Blog - Great Western Transporation

Flatbed Trucking: Adapting To The Changes

In the transportation industry, flatbed trucking will continue to be a major part of the supply chain. Since it is a major piece, flatbed trucking should be able to adapt to all the changes within all the markets and industries. Staying on top of the trends and the forces in the economy will help all the fleet managers stay ahead of the shifts and better prepare the trucks and the businesses for the upcoming changes.

There are major areas that will continue to have an impact on flatbed trucking, including the following:

Shifts and Trends in the Industry

Flatbed trucking is greatly impacted by market trends and consumer trends. When consumers are purchasing, leasing, or renting equipment or products that are primarily transported by flatbed trucks, the demand for flatbed transportation will increase. Flatbed trucking is also greatly impacted by the construction industry, and as more people look to have big projects completed on their businesses and homes, there will be a demand for construction equipment and construction materials.

The Time of Year

Weather and seasons also have a big impact on the flatbed market. The industries that typically use flatbed trucking will generally see an increase during the months when the weather is warmer, which is generally the summer or spring seasons. However, the colder months can also have an impact on flatbed trucking. When the cold months bring severe weather such as snowstorms, this will sometimes require cancellations or rescheduling. When weather results in property damage to homes and businesses, the flatbed industry usually experiences a spike in demand as equipment and other time-sensitive shipments need to be transported.

Technological Advances

As technology continues to grow, we can expect to see many advances in transportation and carrier technology. With the current advances, flatbed carriers have the ability to be more efficient and productive. Many flatbed trucks are equipped with new technology that can be used to improve productivity and safety. The new technology also gives carriers the opportunity to improve their utilization throughout the entire day. The updated technology can also reduce the chances that a carrier will misplace driver logs and it will improve the efficiency of submitting documents and other paperwork.

Flatbed trucking operates on a variety of different factors. This is why it is so important for carriers, receivers, and shippers to stay ahead of the market trends and shifts, in addition to the changes in technology.

November 1, 2018 | | Category: Flatbed, Heavy Haul

3 Reasons to Hire a Professional to Transport Your Heavy Machinery

Whether you need to move some farm equipment, heavy construction materials, or any other item that simply won’t fit into the back of a moving van, you should always opt for a transportation service for a multitude of reasons. And just why is it better to go with the pros than go it alone? In this post, we’ll introduce you to some of the biggest reasons why you should hire a professional to transport your heavy machinery.

The Pros Are Equipped With The Right Vehicles: There are certain kinds of heavy machinery that simply cannot be delivered on the back of a pickup truck or in a u-haul. That’s when it becomes time to call in a professional transportation service. A transportation service will have the right trucks and moving vehicles to safely deliver your heavy machinery from point a to point b.
A Transportation Service Will Get Your Heavy Machinery Delivered Safely: If you try to move your heavy machinery on your own, you are running the serious risk of potentially damaging that equipment. The pros know how to securely get the heavy machinery into their transportation vehicles and deliver them to the new location without any safety issues. Not only will your heavy machinery be kept safe, you will be much better off having professionals handle the equipment, thus keeping you out of harm’s way.
The Moving Process is Smoother: Relying on pros to move your equipment means the entire process will be easier, smoother, and less-time consuming. Additionally, if you add up the cost of trying to move the machinery on your own (hiring movers, procuring the correct moving vehicle, and so on), it will likely add up to cost more than simply hiring a full-service transportation company. Make things easier by working with a company instead of trying to go through the process alone.

Looking for more information? Contact us today!

October 26, 2018 | | Category: Heavy Haul

Dry Freight Trucking: The Flexible Shipping Method You Need

Before transport can successfully be completed, you will need to determine what your shipping options will be and what shipping method will be better suited for your transportation needs. We are sure you are aware of this by now, but there are multiple options you can choose from, including dry freight trucking, flatbed trucking, heavy haul trucking, and more. It will be a smart idea to become familiar with all the shipping modes and the guidelines and requirements that will come with each one.

Dry Freight Trucking: What is It?

Dry freight trucking is one of the most trusted methods of transportation that are available to you. Dry freight trucking continues to be a popular transportation mode because of the increased demand and the high availability, in addition to the many benefits of having goods and products safely enclosed in a trailer.

What can be carried with dry freight shipping?

