Even though heavy haul transportation can be a complicated service, it becomes simpler if all the required elements like choosing the proper heavy haul trailers and understanding the regulations are considered. Understanding these elements will allow the process to run smoothly, and your over-dimensional freight will arrive promptly and safely.
What is considered heavy haul transportation?
Before we get started with heavy haul trailers and everything you need to know about them, let’s understand what heavy or over-dimensional haul is.
Heavy haul transportation (link to heavy haul trucking blog once posted) refers to the shipping and transporting heavy or oversized freight that exceeds the legal limits. Each state establishes these limits; they have special regulations and require permits and additional elements.
Heavy haul trailers
Besides the regulations and special permits heavy haul transportation requires, it’s also essential to consider the equipment in which the over-dimensional freight will be transported. Here’s where heavy haul trailers come in handy!
Before choosing the right trailer, you must consider the specifications of the intended load to ensure safety and overall productivity. Every load requires unique hauling needs, one that has the necessary features for transporting these loads legally.
Things to consider about heavy haul trailers.
These are four essential elements to consider when choosing the right heavy haul trailer for your business:
The overall weight the trailer can carry.
Before choosing a heavy haul trailer, it’s crucial to know what kind of loads it will be carrying. Instead of thinking about the equipment, think about the load first. There are many types of trailers but choosing a versatile one and can carry almost every oversized freight will allow you to accept a wide variety of loads.
Maximum weight different types of trailers can carry.
- The maximum weight for extendable step deck trailers is 48,000 pounds.
- The maximum weight for extendable flatbeds is 43,000 pounds.
- The maximum weight for RGN’s is 42,000 pounds.
Travel speed
A significant factor to consider is the actual travel speed your trailer will have. Your heavy-haul trailers would operate at the same speed as any other trailer to avoid delays in an ideal world. But that’s not the case.
Commonly, these types of trailers are rated at a 55-mph or a 65-mph speed. For productivity and efficiency, the trailer should travel faster. Still, to maintain its integrity, the slower it travels, the better since it won’t add as much weight and stress to the trailer.
Safety rating
The trailer’s safety rating is vital for any carrier to understand its heavy haul trailer’s capacity clearly. The safety rating is an indicator that shows how much stress a trailer can handle. This indicator considers the materials the trailer was built on and its components.
An accepted average is a 1.8 to 1 ratio, but some may steer towards a 2.5 to 1 for a broader cushion that considers all kinds of road dynamics.
Special features
Finally, there are also special features you may want to consider for your trailer, like different types of materials that allow the trailers to last longer or increase their safety.
Some examples of special features are:
- Using steel with a yield strength of 100,000 psi. This allows the trailer to have more capacity with a small impact on its overall weight.
- Creating apitong decks which allow them to be tougher and last longer.
- Using South Asian wood since it’s stronger and less susceptible to chipping.
- Camber design, creating an arc in the trailer that avoids deflation of the main beams.
Most common types of heavy haul trailers
Here are some of the most common heavy haul trailers:
- Extendable flatbed trailers
This is one of the most trailers in the industry; it’s the one that you will find the most on U.S. highways. Extendable flatbed trailers are handy since they can accommodate any load that needs to be transported. This type of trailer allows versatility and allows you to carry a wide variety of shipments.
- Extendable double drop deck trailer
Extendable double drop deck trailers are commonly used to haul tall freight. Loads that exceed the legal limits (maximum height 8’6’’). With the drop deck that this trailer had built-in, tall loads can be transported legally.
- RGN trailers
RGN trailers refer to removable gooseneck trailers. This type of trailer is ideal since it simplifies the process of loading and unloading large loads. RGN trailers have a detachable front end that turns the bottom of the trailer into a ramp, which makes the loading process quicker and safer.
- Step deck trailers
Step-deck trailers (known as drop deck trailers) also haul tall and heavy freight. These trailers have one high deck and a low deck. The tall and heavy cargo is transported in the lower deck, and in the more elevated deck, you’ll be able to place smaller loads.
There are many types of heavy-haul trailers and things to consider before accessing their services. It’s essential to have a knowledgeable logistics partner that will provide you with the best equipment for your specific heavy haul needs.
At LGI, we are experts on heavy haul transportation; our vast carrier network will allow us to provide the best heavy haul trailers for your over-dimensional freight. We consider all the elements discussed above and let your cargo arrive quickly and safely to its destination.
Partner with LGI and access high-quality services from industry experts. To request a quote or speak to a logistician about your over-dimensional shipping requirements, call 713.957.4812.
