load can be transported for maximum safety.

Permits

Hauling ordinary cargo is difficult enough, but super loads present special considerations. There’s a mountain of permits that must be obtained to transport a super load within the state. When the load is going across multiple states, into another country, or being shipped overseas the amount of documentation escalates. A heavy haul company negotiates the myriad of regulations and permits required to ensure super loads are delivered on time and no financial penalties are leveled.

CONTACT US TODAY

The best heavy haul companies in the business do far more than simply transport items from one point to another. They offer a variety of services that ensure the safety and timely delivery of cargo. They’re cognizant of regulations and required permits whether loads are going across the nation or internationally.

Unique Solutions

Each heavy haul has its own requirements and a heavy haul company works with clients to provide the type of trailer that best fits their needs. Each heavy haul solution is customized and the company prepares the load to be hauled. That includes elements encompassing securing doors and moveable parts, cleaning the equipment to be hauled when needed, and breaking down equipment when necessary.

Heavy Haul

Logistics

The best heavy haul companies leverage the power of advanced logistics to track each load at every step of its journey. The company coordinates with people and facilities to ensure on-time deliveries and the routes that will best facilitate the load’s arrival. The companies also connect with local municipalities if adaptations to utilities are needed or if police assistance is required.

Escorts and Signage

Depending on the cargo, escort vehicles may be required. Specialized signage and lights may be needed and there may be limitations on when loads can actually travel on roadways. The companies provide these services.

Permits

Multiple types of documentation will be required, depending upon the load’s destination. Each state has its own particular regulations and even more documents will be needed to pass through customs or ship internationally. Heavy haul companies know what documents are needed in each instance and ensure that those proofs are acquired.

Personalized Guidance

The best heavy haul companies provide expert guidance from first contact to delivery. They know what type of trailer is required and the best routes to take for the most efficient delivery. The company is able to accommodate transport of super load transportation, have multiple types of trailers, and highly experienced drivers. They’re also available when catastrophic recovery is required.

CONTACT US TODAY

The first step in the process is to hire a heavy haul company that has the specialized trailers, advances logistics and experience to ensure the load arrives safely and on time. The company will have the knowledge needed to determine if the cargo meets the specifications of an oversized load.

Oversized Loads

For transportation over roadways, any load over 8.5 ft. wide, 14.5 ft. high, and 48-53 ft. in length qualifies as an oversized load. However, when it comes to shipping loads overseas, any cargo that won’t fit into a 40 ft. or 45 ft. container is considered oversized.

There aren’t any parameters for weight, but there are limits on the amount of weight a specific piece of equipment can carry and countries can stipulate their own weight limits. Heavy haul companies are experienced and knowledgeable about the wide variety of regulations involved in oversized load shipping requirements. Shipping oversized loads overseas requires extensive knowledge and creative solutions. It also requires a multitude of permits and documentation.

In some instances, loads that are too large for a container can be broken down and dismantled for shipping in separate containers. If disassembly isn’t an option, there are flat racks, roll on roll off (RO/RO), lift on lift off (LO/LO, and breakbulk methods. Clients need to keep in mind that weight vs. measurements will affect the charges incurred.

Flat Racks – These are used for cargo that won’t fit into a standard sized container due to size or weight. Flat racks have no side walls, allowing part of the item being shipped to stick out the sides.

RO/RO – This method involves driving the cargo on the ship instead of being lifted aboard the vessel via crane. The equipment or machinery is then secured to the deck.

LO/LO – The ship’s on-board cranes are used to load and unload the cargo.

Breakbulk – A breakbulk ship is equipped with high-capacity equipment able to load and unload oversized loads. In some circumstances, barges may also be used to facilitate the loading.

No matter which method is utilized, a heavy haul company will be able to take care of all the necessary documentation and arrange for a suitable means of loading the cargo to speed it on its way.

CONTACT US TODAY

Heavy Haul drivers are limited in the number of hours that they can actually spend behind the wheel driving. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) updated many of its rules and those new regulations went into effect as of Sept. 29, 2020.

Drive Time and Breaks

Heavy haul drivers are allowed a maximum of 11 hours of drive time each day after 10 consecutive hours off duty. After coming off a run, drivers can’t drive past 14 consecutive hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty and off-duty time doesn’t extend the 14-hour period. However, the time can be extended when drivers encounter adverse driving conditions such as heavy rain, flooding roads, ice and snow.

The way the regulations are written can be confusing, particularly to new drivers. Drivers can now drive a maximum of 14 hours per day with 10 hours off during a 24-hour period. Long haul drivers can extend that 11-hour driving window into 14 when they encounter adverse driving conditions. Heavy haul drivers are also required to take a 30-minute non-driving break if they’ve been the wheel for more than 8 cumulative hours.

