When and Why You Need a Lowboy
Low boy trailers are used to move construction equipment that can move under its own power. When equipment can move under its own power it is called “Roll On Roll Off”.
Low profile trailers are easy to load and unload, even if its in the middle of a remote oilfield location.
When your company has to transport or ship to a customer a large piece of freight or machinery that cannot be divided into smaller parts what will you do?
You no longer have to be concerned about transporting your equipment safely, when you rely the professional services provided by us to handle your over sized shipments.
We can provide heavy haul and over-sized trucking using a range of specialized oversized trailers that will scale even the largest and heaviest of equipment.
Lowboy payload capacity will vary from trailer manufacturer to trailer manufacturer and also by each manufacturer’s specific design and construction.
Some times you will see the word “expandable” in the description of a lowboy trailer, this should really be “extendable”. An extendable lowboy trailer can be expanded to carry freight that is very long. To expand a lowboy extendable trailer, the trailer locking pin is released; the brakes are applied to the trailer; the tractor pulls the front end of the trailer until the trailer expands to the desired length, then the locking pin is set back in place. So now the trailer has extended its overall length, and can haul longer loads.
Lowboy Freight
- Excavator
- Loader
- Dozer
- Compactor
- Skid Steer
- Loader Backhoe
- Parts or Inoperable Machinery
Lowboy Freight by Manufacturers
- Komatsu
- Case
- Volvo
- Gradall
- Ferguson
- Manitex
- Raygo
- Timberjack
- Gehl
Lowboy Trucking
Is your company a construction, industrial or other commercial business needing to transport heavy equipment or supplies to a job site. Or did you purchase heavy equipment or heavy items from an auction or via a for sale by owner?
Now you need to ship the item on a lowboy trailer. We offer the perfect solution to moving larger, taller and/or heavier freight.
Additionally we provide full lowboy shipping service for all commercial, government and industrial relocation projects.
If you are planning on purchasing at an auction, contact us to get a competitive bid estimate on the transportation costs of your planned auction purchase.
Tall loads are always the more difficult loads to transport, due to numerous factors such as a high center of gravity, the need to clear overhead obstruction and permit travel routes and restrictions which add time to the overall delivery time length.
Use our quick quote form for a free and market spot rate price based lowboy quote. Speak to a live lowboy freight specialist at (800) 972-8484.
- Save Your Valuable Time
- Leverage Our Experience
- Easy, Convenient and Comprehensive Customer Support
- Eliminate Uncertainty, Delays and Cost Overruns
- Market Based Spot Prices
Common Lowboy Cargo Control
Below are some of the common cargo control components used on lowboy trailers to make sure your cargo arrives safely and in the same condition as it was when it left the pickup location. Various manufacturers have various options, however the list below covers the common options.
- 4 way chain slot center strip. This is located down the middle of the load well for securing 1/2 and 3/8 chain
- Lift/Tie Down Locational Devices. This is used for Military Applications/Aircraft Transport
- Flush Mount D Rings
- Pipe Spools
- Recessed Mount D Rings
- Rub Rail
- Sliding Winch Nylon Straps
- Stake Pockets
- Twist Locks
Verified By Shipper
The shipper should verify the machine works properly especially the power-train, hydraulics and both service and parking brake. Someone who is thoroughly knowledgeable with the machine should test it. In the cases of powered machinery it will be driven onto the lowboy trailer under its own power.
Suggested Trailer Type
In most cases when you provide us with the weight of the machine and the overall dimensions one of our lowboy heavy haul freight consultants will know what type of trailer is required to haul your load. If you have suggestions as to other possible suitable trailers let our heavy haul freight consultants know.
Are Permits Required
Providing accurate weight of the load and accurate width, height and length, will allow our freight consultants to assess if a permit will be required for the travel route.
When permits are required this may also indicate that pilot cars may be required too. If the load is very tall then bucket trucks may be required to temporarily move overhead obstructions, such as traffic signals or utility lines. However, the staff at Great Western Transportation is well aware of all permit requirements for oversize/over-dimensional (OS/OD) loads.
