Action Steps
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Understand the difference between a step deck trailer and a flatbed to fill your heavy hauling needs

Shipping quotes for heavy hauling will likely include charges for the type of trucks used in transporting your equipment. When it comes to heavy haul transportation, knowing whether you need a low boy trailer or a step deck trailer will allow you to budget accordingly.

I recommend: Get descriptions and pictures of various types of trucks used by heavy equipment haulers, such as double drop trailers or step deck trailers, at J. Supor & Son. View height, weight and length descriptions and photographs of 13- and 20-axle trailers, as well as dual lane and super dual lane transports, at Diamond Heavy Haul. All-Ways Trucking provides detailed definitions and illustrations of many types of heavy hauling trucks.

Know your oversized loads from your elbow when shipping with heavy haulers

Save time in looking for heavy haul trucking companies by knowing what type of load you're shipping. If you're shipping oversized loads, don't spend time calling heavy haulers that only deal with vans or smaller flatbeds. Mastering heavy hauling key terms associated with loads will help you know exactly what to look for when it comes time to move your equipment.

I recommend: Learn about oversized loads, what they are and what's required when transporting them, at Midwest Heavy Haul. Read about the differences between oversized and wideload heavy hauls and how each type is shipped and regulated, at Wideload Shipping.

Get to know the general terms and phrases used in heavy hauling

From bill of lading to warehousing, heavy haul trucking has many terms, phrases and acronyms, many of which you'll hear over and over again when utilizing the services of heavy haul trucking companies. Chances are you've heard of GVW, which stands for Gross Vehicle Weight, which is the total weight of a truck and its load. Learn the meaning all acronyms other heavy hauling key terms to converse confidently with heavy haulers.

I recommend: Familiarize yourself with the definitions of a long list of trucking terms presented by the Express Carriers Association. Find out what many heavy hauling acronyms stand for and what they mean in a list of trucking terms found at TWNA.org.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Read the terms and conditions set forth by many hauling companies to understand pricing, shipper responsibilities, loading and unloading details and other language used by heavy haulers.

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Plan carefully before you contact heavy hauling companies

Calculate the weight, width, height and length of the equipment you will transport. Decide if you or the carrier will be responsible for loading and unloading the product. Know the specific location of pick-up and delivery, and have detailed directions to these locations.

I recommend: Contact Anderson Trucking Service, Inc. for an online quote. The specialized heavy haul transportation company has existed for over 50 years. Use the Wideload Shipping network system to find a number of heavy haulers for your consideration.

Determine the heavy hauling services required for the load

Decide who will be responsible for loading and unloading the equipment or product. Some carriers will secure the necessary machinery to do the job, or you may choose to take control of the process. Be ready with trained personnel and adequate equipment to handle the loading and unloading.

I recommend: Go to the Gerhart Machinery Company site and choose machinery to handle the loading and unloading of your heavy equipment. Talk to Great Western Transportation about loading, unloading and inside delivery. They adapt and modify services to match your specialized handling needs.

Interview heavy haul trucking companies

Ask the company about their years of heavy hauling experience, age and maintenance of equipment and size and type they will use to assure your load will be delivered in good condition. Look for reputable companies with excellent safety records. Question the company's procedure for international transporting if this is a concern.

I recommend: Check the Internet site for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System for company safety data and services related to heavy equipment haulers. If you want to hire a heavy hauler to work consistently for you, subscribe to the Hire Safe Drivers newsletter for hiring tips.

Allow plenty of time to secure heavy haul trucking business permits and a limited driving schedule

Communicate with the trucking company to determine how long it takes to acquire heavy equipment hauling permits, if your load is overweight or oversize. A permit is required for every state through which the load travels, and the transporting must take place during daylight hours within a restricted number of days. Plan the pick-up and delivery dates accordingly, and allow additional time for limited driving time for oversize and overweight loads.

I recommend: Contact On Time Permits, LLC to purchase the required city, county and state permits. Go to the United States Naval Observatory site to receive dawn to dusk data for a specific day. Calculate the amount of time per day the load can legally travel on the highway if it is oversize or overweight.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Expect to pay on a per mile basis for an escort or pilot car on an oversize, overweight or over height heavy equipment hauling. Some municipalities may require a police escort.

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Let heavy haul trucking companies move your world

Whether you're moving a large amount of lumber across town or a fleet of construction vehicles across country, you'll be turning to heavy equipment haulers to do the work for you. In many cases, trucks can meet your heavy hauling needs. Whether your equipment necessitates hauling by flatbeds, drop decks or box trucks, heavy haul trucking companies have the vehicles to handle whatever you may be transporting.

I recommend: Visit Precision Heavy Haul to view dozens of pictures of heavy hauling trucks at work, moving everything from railroad cars to steel beams for bridges. Get an idea of the different types of trucks used and what they can move when you see pictures of and read about the services offered by Guy M. Turner. Check out Taylor Heavy Hauling's slide show, which features the different types of heavy hauling trucks as well as the heavy hauling of construction vehicles, large piping and more.

Utilize all types of haulage services

While most heavy hauling is done by various types of trucks, some equipment or other items may simply be too large or impractical to move over the road. In these cases, barges or trains might be called in to play. If you don't think the heavy haul trucking business can meet your heavy hauling requirements, look to other means of heavy haul transportation.

I recommend: No job is too big for Brownie Moving & Heavy Hauling, which will use land or water to move not only heavy machinery or material, but entire homes and buildings as well. Edison ESI offers rail services, including providing specialized rail cars and arranging any necessary clearances for heavy hauling.

Realize that heavy hauling operates under a strict set of laws and guidelines

The heavy haul trucking business is regulated by federal and state laws. It's best to use a heavy haul company that knows the ins and outs of laws pertaining to oversized, wide or super loads, as well as to permits, restrictions, certifications and other legal issues concerning heavy hauling.

I recommend: Visit Logistics Group International (LGI) to find out about state-by-state regulations for wideload and overdimensional heavy hauling in all 50 states. Rely on Imperial Trucking to learn about the different types of permits you might need for heavy hauling.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some heavy hauling companies also offer other services, such as warehousing and crane or rigging, in addition to heavy hauling transportation.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with examining the research behind heavy haul transportation regulation

Studies done on heavy haulers help determine exactly what should go into heavy hauling laws and regulations. Those making policies take the study findings into consideration before passing their decisions into effect and into law.

I recommend: Check out the US Department of Transportation /Research and Innovative Technology National Transportation Library's article on Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Study. Consider the study information on heavy vehicles from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This tech brief addresses the goal of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is to reduce the large truck fatality rate.

Find out what hauling companies need to know by state

Look up your heavy haul transportation rules and policies by state to find out what the regulations are in your area. Because laws can vary by state, if you are crossing state boundaries with your load, make sure that you have researched each territory area that you are crossing into before you leave on your trip.

I recommend: Check out the Washington State Code Reviser's Office to see how states like Washington tackle heavy haul trucking issues. In 2005, emergency rules were filed through the Department of Transportation. Look at the Over-Dimension Permit - Continuous Operation Variance information from the state of Oregon.

Look at additional information for heavy equipment haulers and hauling companies

Check out federal and citywide information on heavy hauling laws and regulations as they pertain to your business. Make sure that you have researched the necessary permits and licenses necessary for you and your vehicle to be on the road.

I recommend: Find out from Regulations.gov what's on the docket for heavy hauling services regulation review.