Dry freight trucking can be used to carry the following:

Building materials
Non-perishable food items
Non-perishable beverages
Clothing

Why is dry freight trucking a preferred transportation method?

There are multiple reasons why companies decide to use dry freight trucking as their go-to transportation method, including the following:

There will be fewer concerns about the security of the goods because they will be in an enclosed trailer
Dry freight trucking is a very flexible method of transportation
The load mode that is used in dry freight trucking will save you a significant amount of effort

Moving dry shipments will allow for less than load (LTL) trucks to be filled easily. Dry goods have become more common because they do not require any type of unique handling or temperature controls.

In order for you to have your goods delivered on time to the right destination, it is important that you carefully determine the right shipping method for delivering your goods. Teaming up with the right transportation provider will allow you to have the services that fit the specific needs of your business.

October 18, 2018 | | Category: General

Get Professional Assistance For Your Next Heavy Haul

It can take numerous inspections, repairs, maintenance, licensing, and other procedures just to properly prepare a trailer for the highway. When the load that you need to carry is not your standard load, it will require a great deal of effort to keep the transport safe throughout the entire process.

Hauling and transportation companies like Great Western Transportation offer our expertise for the jobs that are too difficult for you to handle on your own. We understand how risky it can be to transport a heavy and oversized load. We help to minimize the risk that a heavy load will be stuck on a busy route or be involved in an accident or other serious situation on the highway.

Safety and Security

Specialized transportation services understand that states and cities have their own regulations and requirements when it comes to the weight of a load. It is very important to make sure the overweight permit requirements are met before a load attempts to cross that jurisdiction. When you do not have an experienced transportation service on your side, there is a high chance that the load will not be allowed in an area if there are questions about safety.

Breaking it Down

There are many trailer loads that are not able to be broken down into shorter or smaller parts. However, hauling companies that are specialized in hauling equipment have a full understanding of how to successfully get a load to the required size and weight so it can be transported safely and easily. As mentioned above, there are complex requirements when it comes to permits and weight size. This is why it is important to have a transportation service who has drivers who are able to drive the load safely to its final destination.

If you have used a transportation service in the past, you are aware of the inspections, permits, repairs, etc. that are involved. The Great Western Transportation team is fully aware of the requirements that must be met and we want to release the pressure you may be facing for an upcoming transport.

If you want to know how we can assist you with your upcoming heavy haul, reach out to us today.

October 5, 2018 | | Category: Heavy Haul

Heavy Haul Trucking: Do You Need A Transportation Service?

When it is time to transport large items of machinery or construction equipment over long distances, you can certainly find yourself standing in front of a difficult process. However, you will not have to take on this task alone. When you have the right heavy equipment transportation team on your side, the once complicated process will become a smooth and quick process. As a transportation team at Great Western Transportation, we want you to know that there are some items that you should always have moved using specialized equipment.

Excavators, Dozers, Etc.

Dozers, excavators, and other types of heavy machinery are essential for construction and other industries. While these types of machinery are great for getting the job done on an industrial site, they should not be driven on the highway. When it is time to transfer your heavy machinery equipment, you should team up with a heavy equipment transportation service so you can avoid damage to your equipment, not to mention a serious accident on the highway.

Overweight Equipment

There are various types of industrial equipment that will exceed the weight limits that have been established. Industrial equipment like steel beams will require the use of permits and transportation equipment that has enough strength to safely transport them. When you work with professionals throughout your heavy equipment transport process, you will be assured that every part of the move will be done in full accordance with all safety regulations.

Portable Buildings

Many construction sites will have portable buildings that they have turned into an office. These portable offices can be essential to the construction industry and other industries that are constantly moving from one location to the next. While transporting these buildings can prevent a variety of challenges, including logistic challenges, the right transportation service will have all the tools that are needed to safely load a portable building and transport it to the right destination.

The Great Western Transportation team provides service across the United States and Canada.

September 28, 2018 | | Category: Flatbed, Heavy Haul

Refrigerated Trucking: Did You Know This?

The emergence of refrigerated trucking will leave its impact on business logistics for the rest of time. Refrigerated trucking has made it possible to transport foods and other goods that are susceptible to spoilage after traveling for long distances.

In the beginning, ice blocks were placed in the back of the refrigerated trucks and vans as a way to cool the goods. Things are certainly different now because refrigerated transport has become advanced enough to hold a variety of goods and cargo, and sometimes this will include prescription medication.

