We’ve all seen trucks with flashing lights, “oversized load” or “wide load” banners, and escort vehicles guiding them down the roadways. Hauling these oversized cargo loads requires unique experience and knowledge within the trucking and transportation industry. Heavy Weight Transport has that expertise. Our team understands transporting overweight cargo, getting heavy hauls from point A to point B safely, and complying with all necessary permits and regulations.
The Necessity for Oversized Trucking
Oversized trucking is necessary for goods and products that cannot be broken down into smaller, lighter loads – or at least not efficiently and logically. Authoritative bodies are not likely to issue overweight permits for cargo loads that could easily be split between two separate trucks. Except for items such as heavy machinery, construction materials, and military equipment. These can be transported with the proper permits for overweight haul loads.
Heavy Weight Transport is a major trucking company that understands heavy haul transport. Efficient planning, safety and security procedures, training, and permit acquisition are critical for overweight transportation.
Heavy Haul Transport Regulations
Oversize trucking regulations are important to protect infrastructure and lower safety risks. Regulations are set by departments of transportation, highway departments, and other authoritative bodies.
Excessive weight can cause wear and tear on roads and bridges, meaning more frequent maintenance and repairs – and potential long term damage. Overloaded trucks, especially without proper weight distribution, have reduced maneuverability, longer braking distances, and overall increased risk of accidents.
Weight limits for cargo vary by state, region, city, and even specific roads. You’ve probably seen signs like “10-ton weight limit” while driving. Haul load weight regulations vary based on the size of a vehicle, number of axles, distance between axles, type of road, and a variety of other factors. There are some exemptions to general weight limits. These can be based on commodity type or vehicle type and other instances where permits may be issued allowing heavy haul transportation. Failure to meet regulations can result in huge fines for major trucking companies. Heavy Weight Transport understands the regulations, permit process, and enforcement procedures better than other major trucking companies, making us the ideal partner for oversized trucking.
Common Regulations
Regulations vary by state and sometimes by specific regions. These regulations generally focus on the weight but can also involve specific vehicle or commodity types. For example, there may be certain exceptions for government vehicles or waste management vehicles.
Even with permitted oversized loads, drivers and trucking companies need to understand the rules and the permits. Depending on the amount of excess size or weight and the type of cargo, specific signage, banners, flags, and lights may be required on the truck. Some heavy haul transport requires an escort vehicle or sometimes two escort vehicles on either side of the overweight truck. There may be restrictions to certain roads or routes and travel times based on daylight hours and traffic patterns. Understanding the conditions that come with a heavy haul trucking permit is critical. This knowledge can be leveraged to avoid extra fees, fines, and other consequences.
Enforcement and Consequences
The consequences of operating an overweight truck without the proper permits can be more than just fines. Violation of weight regulations can mean legal consequences, negative impacts on a driver’s license, safety concerns for the driver and other drivers on the roadways, and damage to roads and infrastructure.
Partnering with a heavy haul transport company that understands the potential consequences is critical for moving heavy freight. Heavy Weight Transport knows the ins and outs of oversized trucking, and our crews are experts in securing oversized cargo. This lowers the risk of damage to freight and improves road safety.
Technology
Major trucking companies and regulatory bodies use technology to monitor and enforce weight and size regulations. Smart scales and systems help ensure drivers and crews that their haul loads are within regulation. Digital scales and inspection stations work to enforce weight requirements and distribute fines as necessary.
Heavy Weight Transport’s Expertise
Heavy Weight Transport is proud to be a leading expert in heavy haul transport. Our specialized fleet of equipment allows us to transport overweight cargo across the nation. We have customized 4-axle trucks, 20 ft., 40ft., and 45 ft. tri-axle chassis that are green-friendly and readily available to deliver your cargo. Our fleet consists of over 1,000 custom-made chassis spanning across the United States.
These chassis were specially created to haul sealed ocean container loads weighing up to 64,000 pounds. This allows us a greater ability to move containers that most others can not.
Not only is our entire fleet of tractors newer, but they also comply with any and all local and state regulations for heavy weight freight. We carry all of the standard overweight permits that may be needed so you do not need to worry. In fact, our specialty is moving heavy cargo loads legally per state maximums. Our cargo weight matrix will provide you with suggested maximum loading capacities. We can carry loads or ocean containers at additional weight with separate permits.
Heavy Weight Transport has been dealing with oversized cargo loads for years. We have the necessary permits and understand the conditions and regulations to transport what other heavy haul transport companies can not. If you have machinery, equipment, or other overweight and oversized cargo that needs to be moved, contact us for a quote.
