Plan carefully before you contact heavy hauling companies

Calculate the weight, width, height and length of the equipment you will transport. Decide if you or the carrier will be responsible for loading and unloading the product. Know the specific location of pick-up and delivery, and have detailed directions to these locations.

I recommend: Contact Anderson Trucking Service, Inc. for an online quote. The specialized heavy haul transportation company has existed for over 50 years. Use the Wideload Shipping network system to find a number of heavy haulers for your consideration.

Determine the heavy hauling services required for the load

Decide who will be responsible for loading and unloading the equipment or product. Some carriers will secure the necessary machinery to do the job, or you may choose to take control of the process. Be ready with trained personnel and adequate equipment to handle the loading and unloading.

I recommend: Go to the Gerhart Machinery Company site and choose machinery to handle the loading and unloading of your heavy equipment. Talk to Great Western Transportation about loading, unloading and inside delivery. They adapt and modify services to match your specialized handling needs.

Interview heavy haul trucking companies

Ask the company about their years of heavy hauling experience, age and maintenance of equipment and size and type they will use to assure your load will be delivered in good condition. Look for reputable companies with excellent safety records. Question the company's procedure for international transporting if this is a concern.

I recommend: Check the Internet site for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System for company safety data and services related to heavy equipment haulers. If you want to hire a heavy hauler to work consistently for you, subscribe to the Hire Safe Drivers newsletter for hiring tips.

Allow plenty of time to secure heavy haul trucking business permits and a limited driving schedule

Communicate with the trucking company to determine how long it takes to acquire heavy equipment hauling permits, if your load is overweight or oversize. A permit is required for every state through which the load travels, and the transporting must take place during daylight hours within a restricted number of days. Plan the pick-up and delivery dates accordingly, and allow additional time for limited driving time for oversize and overweight loads.

I recommend: Contact On Time Permits, LLC to purchase the required city, county and state permits. Go to the United States Naval Observatory site to receive dawn to dusk data for a specific day. Calculate the amount of time per day the load can legally travel on the highway if it is oversize or overweight.