Long Haul Trucking Companies

Ship Your Heavy Equipment Long Distance

Where To Start?

Shipping your Heavy Equipment over a long distance throughout North America can be costly and complicated. Getting a handle on costs, time, and even an understanding of provincial and state regulations when it comes to over dimensional shipping can help. We’ll give you some insight on what to expect and who can best help you.

Understand What Your Transporting

In first instance you’ll want to know the dimensions and weight for the piece of equipment that you need to have hauled. So don’t jump straight to calling and researching Truckers and Carriers before that’s done

This is one of the determining factors that will allow a Carrier to correctly cost out a rate to haul.

Equipment Spec Search Tool

A good place to get this information is by using an Equipment Specification Search Tool. These online resources feature many pieces of equipment with the Length, Width, and Height along with operating weights. Trusted Dispatch has one you can use for free, check out the spec tool.

You can also visit the manufacture’s website. These typically show detailed specifications for recent and sometimes older machines. 

Obviously it’s better if you can physically check a machine, or arrange for someone to take measurements if you’re not able to. So if your buying a unit from a Dealership, an Auction site, or even privately. Whatever the situation try to have someone verify these measurements.

Why Dimensions & Weight Matter

This is two fold. Firstly the driver or Carrier will need to know how much deck space the equipment will take. This will determine whether or not the equipment is a full load or a less than full truck load.

Full Load or Less Than Full Load

If it’s a full load the driver can’t place any other loads on his deck. If it’s an LTL then he can add other customers equipment to his deck along the way. This could make the overall rate lower for you.

Trailer Type

The dimensions and weight will dictate the type of trailer too. If the load is very tall, then you might need a double drop. That’s a type of trailer very low to the pavement and has an equipment well in the middle to accommodate those tall loads. These are specialized trailers, and cost more to own and operate. You can check out different heavy haul trailer types here.

Route Planning

The length, width, height along with weight can also determine a drivers route. And even the need for pilot escort.

There’s a number of considerations here that you want to be aware of.

The driver might need to route plan and avoid;

• Low bridges
• Narrow Mountain roads,
• Snow sheds,
• Even power lines.
• If a driver wants to take the fastest route he might not legally be allowed any way. Sometimes they face road bans at certain times of the year and can’t haul certain weights.

A Professional driver and carrier will be well aware and well versed in dealing with these complexities. If in doubt ask them directly.

Pilot Escort

This refers to a haul requiring by law an escort vehicle that will be following in front or behind a typically wide load. This vehicle warns other road users, checks the load in transit etc.

We refer to these moves as over dimensional. Different State and Provincial laws will dictate what the legal allowable width is. Typically though anything over 11’6″ wide will require a pilot. They can also be required for over height, very long loads and even extremely heavy loads.

Sometimes it is possible to avoid having the extra expense of a pilot escort. Consider reducing the width of the equipment. Or reducing the height. You might also find your equipment is exempt from certain over dimensional restrictions, for example, Farm Equipment.

Distance = Time

Pretty crucial, the further the distance the longer you’ll need to wait for your equipment, and the more it’s going to cost to ship.

Drivers can’t run 24/7. Legally. They are required by law to log their hours and can only travel at certain times of the day. The loads they carry also determine this, certain restrictions on weekends, Over Dimensional loads travelling day or night for example.

Other factors come into play here as well. Weather can cause a delay. Unexpected issues along the way. There is just more probability of a delay the further a piece of equipment has to travel. Drivers tend not to over promise and underdeliver. They will give an estimated time of arrival, and will be in contact with you along the route to advise.