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How To Choose A Heavy Haul Company

6/17/2016

 
Oversize load
If you've spent some time driving on U.S. highways, then you’ll be familiar with the sight of large flatbed tractor-trailers with what appears to be full-sized oversize objects or structures on the trailer beds. There will be signs all over the load declaring that it’s an oversize load, and sometimes a smaller car with a minuscule, yellow warning light to ensure nobody gets too close.
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These measures are put in place to guard against roadside accidents due to heavy haul and oversize load. Unlike your regular tow services, heavy haul requires specialty equipment as well as loads of experience. So if you are planning to hire the services of a heavy haul company, make sure to ask the right questions to avoid any type of liability in case of damage due to accidents.

What is an oversize load? 

A heavy haul or oversize load is when a truck needs to transport something that's thought to be too large for the road it's being hauled on. This can be anything from a large piece of construction equipment to a mobile home. The common feature for oversize loads is that they can't be made compact for haulage.

On U.S roads, an oversize load is classified as load that exceeds the standard or ordinary legal size and has a weight limit for a particular portion of the transport vehicle. However, any load that is more than the per-axle limits is considered over the weight limit. Examples of oversize loads include construction machines like front loaders, containers, cranes, backhoes, pre-built homes, generators, bridge beams, windmill propellers, industrial equipment and much more.

Classification of oversize loads by U.S States

Classification of oversize load differs from state to state and within these states, from city to city. The classification is dependent on where the truck travels- like local roadways. This is significant because wherever the heavy haul vehicle travels, it’ll need a permit. Any time it crosses a state line, it’ll need to have a permit at hand. If it travels over the main highways to deliver its load, it’ll need a city permit, even if it has a state permit. 

State freeways and local roads are overseen by a different agencies. For this reason you'll notice highway patrol cars handing out tickets on expressways and the local law enforcement officers overseeing the towns.

The business of heavy haul and oversize loads

Hauling large objects is big business. There are so many companies all over the United States that specialize in oversize haulage. There are even businesses that sell signage and flags for oversize loads. But if you need to move a large object, then you should ensure you pick the right service provider that will provide you an efficient, stress free haulage service.

You have to be meticulous when choosing a company for heavy hauling. Be careful and smart in order for you to get the best service. Below are some of the most important criteria to consider before hiring a heavy haul company:
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  • Insurance – The heavy haul company you choose should have specialized insurance for their heavy hauling service. This is to assure the customer that the company handle any unforeseen circumstances. 
  • Employees – The employees should be skillful and experienced. They should know how to correctly load all types of cargo. They should also know how to drive a large vehicle with overweight cargo.
  • Price – The price for this service should be reasonable and not exorbitant. Even though heavy haul service is more costly than a normal haul, hiring locally can save you some money. 

If you're in need of an experienced heavy haul service provider for your oversize load, you can click here for a quote.
Jason Gerhauser
8/11/2016 03:31:26 pm

Didn't realize how much work goes into heavy hauling. I'm new to the transportation industry. Now is heavy hauling common? You don't see it as much on the roads as you do dry vans refers and flat beds.

Shad Morris link
11/10/2016 11:02:51 am

Since there are quite a bit of heavy things that are required for building, I wanted to know how you would find someone to transport it. I really like that you say to check and make sure that their employees are skillful and experienced. That way, you won't have to worry about things getting damaged in the process.

Tyler Meredith link
11/18/2016 03:27:44 pm

I like what this article mentions about heavy haulage being very important to things like the construction industry. It makes sense that there are trucks and drivers specially designed and trained to haul heavy and oversize loads. It's something to remember because hiring a professional that specializes in hauling heavy equipment it could be very easy to ship things like a tractor.

James Hobusch link
2/15/2017 03:23:57 pm

It's interesting to read about what qualifies as an oversize load. It makes sense that something that's larger than the road itself is an oversize load and would require special equipment and drivers to manage it safely. It's something I'll have to remember to make sure anything I need transported won't cause danger or harm to anyone. Thanks for the post!

Max Jones link
9/5/2017 10:30:09 am

My brother and I have been wanting to find a specialty shipping service that we could use for me to send him some antiques from our parents house. I'm glad that you talked about wanting to hire services who have insurance for their company, and that you want to be able to know they can handle things. I'm going to have to look for a good shipping company who has experience to transport our valuables, and hopefully have things go smoothly!

gloria durst link
10/5/2017 03:58:31 pm

I agree that you need to consider the classifications of an oversized load before choosing a hauling company. It would make sense to find something that is going to be able to haul the heavy equipment you have. In addition to this, reading reviews of a hauling service would be helpful.

Earnest Watkins link
2/7/2018 10:39:57 am

it was interesting to learn that the classification of an oversized load will differ from state to state. You mentioned that this means it's important to have the right permit for this type of transportation. I've read that this is where a heavy equipment moving company is useful since they generally handle the acquisition of these permits for you. Is that true?

Emanuel Harris link
6/1/2018 11:20:41 am

I completely agree with every word of this article. Heavy hauling is a very important yet strategic part in this business. Without being able to heavy haul most of the other things in this business wouldn't be possible.


http://kalynsiebert.com/

MarkWilson link
9/18/2018 10:58:46 pm

The best part of your article is the last three points you have discussed. Thank You.

Tim Yaotome link
10/4/2018 04:42:35 pm

I am glad to hear that the heavy haul industry is growing that there are a lot to choose from which means that the industry is still growing exponentially. If I were a project manager for a construction project, I would have to watch out for companies that also offer maintenance services alongside renting out their trucks since that means I can save up on time and resources by having one company to manage them all. Your tips will definitely help me in the future if I will have to rent out supplies from a heavy haul company.

Yoshiko Flora link
10/29/2018 09:05:18 pm

I never thought that in getting a heavy haul company, one should choose one with insurance in case of emergencies. Speaking of emergencies, in case a truck does get into a road accident, my tip is to call both the rental company and a towing service. Doing this will not only ensure that the driver will be safe but also of the truck he was driving in the accident.

Rosie Beckett link
12/21/2018 11:10:09 am

My husband and I are moving across the country and bringing our mobile home with us, so I am glad that I found this article because we will most likely need to rent a flatbed that can handle an oversized load. I did not realize that when looking for a flatbed company to haul my load I need to make sure they have insurance. This way I can have peace of mind that I will be compensated if there is any damage to our mobile home during travel.

Millie Hue link
1/2/2019 04:09:29 pm

I like that you pointed out that we must choose those with an insurance policy. As you mentioned, it will assure us that any unforeseen incidents will be covered while the equipment is being hauled. I will share this tip with my uncle since he wanted to get the old truck in his warehouse brought to a truck repair company. It has been there for years after grandpa died since it was not working properly, so they left it until now that they have the extra money to get it towed and repaired.


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  • HOME
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