Heavy haul trucking is the hauling of oversize or overweight freight. Generally, shipping heavy equipment will require specialized trailers that can haul over dimensional or overweight loads. Heavy equipment hauling requires an expert to determine the right trailer for the job.
Legal Dimensions
It is considered to be heavy haul trucking when a shipment exceeds the legal dimensions set by the state in which the load is shipping through.
- Length – Overall length requirements vary by state.
- Width – A load that exceeds 8’6” wide will require an over-dimensional permit.
- Height – The legal overall height of a load through most states is 13’6” high, although some western states are higher.
- Weight A shipment that exceeds 80,000 lbs gross weight will also require overweight permits to travel in each state.
On any of the above requirements, the load being hauled must be non-reducible, meaning a shipment must be hauled in its smallest form.
Hauling Dimension Requirements
Permit and Escort Requirements
Heavy haul trucking requires the use of special permits provided by:
- State
- County
- City
- and other government municipality you plan to travel
The requirements vary among government entities and so do the costs. States will also on certain loads require a pilot vehicle or escort to travel in conjunction with the truck and trailer hauling the permitted load. The escort is there to provide safe travel for the public, the roads, property, and the load.
Permits and Escort Requirements
Trailer Equipment
Equipment can vary greatly depending on the load and its need.
- Flatbed
- Stepdeck or (dropdeck)
- Double Drop
- Removable Gooseneck (RGN)
- Stretch or Extendable
- Multiple Axles (multi-axle)
This is just a list of some of the trailer types out there, there are many other specialized trailers.
Trailer Types
Trucking Safety
We provide professional quotes, equipment, drivers, and a team of experts to insure your load is picked up and delivered safely and within budget. We work with the states to obtain the necessary permits and escorts to allow for legal travel.
You might also try reviewing The Trucker’s Report, which has a professional forum dedicated to heavy haul trucking.
