A vast majority of manufactured goods sold globally spend at least some time in transit in shipping containers. The global economy took a drastic shift with the COVID-19 pandemic, and then again when a cargo ship ran aground in the Suez Canal in 2021. Both of these events introduced ongoing ripple effects to global shipping. The price of shipping continues to rise and the reliability of shipping estimates is much more volatile due to these interruptions of the global supply chain. So what is overweight shipping, and how can overweight shipping reduce the financial and logistical burden placed on those who ship their goods? In this article, we will break down the basics of this valuable method of shipping, including overweight shipping permits, and the way overweight shipping costs are calculated.
Overweight Shipping in the World Economy
The simplest definition for this term is the use of advanced, heavy-duty technology to ship more goods in less space. A standard weight 40-foot shipping container can carry up to 44,000 pounds of goods. All containers heavier than that are considered overweight shipping. Keep in mind that shipping is the glue of the global supply chain.
All forms of transferring goods from place to place are heavily regulated, competitive industries. In this time period fraught with shortages and instability in the manufacturing industry, more and more companies are choosing to send their goods using services specializing in overweight and heavy shipping. However, not just any transportation company can switch their business model to a sufficient method of shipping. It requires an intricate series of permits and legal allowances that can vary from state to state, region to region, and country to country.
Regulations: What are Overweight Shipping Permits?
To avoid damage to infrastructure, and to keep pedestrian travelers out of danger, any overweight container traveling by vehicle in the United States requires a permit to be legally transported. Let’s take, for example, the use of trucks. The Department of Transportation’s Freight Management and Operations division mandates that the maximum vehicle weight for interstate travel is either 80,000 pounds of total weight, 20,000 pounds for a single axle, or 34,000 pounds for a tandem axle.
The federal government does not compromise on this matter and presents precise mathematical and mechanical measures for determining this maximum. So what is overweight shipping if it can’t use the highway? How is it possible? The answer is that individual states can grant permits based on legal precedent to allow overweight vehicles to use the interstate as long as the load of the vehicle is non-divisible.
What is Overweight Shipping’s “Divisible” vs. “Non-Divisible” Loads?
Fortunately for all who would apply for an overweight shipping permit, the standards of what is divisible or non-divisible are exceedingly clear. Most common goods are small enough that they can fit onto pallets, or integrates and boxes. This is considered a divisible load – a load that can be broken down into smaller elements. However, if the applicant can prove that the breakdown would take longer than 8 hours, a single work day, it counts as non-divisible.
The other determinant of divisible and non-divisible loads is whether breaking it down would devalue the load or compromise its ability to function. Large vehicles, especially military and emergency response vehicles, and specialized machinery all fall into this category. The purpose of keeping such strict regulations on overweight shipping is safety. Heavy trailers pose more risk in transit. This is another reason why it is so important to work with a specialized shipping company.
Overweight Shipping Costs
Given all of these requirements, it may sound like conventional shipping within federal weight limits is a more convenient option. However, this may not be the case. As stated above, the shipping economy is volatile. Let’s say for example you have 50,000 pounds worth of goods to ship. Hiring a transportation company to ship it within weight limits would require several vessels, therefore incurring costs of gas, labor, and other peripherals on top of the price per pound and any flat rates.
On the other hand, overweight shipping through a company like Heavy Weight Transport means having access to specialized containers and vehicles that can carry nearly 60,000 pounds in one go. While the rate per poundage may be higher to compensate for permits and specialized equipment, avoiding all of the extra fees and labor costs will still land you with a lower overweight shipping cost than conventional shipping would run.
Specialized Technology for Heavy Shipping
Overweight shipping requires specialized techniques and technology to be accomplished effectively. One essential example is drayage. Drayage refers to a method of organizing shipping and its subset of technology that prioritizes carrying heavy loads over short distances. In essence, it’s like a relay race for heavy cargo. Cargo makes its way from its starting location to its final destination by hopping between whichever modes of transport will take it closer in as short distances as possible.
Transporting a heavy container from start to end using a single truck could be far less efficient or even impossible when rail lines and ocean vessels shorten the trip. Depending on the end location, a drayage route involves something as simple as a truck driving to a rail yard, or something as complicated as shuttle drayage. Shuttle drayage involves parking a unit in a temporary location, which can occur when its original storage is overcrowded.
A Trusted Partner in Overweight Shipping
As an asset-based drayage company owning an independent fleet of chassis, Heavy Weight Transport is one of the most reliable providers of overweight shipping services in the United States. We have the capacity to ship containers up to 64,000 pounds with GPS location tracking so you always know exactly where your cargo is in transit. While we specialize in overweight shipping, we also offer conventional shipping services within typical legal weight limits. If you have questions about your specialized shipping needs, the permits that may be required for a shipment you’ve been planning, or other drayage and freight services, reach out today for a quote or simply to talk to our team. Heavy Weight Transport offers some of the most flexible and cost-efficient services on the market with proven performance from coast to coast.
