Most of us cannot help but admire the large machines at work at a construction site as we pass by on our commute to work or on the transit ride home. The sheer size and power of an excavator as it breaks up the pavement or moves large slabs of rock as if they were beach balls is undeniably impressive. And when they’re parked, they almost resemble a sort of futuristic metal dinosaur. There is one clear thing that large construction equipment has in common with the long-extinct creatures, and that is their heavy mass. You won’t see an excavator driving down the highway to get from one job site to the next, so how does heavy equipment get shipped? Heavy equipment can be transported almost anywhere with the right resources and a professional driver. Read on to learn nine important things about heavy equipment shipping.
1. What Is Considered Heavy Equipment
The term heavy equipment may sound obvious, but if you had to define the parameters of what heavy equipment is, could you? The benchmark is set at 5,000 pounds. Once a machine or equipment exceeds that weight, it is considered heavy equipment. The purpose of heavy equipment is to push, pull, lift, or carry materials that are much heavier than other equipment can handle.
Two great examples of heavy machinery are tractors and dump trucks. Both machines dramatically improve the efficiency of essential tasks, including farming and construction. Without them, the work would be much more time-intensive.
Choosing the Right Equipment and Shipping Services
What does this mean for shipping? The appropriate trailer, as well as an experienced driver, are necessary to properly deliver your equipment from one destination to another. When you need to transport heavy equipment, you’ll want to find transport companies that specialize in heavy equipment, such as Trusted Dispatch.
2. Which Industries Have Heavy Equipment
When you think of heavy machinery, there are many industries that come to mind. This can include everything from farming to mining to aerospace engineering. Basically, any sector you can imagine that uses large pieces of machinery and equipment fits this category. In the transportation business, four main industries frequently require heavy hauling, including agriculture, construction, mining, and the oil and gas sector.
Agriculture
Agricultural machinery and farm equipment look nothing like they did fifty years ago. The size and efficiency of today’s machinery would leave your great-grandparents speechless if they could watch a modern farmer harvest his crops. Not only have the size of the machines grown, but the number of acres a farmer will cultivate has also grown exponentially in recent decades, meaning farmers require much more than their usual tractor to manage all their fields.
Construction
In construction, each job site looks a bit different. The same lineup of equipment won’t be necessary from site a to b. In some cases, you may need additional construction equipment halfway through a job and require last-minute shipping. A heavy haul transport company can help you get the right equipment on time.
Mining, Oil, and Gas
The mining and extraction sector requires a range of heavy machinery for various jobs, including at remote locations. While your company may hire skilled and experienced drivers to transport your equipment when needed, a heavy hauling company can help with the smaller transport jobs. These small jobs may include delivering a new piece of machinery bought at an auction to your main lot or company property.
3. Where to Buy Heavy Equipment
If you’re purchasing heavy equipment for your company or your operations, you know the brands you prefer and where to buy them brand new. When you can’t buy them new due to price increases or shortages in supplies, there are ample ways to find used industrial equipment and machinery. Regional consignment sales can provide decent selections and good prices, and so can auction companies. When you find the right shipping service, you can bid on machines anywhere in North America with the confidence that they will be able to be shipped to you.
4. How to Prepare for a Heavy Haul
Preparing your industrial or agricultural machinery for a heavy haul shipment requires a few preparation steps before shipment day. It helps to wash down the machine so that the tie-down spots are clearly visible and to inspect the machine for damage before loading it up on the trailer.
Different size machines require different trailer types to ensure the shipment meets all appropriate road laws and regulations. If you’re using the Trusted Dispatch system, we require the dimensions of your shipment before confirming your load with possible drivers. This allows us to match you with a driver that has the correct trailer for your machine.
Preparing Oversize Loads
If your shipment is classified as oversize, your driver will get in touch with you to discuss the proper protocols and necessary arrangements to haul an oversize load. This may include additional flags or signs on the truck and trailer, which the driver will provide. It may also require a patrol car, depending on the route your shipment takes and the applicable rules in that region. When in doubt, you can always contact us, and we’ll find out the answers you need.