At Great Western Transportation, we love sharing news and other information that are relevant to our industry. Today, we want to provide you with a few fun facts about refrigerated trucking that you may not have known.

The Start Of Refrigerated Trucking

Refrigerated trucking was introduced in 1842 by the Western Railroad of Massachusetts during the winter season. During this time, railroad cars were used to haul goods. Eventually, the train cars started to use ice, but this method would only work when the weather was cold because warmer weather would cause the ice to melt.

Refrigerated Trucking Company

Can You Imagine This?

Can you imagine living in a world where you could only travel 50 miles with produce or other food because it would spoil if you drove a longer distance? Can you imagine a time when you could only eat food that was in your local area and in season at the time? Well, this was the world many people lived in before there was refrigerated trucking. Produce was not able to travel far before it spoiled and consumers could only eat would could be grown locally.

More Fun Facts About Refrigerated Trucking

The 1940s marked the introduction of mechanical refrigeration units

Refrigerated trailers are referred to as reefers in the transportation industry

Refrigerated trucking can be used to haul medications, produce, fresh goods, art, and more

A refrigerated truck that is maintained properly can drive up to more than a million miles

Transportation that requires refrigerated transportation is going to need the experience and professionalism of a service that will get the job done the right way. Great Western Transportation is committed to providing you with the quality service you need for your upcoming transport.

September 17, 2018 | | Category: Refrigerated Trucking

The Undeniable Benefits Of Power Only Trucking

There are a number of different types of trucking out there and power only trucking has gained a sizable amount of traction in recent years. For those who are unaware, the ‘power only’ concept refers to any load that is already packed up and ready to go. There are numerous advantages to be gained by using power only trucking and these are just a few:

No Insurance Expenses

Power only trucking keeps you from having to spend additional money on insurance-related expenses. These expenses are handled on the back end of the transaction. This makes for one of the most convenient trucking formats that are currently available.

No Maintenance Concerns

When a client decides that they are going to rely on power only trucking, all of the maintenance concerns that come with other forms of trucking fall by the wayside. No maintenance needs to be done and the process of vetting the driver is also something that the client no longer has to worry about.

Lower Costs

If all things are equal, power only trucking tends to come with a much lower cost than other forms of trucking. All of the container fees that are associated with other options that are available no longer need to be worried about. For companies that own all of their own containers for transporting products from point A to point B, power only trucking is one of the least expensive options out there.

Increased Level of Control

Power only trucking means that the client owns the trailers that are being used and this places them in complete and total control over the process. Loading the containers and making sure that they remain in compliance with federal regulations is all that needs to be done from a shipping standpoint.

If you wish to learn more about the ways that power only trucking can assist you going forward, be sure to contact Great Western Transportation as soon as possible.

September 4, 2018 | | Category: Power Only Trucking

Transporting Heavy Machinery: Choosing The Right Service

As a business owner, you may run into a few challenges when it is time for you to choose the right transportation company. If your business revolves around the use of heavy machinery and delicate machinery, it is very important for you to choose the right transportation team for your needs. In order for your business to flourish, we encourage you to take your time and choose the best logistics service for your needs.

Thankfully, there are transportation services you can trust and rely on for the services you need at affordable costs. We understand how expensive machinery is and how hard it is to produce, and these are only a few reasons why it is important to pay close attention to the transportation team you are considering.

Choose a transportation service that will provide your business with more than one type of service, such as the following:

refrigerated trucking
perishable goods transportation
temperature control
heavy equipment transportation
vehicle transportation services

The transportation service you choose must have the capability to deliver your machinery or other goods on time without causing any damage, and time and distance should not create any problems. Using the services of a transportation service as a logistics solution will be a major investment in the foundation and structure of your business.

Being aware of the equipment that will be used to transport your machinery will also be important because older equipment or broken equipment can make the transportation process slower than it should be.

The transportation of your machinery and other heavy equipment is a task that should be handled delicately, and you will need the services of a professional, skilled, and experienced transportation service team who will provide the best options that you can afford.

Are you ready to use a one-stop solution for your transportation needs? Are you ready to be presented with flexible options and custom services that will fit your needs?

August 23, 2018 | | Category: Heavy Haul