Expert Construction Equipment Hauling Services in Western Canada

When you need to move pieces of heavy construction equipment, you want a shipping company you can trust. Not just any owner-operator has the knowledge or experience to transport articulated rock trucks properly. There are safety measures to follow, regulations to abide by, and expert handling of the truck and trailer that ensure equipment arrives at the destination in the same condition it started with. If you’re looking for professional construction equipment hauling in Western Canada or beyond, Trusted Dispatch is who you need to call. 

General Security Procedures for Transporting Heavy Construction Equipment

While each type of machine will have specific requirements, there are some common tips for shipping large machines in general. These will include:

• Drive the machine onto the trailer carefully.
• Apply the parking brake and put the machine in neutral.
• Activate the hydraulic lockout switch and release the boom lock to release hydraulic pressure to lower the blade, bucket, or rear attachment, such as a riper or winch.
• Chain down the equipment at the tow eyes and over large wheels and buckets, such as on an excavator and backhoe.
• Cover the windshield and any other glass windows at risk of damage during shipment.

Extra measures may be taken for long hauls, such as disconnecting the battery and covering any exhaust stacks. If you like to learn more details about how each machine is loaded and secured onto a trailer, along with pictures, visit our construction equipment shipping page here. 

Once the shipment is loaded and secured, the driver will pull away slowly while also testing out the brakes to confirm the load is secured on the trailer and won’t shift during transport. Once that test is complete, the driver will be on his way to deliver your shipment. 

Most Shipped Construction Equipment

At Trusted Dispatch, our drivers ship a lot of heavy equipment for different sectors, including agriculture, oil and gas, mining and exploration, and construction. Some of the most commonly shipped machines are for the construction industry. Here are some of the most frequently shipped pieces of equipment

Excavators

Our drivers can ship excavators of all types, from mini compact excavators to large excavators. They’ll take the time to ensure it is loaded correctly onto the trailer and is adequately secured so that it reaches the destination safely. For large machines, certain pieces may be unpinned and removed to reduce the overall height of the load. 

Backhoes

Backhoes are loaded with the same care as excavators, ensuring that all parts are secured, and the weight is distributed evenly across the trailer. The type of trailer your driver will bring will depend on whether you’re shipping just one backhoe or if other machines are part of your load. The beauty of many lowboy and step-deck trailers is that additional axels can be added to distribute greater weight.  

Bulldozers

Bulldozers are large machines that require attention and care to load evenly and chain down securely. Safety is essential to protect the machine in transport and surrounding traffic. Our drivers have ample experience transporting large, heavy machines, such as dozers. 

In some cases, the blade of a bulldozer may need to be removed for transport and possibly shipped separately due to weight and width considerations. If you have questions about this process, you can contact us, and we’ll discuss your options.

Wheel Loader or Track Loader

Wheel loaders are large machines, and due to their size, your driver will most likely be using an RGN-type trailer that disconnects from the truck and provides a ramp to drive large machines onto the deck with ease. From there, the driver will follow the standard safety procedures to chain down the machine for transport. 

Skid Steers

Skid steers are useful machines on a job site because they are smaller and a bit more agile than a large dozer or backhoe. While a skid steer is smaller in size, it still requires careful loading onto the trailer and the usual safety checks to ensure it stays in place during transport and arrives in the same condition it started with. 

Graders or Scrapers

One of the larger, heavier pieces of construction equipment is the scraper, which means it requires expert handling to haul it safely between locations. Due to the dimensions of a scraper being so large and heavy, your driver may need to utilize a jeep dolly or booster to even out the weight distribution. Not only does this make it easier to haul, but it may also be required to transport the machine legally. 

For loads of this size, a pilot car or escort car may also be necessary to ensure the safety of the load and other users on the roads. You can contact us if you have questions about these requirements. The driver that claims your load will also discuss the details with you and any associated additional costs required for the legal transport of heavy machines. 

Rock Truck or Dump Truck

Our drivers are expert shippers of large-size articulated rock trucks and smaller-sized dump trucks. These pieces of construction equipment are necessary on every worksite. The driver that claims your load will ensure that the machine is loaded properly and securely for transport. 

Construction Equipment Shipping in Canada and the United States

Trusted Dispatch specializes in heavy equipment transport in Western Canada, across Canada, and into the United States. Use our free, instant quote system to find the cost to ship your machine and get your shipment on the road.