Heavy equipment is costly; no wonder the owners are careful when using them. If you own heavy equipment, you want them to be safe throughout the process. However, for that to happen, there are practices and safety procedures you must follow, not only when using heavy equipment on construction sites but even when hauling them. When equipment is in transit, it is vital to ensure its safety to avoid huge losses. This article will describe five ways of ensuring safety when transporting heavy equipment.
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Pick the Right Trailer
There are different types of trailers you can choose to transport your equipment. The choice you make depends on several factors like equipment shape and weight. Here are the common types of trailers for transporting oversized and heavy equipment.
- Drop deck (step deck)
- RGN (Removable Gooseneck, Lowboy)
- Flatbed trucking
- Double drop trailer
- Stretch trailer
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Check Load Capacity
Heavy equipment weighs 30 tons and above. You may just choose a hauling trailer certified to carry 30-ton loads. However, there are other factors to consider, like the length and shape of the load. It is crucial to use the axle scale for sale to know the actual weight of the trailer when carrying the cargo. Remember that trailers are designed and certified to carry specific weights and lengths. For instance, a trailer may take 30 tons in 15 feet while another may carry 30 tons in 10 feet. Therefore, ensure to check the trailer’s rating before loading your equipment.
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Secure the Load
Another critical thing to ensuring equipment safety during transportation is securing and inspecting the load. Some of the truck accidents that happen are due to loose cargo or materials falling from the truck. Securing the shipment is not something that should be taken lightly. So, ensure it is well-inspected, tied, and inspected again before transportation. Remove any debris from the trailer and confirm that everything else on the trailer is in the right place.
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Map Out the Route
Before the trailer sets off for the road, ensure another vehicle checks the route. There could be a recent accident, construction work, bridge limits, heavy traffic, toll roads, etc. Such elements could cause delays, or you might not haul the equipment thoroughly. A pilot car is necessary, especially if your transport equipment is valuable and oversized. Therefore, ensure you check the route first to confirm that there are no limitations. Never assume that every road can handle the size and weight of the load. Let a smaller vehicle assess the route to ensure the road can take your shipment’s height, weight, and width.
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Hire Experienced Operators
Using your truck workers to load and haul heavy equipment may be tempting. That is not a good idea unless you have experienced operators. Driver error contributes to a specific percentage of trucking accidents. Therefore, it is vital to ensure you hire experienced and trained operators to transport the heavy equipment. Offering ongoing training to ensure their skills are still fresh is also important. One vital thing your operator should never do is to pass the speed limit. Overspeeding stresses the load, leading to damage and an increased likelihood of an accident.
Summary
Following safety protocols is critical when hauling heavy equipment. It protects the safety of drivers and other road users. Following these protocols help prevent equipment damage and avoid common issues when transporting.