The Work Week

The regulations also affect a driver’s work week. Heavy haul drivers can work a 60-hour work week over the course of 7 days or a 70-hour work week over the course of 8 days. The clock runs continuously each day and doesn’t stop when drivers take a break. Drivers can restart a work week after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

Time and Safety

Time is money for heavy haul drivers. While many drivers took adequate breaks and received sufficient sleep time, some felt pressure from trucking companies to omit that essential down time. The new rules by the FMCSA were designed to ensure drivers had enough rest to provide a greater level of safety for themselves and others while on the road.

CONTACT US TODAY

The accommodations in sleeper cabs have improved significantly since Kenworth debuted the first one in 1933, though many contend that Freightliner was the first truck company to release a sleeper cab in 1953. Early models provided just enough room for a driver to lay down to sleep.

Sleeping berths first came into use during the 1920s and were primarily used for tandem driving. Known as coffins, they were a mere 18 to 24 inches wide and accessed by a separate door on the passenger side.

The man in the coffin had no way to communicate with his partner that was driving. The set up was extremely cramped, uncomfortable and dangerous. At one point coffin sleepers were slung under the belly of the trailer – a truly deadly positioning.

Sleeper Cab

Today’s sleeper cabs are far removed from those early attempts. The luxury to which drivers can treat themselves is only limited by the money they have to spend. For many drivers, a luxury sleeper cab actually makes more sense than purchasing a permanent home if they spend most of their time on the road. It can also be more cost effective.

For many heavy haul drivers, a basic sleep cabin is standard fare. It provides a comfortable space to sleep, some storage space, and there may be room for a compact refrigerator and microwave. The more time drivers spend on the road, the more likely they are to avail themselves of plusher sleeper cabs with multiple amenities.

Sleeper cabs are positioned directly behind the driving space. They provide much more room and comfort for restful slumber. Sleeper cabs are also available that are positioned farther back and resemble a box attached behind the cab. Look inside one of these “boxes” and people can find all the comforts of home.

Luxury sleeper cabs contain a sleeping space ranging from 38 by 80 inches to 42 by 85 inches, depending on the make and model of the truck. These sleeper cabs may have a built-in kitchenette, stove and refrigerator. The sleepers have internet access, TV and streaming services, stereos, and storage space. Some even feature showers and toilets.

CONTACT US TODAY

The cost of fuel for truckers has always had an impact on the price of goods to the consumer and it can almost seem to be a never-ending cycle of cost increases. Individuals typically think of fuel prices in terms of its impact on their wallet, but those higher costs also affect the price of fuel truckers need to deliver goods across the nation.

Trucker drivers are paying even more for their fuel per gallon than ordinary consumers. There are multiple reasons that the price of fuel can begin to climb, thereby affecting the cost of transporting products, many of which people don’t understand.

Fuel Prices

Supply and Demand

When demand for crude oil that’s refined into gas outpaces the supply, the cost of gas increases. Oil producers can produce as much or as little as they want and countries that purchase from them have no control over the price they must pay.

When any type of shortage occurs or there’s a disruption in the supply chain, inflation and higher prices follow. Fuel costs are just one of the commodities affected. When people were in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, demand was minimal and costs dropped to less than $1 per gallon. When demand returned, the cost went up.

Wall Street Investors

There are investors that seek their fortune in oil commodities. It’s the single most in-demand commodity in the world, which provides opportunities for supply and cost manipulation. Investors sometimes purchase large quantities of crude oil and withhold it from the market to create fewer supplies that will drive the cost up.

Volatile Markets

Wall Street doesn’t like what it calls volatile markets – when stockholders have the potential to lose value from their portfolios.  Inflation – too much demand for too few goods – is an example, as is geo-political conflict and supply chain issues. Volatility occurs anytime there’s unpredictability and sharp changes in prices.

CONTACT US TODAY

Heavy haul drivers keep a variety of industries supplied with the parts, materials and equipment needed for a variety of operations ranging from heavy construction and mining to agricultural endeavors. The drivers also encounter multiple types of problems while on the road, encompassing driving disasters, injuries, and illness.

Heavy Haulers

Driving-Related Accidents

Rules and regulations are in place dictating how long drivers can engage in over-the-road travel before they must rest. However, heavy haulers are still subject to schedule changes and irregular sleep pattern resulting in a lack of sound slumber. Like everyone else, drivers can also have difficulty falling asleep.

