The majority of semi trucks we encounter on the highways are dry vans, essentially they are a very large cargo van. The more common trailer lengths are 48 and 53 foot, and some trailers will have a refrigeration unit mounted on the front. Thus, these types of trailers can be temperature controlled if necessary. Did you know that refrigerated trailers can be used to keep cargo from freezing too. In some parts of the country where it gets very cold, refrigerated vans can prevent the cargo from freezing.
Standard dry vans may only be loaded through the rear doors. The freight has to be palletized in order for loading and unloading to be efficient. Forklifts are driven into the dry van, which is how freight is loaded into the dry van.
Another common type of trailer we see on the highway is the flatbed type. These are the unenclosed trailers we see on the highway, with the freight being secured by tie downs and some times covered by tarps. The freight can easily be loaded from all sides of the flatbed trailer and even from above with a crane or forklift.
Flatbed trailers provide easier loading and unloading versus the dry vans, however, they do have payload weight limitations. There are two weight limitations, one the physical trailer’s weight hauling capacity, and two the limit that the state, county, or city imposes for road travel.
What is Heavy Haul
To overcome these two weight limitations, first a heavy haul type of trailer has to be utilized and permits must be obtained from the city or state to allow for the over the road travel of cargo that is over the stated weight limits or dimensions.
So lets look at a case study of moving a large and heavy object from city A to city B.
In this case the large and heavy object will be a 70 ton earth-mover that has to be shipped from an east coast city to a west coast city. The weight itself will present two challenges that will have to be overcome. Firstly permits will be required for all roads the load will traverse and secondly an appropriate trailer will have to be selected that can transport the 70 ton payload. As an example two manufacturers: Cozad and Kalyn Siebert/Heil Trailer make trailer’s in 80 and 85 ton payload capacities.
Heavy haul operators will always know the maximum payload capacities of their trailers, thus, an operator with one of the aforementioned trailers or with a similar payload capacity can transport the 70 ton earth-mover.
Oversize and Overweight Permits
In terms of permits, heavy haul companies will have office staff, who know the procedures required to obtain oversize or overweight permits for the routes that will be traveled.
In most cases when a load requires permits, an escort vehicle will be required also.
The requirements for escort vehicles differs from cities, counties and states, the majority of oversized loads will require an escort vehicle following behind the load. In some cases an escort vehicle is required in front of the load also.
In cases where the load is extremely high, in addition to escort vehicles, a pilot car may be required to check clearances before the over height load travels beneath the overhead obstruction, the pilot car ensures the load can pass safely underneath. When loads are very high, overhead obstructions such as wires and traffic signals are temporarily raised or removed by bucket truck operators.
To recap, three escort types of vehicles may be required to escort an oversized or overweight load: the escort vehicle which warns other motorist, the pole car which checks the clearances of overhead obstructions and the bucket truck which temporarily removes or raises overhead obstructions.
In addition to all of the above types of escort vehicles, sometimes local authorities, such as highway patrol or police are required to escort a superload also.
Next a heavy haul company will need to be selected, heavy haul trucking involves the use of specialized trailers designed to transport extremely heavy or over dimensional loads.
Specialized Transportation
Trucking companies find heavy haul trucks and tractors for sale at commercial class 8 truck dealers.
Heavy haul trucks and trailers are more expensive to purchase and to operate versus other flatbed trailers. Generally the maintenance costs for the specialized trailer and the tractor is well above the average semi tractor-trailer maintenance cost.
The drivers of the heavy haul tractor-trailers require special skills too. Companies involved in heavy hauling trucking have to gradually promote the drivers to heavier and larger loads over time, as the driver becomes more experienced with the trailers turning and driving characteristics.
Generally heavy haul carriers will be able to procure larger insurance coverage amounts for the loads, due to the loads being more expensive.
Construction projects are reliant on heavy haul transportation for the machinery and the raw materials required for the project. Concrete precasts and steel structural beams are common oversized loads for the construction industry.
One of the more common ways to spot a heavy haul truck, is the bright yellow banner on the front and back announcing a “WIDELOAD”.
If you are a shipper new to trucking, heavy hauling will seem like a complex task. Large loads are transported constantly and this process is performed everyday by trucking companies.
There is also heavy haul freight, which may include extremely heavy objects such as electric transformers, that will require the services of a rigging company. A rigging company will provide the dismantling and loading of extremely heavy machinery. Typically rigging companies provide lifting and moving equipment such as: cranes, slide systems, strand-jacks, and lift towers.
Long haul trucking is the transportation method that gets cargo from city to city, even though the cities may be thousands of miles apart. In the case of oversized loads they can only be on the road driving, during certain hours and during the weekdays. Driving times restrictions should be factored into the schedule for all long distance oversized and heavy haul moves.
Heavy Haul Companies
Heavy haul companies have experience with all types of over dimensional and over weight loads, the first step in getting an accurate heavy haul quote is to accurately measure and determine the weight of an object. The weight may be approximate, however, it must be as accurate as possible. There exist portable truck weight scales, the truck simply drives on ramps that are able to weigh the trailer, or the truck can go to a commercial truck scale.
Large and heavy items may seem challenging to move and transport, but, heavy haul companies have moved it all when is comes to oversized, over weight or superloads.