Lowboy Rates and Quotes
Lowboy rates and quotes vary on a number of factors. A key factor is if permits will be required to transport the load. Permits may be required if two major factors are over a specific dimensional or weight limit as set by states. When permits are required for exceeding maximum limits, then there may be a need for pilot cars to follow the load behind or drive in front of the load to make sure there is overhead clearance.
Provide ample time when booking a lowboy trailer to avoid delays of your freight or low availability of equipment which may result in higher than market rates.
Competitive market based rates are the key to making Great Western Transportation your best choice for lowboy transport.
The price to purchase a lowboy trailer varies depending on the specifications, year of the model and overall mechanical condition. Because lowboy trailers are designed to be durable and have a long lasting usable lifespan, means they are more expensive than regular flatbed trailers. Additionally the constant maintenance of brakes, axles, wheels and tires adds to the overall maintenance costs of a lowboy trailer.
Thus, when comparing the rates of a lowboy trailer versus the rates of a standard flatbed trailer the lowboy rates will be higher. In terms of numbers there are simply less lowboy trailers out there all together.
Freight Preparation Checklist
- Owners Manual
Refer to the owner’s manual for things that must be done prior to shipping your equipment. Newer equipment has a manufacturers website from which manual’s will most likely be available. For older equipment search for the manufacturer and model number, with the words manual or pdf included in the search phrase.
When it is ideal to reduce the weight or overall dimensions of a machine always refer to the owner’s manual.
- Cover and Protect
Usually heavy equipment is quite resilient to the elements of the weather, however when an open trailer that is traveling 55 miles per hour down the road, extra protection may be needed. This is especially true for the interior of a cab.
- Pick Up and Drop Off Locations
Provide ample room at both pick up and delivery locations to load the tractor-trailer. Generally the trailer with the tractor have to have room to drive in and load the machinery.
If there is a need for loading docks, ramps or cranes for loading and unloading you should communicate this immediately when booking the tractor trailer. Plus provide as much specific requirements as possible.
- Port and Export Preparations
When the delivery destination is a US port for loading onto a ship for foreign export, make sure the equipment has been power washed and is cleaned thoroughly. Additionally there should be no leaking fluids. Equipment that is not cleaned properly will not be loaded onto a ship for export and additional costs will be incurred to clean it. If there are leaking fluids such as oil or coolant, this may cause major delays for repairs and significant additional costs.
- Ask Questions Well in Advance
Vast experience and background in specialized trucking reveals one of the most common issues in heavy haul trucking delays is shippers not asking questions that would have prevented delays. When you as the shipper are in doubt about a question regarding shipping heavy freight always ask and make sure you fully understand the answer.
A lowboy trailer or lowbed trailer is a type of flatbed that sits very close to the ground and can haul very heavy loads. Lowboy trailers are used once the load is in excess of 55,000 pounds. Most lowboy trailers are between 48′ to 53′ long and 96″ to 102″ wide. Occasionally, lowboy trailers are made 108″ wide. These units are referred to as a 9′ wide. Nearly all lowboy trailers are made of heavy gauge steel. Great Western Transportation has access to an extensive selection lowboy trailers to fit your hauling requirements.
Lowboy trailers are nearly exclusively used to haul heavy loads. Because a lowboy trailers is so strong, it is also very heavy, so overweight permits are often necessary.
Common Lowboy Trailer Applications
Lowboy Trailers are generally used to haul the following products:
- Construction Equipment
- Heavy tanks, or other military equipment
- Forklifts
- Heavy steel coils
- Transformers
- Heavy Generators
- Any product that is excessively heavy or tall.
Lowboy trailers generally have 3 or more axles to disperse the weight of heavier loads. A common add on for a lowboy is a flip axle, which can flip up and lay on the rear deck, or flip down and create an extra axle for additional weight dispersion.
