How to Ship a Road Grader

Graders are very useful machines, as you may well know. They are versatile and essential machines for levelling earth and roads and can even be used to clear snow in harsh winters.

What Type of Trailer Is Required

The size of your grader will determine the trailer needed (this is where it helps to provide your driver with photos of your machine, so they know what they are dealing with). Some graders are longer, some are wider, and some are taller. Graders are enormous machines, and the trailer will need to be a lowboy to accommodate the height.

Lowboy Step-Deck Trailer

These trailers have more than one deck, usually two or three, depending if it is a step deck or double-drop. With the extra decks, one deck—the drop, will be lower than the others, so it can accommodate the tallest of loads. However, graders that are a bit longer may not fit on a step deck.

Lowboy Flat-Deck Trailer

Flat-deck trailers are some of the most common trailers you’ll see on the road. Longer machines can be transported on a flat-deck trailer, which is usually longer than a step-deck trailer. For graders, it’s essential to use a lowboy flat deck to ensure the height of the load is as low as possible for transport. 

Oversized Load Road Regulations for Graders

The largest of road graders may be classified as oversized loads. Once a grader reaches a maximum height, length, width, or weight, it becomes an oversized load, and you‘ll need to jump through a few extra hoops to get your load on the road. 

You’ll need permits, signage, and possibly a pilot car or two. You also may need to adjust your travel times, as oversized loads are not permitted on the roads at times such as the day before a holiday—a peak travel time.

At Trusted Dispatch, you will always be working with a professional driver, and they will be able to provide advice and insight on transporting oversized loads.

Popular Manufacturers of Road Graders

Still, looking for the perfect road grader? Here are some popular manufacturers:

Caterpillar: Also known as CAT, this manufacturer has decades of experience and puts out excellent graders with wide blades and comfortable cabs.

Komatsu: Komatsu is a Japanese company, but they have spent decades perfecting their machines and are renowned worldwide for their construction equipment.

John Deere: John Deere has been around for nearly two centuries and is one of the best equipment manufacturers in the world. Their road graders have smart blade technology to keep the blade balanced.

Champion: Champion is an older company and isn’t as visible today, but it was a leading manufacturer of road graders, especially in the 1930s. However, in 1997, the company was bought by Volvo.

Volvo: This Swedish company not only manufactures cars but heavy equipment as well. Though they only started manufacturing graders in 2001, their experience shot them up in the list of top manufacturers.

Case: Case is another manufacturer that goes way back and is known across the world for its high-quality construction equipment.

How to Load a Grader for Transport

Loading a machine as large as a road grader takes precision and experience in order to keep it safe for everyone. You and your driver should work together to come up with a safe loading plan that works for you both.

You can help your driver prepare for loading day by sending photos of your machine. Photos help them know what they are dealing with. You can also make loading day easier by cleaning your machine to ensure all securing points are undamaged and accessible before parking it in a good location for loading.

Where to Load and Unload

Again, this is something you can discuss with your driver, but some basic requirements for an ideal loading and unloading area are flat ground and ample open space. An unbalanced trailer on the uneven ground makes for very unsafe loading, and in a tight space, things get tricky quickly.

Roll-On / Roll-Off Method

The roll-on/roll-off method is a very common method of loading and unloading heavy equipment such as graders, excavators, backhoes, and basically any equipment that drives onto trailers. It is exactly what it sounds like: carefully driving the machine on and off the trailer. You should move really slowly and steadily for accuracy and be particularly careful rolling over any uneven spots. Too much speed can put things off-balance, and you don’t want to damage your machine or any people.

Secure Tie Downs

One of the last steps before getting your load moving is securely tying it down. A professional driver will know how to do this, and you can always consult your machine manual for tips.

Get a Quote for Construction Equipment Transport

When you work with Trusted Dispatch, we will help you through the process of transporting your grader in any way we can. Send your questions via phone, email, or online chat, and we’ll answer them with enthusiasm. We strive for efficiency, safety, and professionalism, all while doing our best to provide fair rates for you. Get started with your free, instant quote today!