An Overview Of Heavy Equipment Shipping Types And Processes

Heavy equipment shipping is a very lengthy and tough process. One of the most important things is to recognize the way your heavy tools are going to be shipped. Preparation is key in order for you to be fully ready to load the equipment once your truck arrives. For this reason we created this review guideline to assist you. One of the most crucial things you have to do is to consult the company you are going to appoint what type of trailer they plan on shipping it on and whether it has ramps or not. Some large shipping trailers have ramps while other trailers do not have the feature. If the shipping company you hire does not have ramps on their trailer it is on you job to provide them or another way of loading the machinery, like a crane. You would also want to make sure that there is a heavy equipment operator on site to operate the item being to be loaded onto the trailer. For huge and giant non-moving construction equipment, you will likely need a particular type of trailer such as a step deck or a double drop deck. For international heavy equipment shipping,you can use a roll on/roll-off service or a flat-rack container. Below are some commonly employed methods in heavy machinery shipping.

1- Flatbed process

Flatbed transportation is possibly the most common way to ship heavy equipment and will be more commonly available with the introduction of carriers. The bulk of equipment shipping needs a plain flatbed and that should suffice for shipment. Flatbeds come with a range of different sizes and capacities, allowing for easy loading and unloading, and can hold up to 48,000 pounds in weight. When you select a flatbed shipper, verify that the truck is capable of holding the weight of your heavy construction equipment and it comes equipped with all the necessary tools to load and unload the heavy machinery.

2. Towing Process

For short distance transportation, it is possible to have your equipment towed to the destination. Make sure that you are familiar with the preparation protocols needed to successfully tow your equipment, such as preparing the gearbox and tires to a tow able state. Many expert towing companies have a wide range of tow trucks that can handle a variety of sizes and tools.

3. Special Trailers

In the case of over-sized or very heavy equipment, you should consider a using a trailer, which carry your equipment and move them to the cargo area. Step deck and double drop trailers are designed for huge or heavier tools to be loaded and transported. If your equipment deserves a specialty trailer, there is a high possibility that it will also require special permits. You should discuss with your transport shipment provider so that essential permits and special considerations are taken care of before proceeding.

4. Shipping Overseas

Shipping companies have vessels for your machines or equipment to cross oceans via a roll-on/roll-off container service. Ro/ro services allow cargo of every size in AS IS condition. The total shipping price is based on amount and weight of the cargo, so the larger and/or heavier your machine is, the more it’s going to charge to ship it. Some of the machines can be partially disassembled and thus can be shipped inside a normal ocean container which would result in a lower shipping price. You will need to arrange for transportation to the warehouse or port where your tools will leave port to ship overseas.