Drivers of passenger vehicles also present problems. They don’t consider the extra space that heavy haulers require to stop, turn and make lane changes. Those risks increase with oversized loads. Sharp curves, rain-covered roads, snowy or icy terrain, and steep hills increase the potential for a truck to experience a jackknife situation or roll over. The potential for loads that shift or break loose are always a very real danger, particularly on bad roads.

Equipment-Related Injuries

Heavy haul drivers also experience robberies, though it’s an often-overlooked hazard of the job. Trying to protect a load from thieves can result in serious injury or even death. Loads are secured and checked before drivers set out. However, burns, electric shock and hazardous emissions do occur. Material may be ejected or chains come loose, along with shearing or crushing.

Health-Related Problems

Heavy haul drivers can experience a variety of health problems ranging from obesity, diabetes, stress and high blood pressure to cardiovascular disease, cancer and musculoskeletal injuries. Entering and exiting truck cabs can be hard on joints, while exposure to hazardous chemicals is also a concern. While it’s not often discussed, male and female drivers experience assault and rape.

Heavy haulers are far less likely to see a doctor regularly due to their schedules and it can be difficult for them to contact their primary care physician. Even though telehealth appointments can help, if blood work, x-rays or lab tests are needed, drivers may not be logistically situated to obtain those diagnostic tests. Further complicating treatment is that drivers can’t take some types of medications while operating a tractor-trailer rig.

CONTACT US TODAY

The short answer is yes. They represent an increased potential for multiple types of vehicle accidents. It’s just one of the reasons that individuals should exercise care and caution when engaging the services of a heavy hauler. The size and weight of the vehicles means they cause more damage when involved in a collision, which also increases the risk of fatalities.

Different Requirements

Heavy haulers require more time and distance to stop or try to avoid an accident than passenger vehicles. They also need more room to maneuver and make turns. The size of the trucks result in significant blind spots – facts that motorists typically don’t think about. Carelessness around any type of cargo hauler can result in catastrophic outcomes and the risk increases with heavy haulers.

Oversize Loads

Most Common Accidents

The three most common types of accidents experienced by truckers are rollovers, blown tires and jackknife crashes. Rollovers happen when trucks are forced to make sharp turns, the load’s weight isn’t evenly distributed, or the load isn’t adequately secured. Tires support a lot of weight and a blown tire can result in drivers losing complete control of the tractor and trailer.

Jackknife crashes can occur when a tractor-trailer rig must come to a sudden stop, while traversing downhill slopes and steep grades, or when truckers are transporting cargo on wet, snowy or icy roads. It happens when the tractor and trailer “fold” at a sharp angle to each other. The driver has no control in these situations and the trailer can easily swat other vehicles off the road.

Driver Precautions

Tractor-trailer rigs are more dangerous simply due to their size and weight. Reputable truck drivers and companies, especially heavy haulers, take every precaution to protect loads and deliver them safely to their destination. Operators of passenger vehicles need to keep in mind the extra time and space that truckers need to operate safely and maintain a safe distance.

CONTACT US TODAY

Heavy haulers are a common sight on highways across the nation, but that wasn’t always the case. Prior to the invention of the automobile in the early 1900s, “heavy haulers” consisted of horse-drawn wagons that transported items to a train depot where the freight continued its journey.

Heavy Hauling History

The regular use of heavy haulers began in the military during World War I. After the war’s end in 1918, the use and value of heavy haulers in civilian projects began to get traction. Early heavy haulers had iron and solid rubber wheels that damaged roads. Trucks were limited to 15 mph and weights of 18,000 to 28,000 lbs., depending on the state. Still, there were about 100,000 trucks on the road.

The need to transport goods and products during World War I increased and trains became congested. Improved roads during the 1920s and the introduction of the diesel engine, standardization of trailer sizes, power brakes and steering, and fifth wheel coupling systems boosted heavy haul use in the 1930s. The government began regulating the industry.

After the end of World War II in 1945, construction of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s and 1960s spurred increased usage of heavy haul vehicles. The desire for more economical ways of transporting products and goods across the nation further increased use.

The 1960s and 1970s saw numerous songs written and films made that romanticized the trucking lifestyle and culture. As greater demands for goods and products increased, so did the need for heavy haulers.

There were over 26 million trucks in use by 2006. The number of accidents climbed as motorists didn’t understand the special requirements and blind spots of heavy haulers. Greater government regulation and safety standards were instituted. Heavy haulers have had a significant effect on the agricultural industry to green energy efforts. Heavy haulers continue to exert an enormous impact on the economy within the U.S. and in international trade.

CONTACT US TODAY