Heavy equipment hauling in the U.S. isn’t overly complicated, but if you’re trying to figure out how to get your first heavy equipment shipment on the road, it can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, there are many ways to get your heavy machinery through the Southwest U.S. and beyond with minimal stress. Planning ahead, reading up on regulations, and communicating with drivers are just a few steps you can take to stay on top of things. To get you started, here are 5 top tips for heavy-haul shipping in the Southwest United States.
1. Is Your Equipment Oversized?
It is very important to know as soon as possible whether your load is oversized when transporting heavy equipment. Since oversized loads require special permits to get on the road, you’ll need to adjust your planning accordingly. These rules can also vary between states, so the further in advance you figure this out, the better, and you can make sure your load gets delivered on time.
Depending on the dimensions of the load, extra components, such as pilot cars, may be required. If a load is overly tall, further planning will be necessary to ensure the load can safely clear all bridges and overpasses on your route. For overly tall shipments, a pole car or scout car may be needed to drive ahead of your truck to spot any unexpected height restrictions on the route. Oversized loads also typically require extra signage to notify surrounding traffic of their presence.
Planning should also include considerations for restrictions on travel since oversized loads are often barred from transport during peak travel times and holidays.
2. Follow All State Regulations
In the Southwest, heavy haul rules vary from state to state, so keeping your knowledge up to date will make shipping easier. Regulations deal with the different sizes of loads that are allowed to be shipped, the times of day that heavy equipment shipments can travel, how many hours a day drivers can work, and more. Knowing these regulations helps focus your planning and avoid undesirable delays and hefty fines. These rules and regulations will guide you in your preparations, and when you need to provide your permits and documents, you won’t feel the need to scramble. Instead, you’ll have peace of mind because everything is ready to go.
3. Know Your Routes
Planning and knowing the route ahead of time really helps with achieving tips 1 and 2, as well as preparing for any unexpected events on the road. Heavy equipment shipping can be unpredictable due to the interference of traffic, weather events, or other obstacles, so planning your route ahead of time allows you to avoid as many surprises as possible.
It’s essential to be prepared with a plan for more than one route. That way, if an unexpected accident occurs or a route detour happens, you have pre-planned and approved route options available to you or your driver. Being over-prepared is always better than not being prepared at all.
4. Prepare for Loading Day
Being ready for loading day is a great way to make your heavy equipment shipment go smoother for both you and your driver. The best way to prepare for loading is to communicate with your driver, but there are a couple of things you can do to get preparations started on your own, including
- Parking your heavy machinery in a flat, open area.
- Cleaning the equipment of any dirt or debris.
- Securing windows and doors.
- Checking for damage and documenting any found damages.
- Taking pictures of the machine.
- Double-checking securing points.
5. Hiring Professionals Increases Efficiency
Working with heavy-haul professionals means you can worry a lot less about the fine details of hauling. Reliable and knowledgeable drivers already know a lot about preparing heavy machinery for loading day, planning routes, following regular and oversized load rules and regulations, and more. Their knowledge can speed up the pre-shipping process and prevent delays during load transport, which will help your shipment go smoother.
It’s essential to cooperate efficiently with your driver by responding and providing clear communication from the arrangements for pick-up, during the haul, and to finish off the delivery of the equipment. Make sure your dimensions are correct so your driver knows what they’re hauling, organize the loading day together, and share photos and updates. Avoiding miscommunications will keep the shipping process smooth!
Heavy Equipment Hauling in the U.S.
Trusted Dispatch is here to help you with all your heavy equipment hauling needs in the United States and Canada! The experienced drivers in our network are familiar with all kinds of terrain, varying rules of the road, and all kinds of different equipment. Communication also becomes easy with Trusted Dispatch’s straightforward load board, and you can select offers that you feel most comfortable with.
If you have more questions, feel free to check out our other heavy equipment shipping tips, or contact us via phone, email, or online chat. To get started with your load transport, get your free, instant quote today.