5. How to Find Specs for Popular Models
Knowing the specifications for your machine and equipment is essential for any shipping company to agree to transport your load. At Trusted Dispatch, we provide free shipping quotes instantly after you tell us your pick-up and drop-off locations and the specifications for your shipment. This includes the size and weight of the machine.
If you don’t know the dimensions of your equipment, we have a powerful Specs Tool with over 30,000 saved makes and models of heavy equipment that will likely match yours. If you don’t find yours listed, contact our office, and we’ll help research the necessary details.
Why Do Specs Matter?
Knowing the size and weight of your shipment is essential to planning transport. For starters, the height and weight of your load will determine the number of axles the driver will require to use on their trailer. The length and width of your machine will determine how much deck space your machine will require. A driver must know whether your load will occupy the entire deck space on their trailer or if they’ll have room for an additional load that’s along their route. Planning ahead is vital for heavy equipment shipping.
Some of the most common industrial machines and agricultural equipment we ship include:
- Combines
- Tractors
- Excavators
- Backhoes
- Dump Trucks
- Graters
- Bulldozer
- Earthmover
- Road roller
- Cranes
- Bucket Cranes
- Snowploughs
6. What Is Considered a Long Haul
Long haul shipping is when the distance required to transport your load requires multiple days of travel. This might be interprovince shipping in Canada or across the border into the United States. The long-haul shipping process can be complex to arrange and costly. The first thing to consider is the dimensions and weight of your shipment. Next, the driver will decide which trailer is best to use and plan the best route possible for timing and drivability.
The price of long-haul shipping is largely calculated by the distance your shipment is going to travel. Drivers can only be on the road for a certain number of hours a day for safety and labour regulations. If your load is overweight or oversize, there are additional restrictions on what days of the week and which times of the day your shipment can be on the road. With those factors taken into consideration, you’ll be able to get an estimate of the cost of a long-haul shipment. You can watch our video and read our article all about long-haul shipping to understand more about the specifics.
7. What Is Considered a Fair Price With Heavy Equipment Transport
As mentioned above, the time and distance your shipment needs to travel will determine the cost of your shipment. At Trusted Dispatch, we strive to offer fair prices for both the customer and driver to ensure quality shipments arrive on time securely. Our drivers are professionals, and by cutting out the middle man in the equation, we’re able to offer both sides fair rates without compromising standards or safety. Shippers can save up to 30% on average by using our system, while drivers get additional revenue.
8. How to Ship Across the Border
Cross-border shipping doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, it can be straightforward when you use Trusted Dispatch. Your first step will be to contact a customs broker to determine the paperwork required to transport your machine over the border into either the United States or Canada, depending on where you are located.
Next, you’ll follow the same steps as any other shipment by using our free tool to get your instant shipping quote. Once a driver claims your load, you can arrange the fine details between your broker and your driver. If your company has its own in-house customs experts, you may not need a broker. However, if you’re not experienced with cross-border transporting or export, a customs broker can save you money in the long run.
9. How to Choose a Heavy Equipment Shipping Company
The first step to take when choosing a company that offers heavy equipment shipping is to look for quality and price. At Trusted Dispatch, we have consistently been rated five stars on Google Reviews, and you can read our testimonials here. As for pricing, we make it very easy to get a free quote instantly. Use our website or mobile app to enter the dimensions and weight of your shipment, along with the pick-up and drop-off locations, and you’ll instantly get your free shipping quote.
Once you approve your quote, you can share your load to our dashboard for a driver to find and connect with to arrange the final details. It’s as simple as that.
Fully Vetted Drivers
All of the drivers that partner with Trusted Dispatch are experienced, fully vetted, and have full cargo insurance. You’ll find our drivers knowledgeable and helpful when arranging the final details of your shipment so you can have confidence that your equipment will be delivered on schedule.
Heavy Equipment Shipping in Alberta and Western Canada
Let Trusted Dispatch be your heavy equipment shipper. Whether it’s within Alberta, in Western Canada, or requires long-haul shipping, we’ll find you the right driver for your shipment. Get started now with a free instant quote.
