It can quickly become expensive to ship heavy equipment from one place to another in the US, or to Canada. As you might expect, heavy equipment transporters must be contacted in order to make this happen, because they will be familiar with the requirements of safely transporting heavy equipment, and they will have the kind of trucks, flatbeds, and other trailers, which can be used to get the job done.
There are quite a few factors which come into play when calculating the freight rate for heavy equipment transportation, and some of these factors are obvious while others are not quite so obvious.
When Do I Need a Heavy Equipment Hauler?
You will need a heavy equipment hauler whenever you have a need to transport super heavy machinery from one place to another, whether that be somewhere within the state, or on the far side of the country. Heavy equipment haulers have special knowledge of the requirements imposed by such loads, and will also have the necessary trucking equipment to move the machinery without having to disassemble it and reassemble it at the destination.
Some of the most commonly moved heavy equipment include cranes, welders, pavers, bulldozers, forklifts, dump trucks, loaders, air compressors, backhoes, and excavators. Some of these machines can reach truly huge proportions, and that of course, complicates their transport from place to place. If you have equipment like this which you need relocated to a specific construction site or any kind of project site, you will undoubtedly need the services of a heavy equipment hauler.
Specialized equipment and services provided by a heavy equipment hauler include registered blade guards, a large enough pintle hook so that your towable equipment can be handled, specialized service which accommodates scrapers, CAT, and Terex, as well as a number of different sized trailers which can accommodate your hauling requirements.
There are often specialized haulers which are needed in the transport of super heavy equipment, for instance extendable trailers, hotshot trailers, double-drop trailers, lowboy trailers, step-deck trailers, flatbed trailers, and removable gooseneck trailers. An experienced and knowledgeable equipment hauler will know which of these is the right choice for hauling your specific type of equipment. They’ll also know which kind of trailer can best accommodate your needs with regard to capacity and maintaining safety for your valuable machine assets.
In addition to the physical requirements for shipping super heavy equipment between states, it’s also necessary to secure the appropriate permits for interstate travel. Since every state has its own rules and regulations regarding permits for oversize loads, an experienced equipment hauler will know how to go about securing permits, so that a load can be transported across multiple states in the most efficient manner.
What is the Average Cost for Hauling Heavy Equipment?
The cost for transporting heavy equipment will vary according to a number of factors, the most important of which will be the distance that must be covered during transportation. For distances of over 500 miles, a good rule of thumb would be $1.75 per mile, whereas distances less than that will probably run you closer to $4.00 or $5.00 per mile.
Some of the factors that go into calculations for trucking freight rates include the level of demand, current market conditions, the weight or size of the load, the distance to be traveled, and the type of goods which are being transported. In the case of over-sized or super heavy loads, another factor that comes into play is the time of year when the shipment has been transported. For instance, if a heavy load must be transported into the Northeast during wintertime, you can expect a higher freight rate to be imposed than if the destination were to be a warm weather site at any other time of the year.
Some routes throughout the country automatically carry higher freight rates because there are a great many more loads in those areas, and that increases demand for carriers. Trucking freight rates are usually set by a freight broker who subtracts their fee from the total rate paid by a shipper, and then the broker pays the remainder to the actual carrier. These rates are negotiable and often fluctuate significantly.
In most cases, when extremely heavy equipment is being shipped, there will be a high freight rate associated with the shipment, and the carrier can expect to be fairly well compensated. It will also be necessary to find the right equipment and an experienced and skilled driver to handle a valuable shipment of machinery, so that no mishaps occur en route.
There are also some additional factors which can come into play when heavy equipment is being hauled, and this may affect the freight rates. One good example of this is when a company specializes in over-sized loads and heavy equipment hauling. You might also expect to pay a premium freight rate when the trailer you need for your heavy equipment is in huge demand for whatever reason.
It could be that the hauling company needs to make special preparations to a trailer which will be necessary to transport your equipment, and that will also affect the final freight rate which you are quoted. To obtain the best freight rate for shipping your heavy equipment, you may have to shop around and get several quotes, but the best hauler won’t necessarily be the cheapest one. Make sure any hauler you choose for transporting your heavy equipment is reliable, and has a good track record for safety and for getting the job done on schedule.
Heavy Equipment Hauling Professionals
When you’re looking for a heavy equipment hauler that you can rely on, look no further than Osage Specialized Transport, the company which has more than 25 years of experience in the trucking industry. Contact us today about your requirements for moving large equipment within the US, we can transport to all 50 states as well as to Canada, so we can get the job done for you, safely and efficiently.