The Ultimate Guide to Heavy Equipment Trucking & Transportation

Safely and effectively transporting heavy equipment like excavators, bulldozers, graders, backhoes, and more requires the right expertise—and the right equipment. 

If you’re moving heavy machinery around the U.S., we’ll show you what you need to know. Because of its size, weight, and special securement requirements, transporting heavy equipment comes with a few challenges.  

Once you know the ins and outs of transporting this important (and valuable!) cargo, you’ll have a grasp on what it takes to execute a safe and cost-effective heavy equipment move.  

Understanding Heavy Equipment Transportation: Definitions and Legal Requirements

Let’s start with the basics. What, exactly, qualifies as “heavy equipment” or “heavy machinery,” and how is it regulated in the United States?

What Classifies as Heavy Equipment?

Heavy equipment refers to vehicles designed to assist with heavy-duty tasks in the construction, forestry, mining, maritime, industrial, and agriculture industries, among others.

Common types of heavy equipment include vehicles such as:

• Tractors
• Bulldozers
• Graders
• Excavators
• Backhoes
• Scrapers
• Pavers
• Loaders
• Cranes
• Forklifts
• Side loaders

The transportation of heavy machinery is regulated by the cargo securement rules established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Under 49 CFR 393.130, the FMCSA offers its own definition of heavy machinery:

What Are the FMCSA Regulations for Securing Heavy Machinery?

To reduce the number of accidents caused by cargo shifting on commercial motor vehicles—and to align regulations between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—the FMCSA adopted a set of cargo securement rules in 2002.

As part of these rules, heavy machinery is required to undergo the following preparations before transport:

Even if you plan to hire a transportation company to handle your heavy machinery move, it’s important you understand these regulations. Knowing the FMCSA rules will give you a better sense of everything that’s involved with your move—always a good thing. Plus, your knowledge will only help you evaluate the knowledge of any potential partners you decide to work with.

What Other Regulations Apply to Heavy Machinery Transportation?

Like other commercial trucks, trucks transporting heavy machinery are subject to federal width, length, and size limits.

In some cases, your machinery may exceed these limits and fall into one of two categories:

Oversize or Overweight Loads

Under federal regulations, there’s a maximum 102″ width limitation for vehicles that travel on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, as well as a set of maximum weights:

• 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight
• 20,000 pound single axle weight
• 34,000 pound tandem axle weight

Loads that exceed these specs are considered oversize/overweight. Permits for these loads are obtained on the state level, and they’re required for every state the equipment has to travel through.

If your load has to cross several states, transporting overweight and oversized machinery can get complicated—and expensive. If there’s anything you can do to reduce the size or weight of your equipment, such as removing or retracting attachments so it doesn’t qualify as overweight/oversize, it will likely be worth your while.

Super Loads

Super loads exceed state overweight/oversize specs. As a result, they usually require a dedicated super load permit. Items like wind turbines or industrial machinery might qualify as super loads.

The exact specifications for super loads vary from state to state. For example, California classifies loads greater than 15′-0″ wide, 17′-0″ high, and 135′-0″ long as super loads.

Super loads require extra special consideration, including careful route planning and permitting. If your load could potentially be considered a super load, leave extra time to account for the detailed logistics involved.

Planning Your Heavy Equipment Move: Cost & Scheduling

Final Considerations & Best Practices for Heavy Equipment Transportation

Finally, we’ll leave you with a few last thoughts—and a few tips—for a smooth, safe, and cost-effective heavy equipment move.

Know Your Equipment

The dimensions and weight for your equipment will be a key factor in the planning and quoting process of your heavy machinery move.

The better you know your equipment, the easier this process will be:

• Make sure you have the exact dimensions and weight for your machinery ready when you request a quote.
• If certain items or accessories can be removed to reduce dimensions or weight, make note and share this information with any potential partners. It could help you avoid your load being classified as oversized/overweight—and save you all the costs and permitting that come with that classification.

Ultimately, the more concrete details you can provide with your quote, the more options you’ll have, including options that might save you money.

Evaluate Each Transportation Partner Carefully

When you’re transporting large, heavy, and expensive machinery, this isn’t the time to cut corners.

Instead, insist on a professional transportation provider with:

• Plenty of experience hauling heavy machinery, ideally equipment that’s similar to yours.
• Insurance coverage to protect your equipment in transit. During the quoting process, inquire about the specific details of the coverage your transportation partner offers. Share the details with your own insurance broker or agent to ensure you’re fully covered. This will give you the chance to address gaps in coverage or inadequate limits, all of which can cause serious problems down the line.

• All the right equipment to do your move right. Even if you’re not an expert in heavy machinery transport, a few key questions can reveal the depth of your partner’s expertise. (Or suggest you might look elsewhere!) If you’re new to heavy equipment transport, here are a few questions to get you started:

• Will they be using a flatbed, a step-deck, a low-loader, a gooseneck trailer, or something else to move your equipment?
• What’s the plan for securing the load? What about blocking and bracing?
• Will they be using chocks or wedges to secure the wheels? If the machinery has a metal track, will they use a friction mat to keep it from sliding?

Make sure you choose a provider you can trust for your heavy machinery move. This equipment represents a significant investment, and your provider should treat it with the professionalism and seriousness it deserves.

Prepare Your Heavy Machinery for Transport

Once you decide on a transportation provider, talk to them about how they want you to prepare the equipment for transportation.

Giving it a good cleaning and doing a full inspection—with pictures and video—will establish a baseline so you know the equipment’s condition before handing it over.

You may want to secure some of the elements of the equipment before transport, including anything that might come loose in transit. Or, you might choose to cover it with a tarp.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure you coordinate with your provider so your preparations don’t interfere with their loading procedures.

Moving Your Heavy Equipment—Safely and Cost-Effectively

Moving equipment of significant size, weight, and value takes specialized expertise. Now that you understand the factors involved with heavy machinery moves, you’re better positioned to find a provider who can help ensure a safe, easy, and cost-effective move, which will get your equipment back up and running with minimal down time.

Looking for help with your next heavy machinery move? Our trucking experts would be happy to help. Just reach out to us for a complimentary quote. No project too large or challenging!