Advantages of Lowboy Trailers
Low boy trailers are primarily utilized to haul equipment that can move under its own power. This allows for the equipment to be simply driven onto the lowboy trailer and driven off.
Low profile trailers provide for direct loading and unloading, even if its in the middle of a mining site. There is no need for cranes or forklifts to load/unload running self powered machinery.
When your company has to haul to a customer large freight or machinery that cannot be divided into smaller parts what will you do?
Your business no longer has to be concerned about shipping your equipment safely when you rely on the professional services provided by Great Western Transportation to arrange transportation of your over sized shipments.
Your personal and dedicated load adviser will provide full explanation of the process and complete follow through during the freight transport from pick up to delivery locations.
A lowboy trailer can be used for hauling oversize freight that is very tall. Generally a lowboy trailer can accommodate tall freight that is up to 12 feet in height. Taller than 12′ loads can be transported, but may require permits for legal transport on public roads and highways depending on the state and the height of trailer bed from the ground. Generally the height limits across the USA are 13’6″ or 14′.
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 haul freight that is very long, such as: windmill blades. 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
- Forklift
- Asphalt Equipment
- Loader Backhoe
- Double Drum Compactor
Lowboy Freight by Manufacturers
Major heavy equipmnet includes: construction equipment of all types, rental yard equipment and attachments. Construction equipment includes motor graders, wheel loaders, dozers, backhoes, forklifts, dump trucks, water trucks, equipment trailers, grounds maintenance equipment, truck cranes, boom trucks, flatbeds, van trucks, tracked loaders, tracked dozers and much more. Some of the notable manufactures are:
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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 yellow iron or heavy items from an auction or for sale by owner website such as: rbauction.com or ebay?
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.
Use our quick quote form for a free and market spot rate based lowboy quote. Speak to a live lowboy freight specialist at (800) 972-8484.
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 travel time restrictions which add time to the overall delivery time length.
- 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 Hauling
- Flush Mount D Rings
- Pipe Spools
- Recessed Mount D Rings
- Rub Rail
- Sliding Winch Nylon Straps
- Stake Pockets
- Twist Locks
Lowboy Shipping Case Studies:
A Cat dozer purchased for salvage value was delivered from Boise to Fort Lauderdale.
A Cat 980F wheel loader was hauled from Fort Lauderdale to Asheville.
A Bomag BW120AD-3 asphalt roller was hauled from an auction in yard Boise to Asheville.
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 signal 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 depend on a number of factors. A key factor is if permits will be required to haul the load. Permits may be required if either dimensional or weight measurements are over a specific dimensional or weight limit as set by states traveled trough. When permits are required for oversize maximum dimensions being exceeded, pilot cars may be required to follow the load behind or drive in front of the load to make sure there is overhead clearance. Pilot cars will always add to the overall shipping cost.
Provide ample time when booking a lowboy trailer to avoid delays in 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
- Owner’s ManualRefer to the owner’s manual for steps that must be done prior to shipping your equipment. Newer equipment has a manufacturer’s website from which manuals will most likely be available. For older equipment search on a major search engine by equipment and model number with the words manual or pdf included in the search phrase.Use the owners manual when removing parts of the machine to reduce the weight or overall dimensions.
- Cover and ProtectUsually heavy equipment is quite resilient to the elements of the weather, however when on an open trailer that is traveling 55 mph down the road, extra protection may be needed. This is especially true for the interior of a machine’s operator cab.
- Pick Up and Drop Off LocationsProvide ample room at both the pick up and delivery locations to load and access the trailer. Generally the tractor-trailer should have to have enough room to drive in and load or unload 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 loading and unloading requirements as possible.
- Port and Export PreparationsWhen 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 AdvanceVast 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 snipping the heavy freight always ask and make sure you fully understand the answer.
A lowboy trailer or lowbed trailer is a type of flatbed trailer that is very close to ground level and is designed to transport very heavy freight. Lowboy trailers are used when the freight 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. Most lowboy trailers are made of heavy gauge steel, some are made of aluminum. Great Western Transportation has access to an extensive selection of lowboy trailers to fit your heavy hauling requirements.
Common Lowboy Trailer Applications
Lowboy trailers are generally used to haul the following products:
- Construction Equipment
- Militray Tanks or Other Military Equipment
- Forklifts
- Steel Coils
- Transformers
- Generators
- Any product that is excessively heavy or tall.
Lowboy trailers are equipped with 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. Flip axles provide the functionality of a stinger, which too is a detachable rear axle on a trailer. All roads and highways have a maximum weight that each tire can exert on the road surface.
Great Western Transportation is your answer when you need Lowboy Shipping Rates.
