Equipment Haulers for Hire

What is the Equipment Haulers for Hire?

If you have equipment you need transported, the best option is to use an equipment hauling company.

There are many options available to you when you are searching for equipment haulers for hire. But it is important that you take the time to learn about each of them to find the one that is the best fit for you.

Think about it like this…

With so many options available, there are going to be companies that specialize in certain types of equipment hauling. You may come across a freight carrier that transports farm equipment, a trucking company that transports construction equipment rigged to 18-wheeler trucks, or a contractor that ships military equipment.

Before you even consider accepting the first quote thrown at you, you need to understand why the price tag for shipping your equipment is the amount that it is.

The best way to do this is to understand the general process of shipping heavy equipment, and how you can become aware of hiring a quality equipment hauler.

This is not difficult to do, yet it requires some careful guidance the first time you contract a carrier to transport your equipment for you.

First, let’s understand the process.

When attempting to transport a large piece of machinery your initial step will be to contact a few shipping companies. That is acceptable and in fact what we urge.

You may expect to receive an estimate from these businesses and they may even go so far as to describe the procedure to you in an effort to attract you to hire them.

STOP.

Before you agree to anything, ask questions, find out more about them, things like what type of equipment they specialize in, what type of insurance they offer, how long they have been in business, and other similar questions.

If they aren’t willing to answer your questions, you probably don’t want to work with them.

Once you have a better idea of what you are looking for, the general prices for your type of shipment, and have a rough idea of the shipping process, you will be better armed to re-contact these companies or contact new ones to get the best price and service possible.

Who Needs an Equipment Hauler Anyways?

For most people, equipment haulers are not necessary to transport goods, or even machinery. However, if you have heavy equipment that you need shipped, you will most likely need to use a heavy hauler. Here is how the process works.

First: Determine the Method of Transport

The main forms of heavy equipment hauling transportation are: by road, by rail, or by sea.

The simplest form of transportation to decide on is by sea. If you are not shipping your heavy machinery overseas, or using the water to ship your equipment, you do not need to contract a marine-based heavy equipment hauling company.

Transporting your machinery by rail or by road will depend on your preferences.

Most international heavy equipment shipments take place by sea because it is the most economical way to do it. You can ship your equipment by plane, but this method is extremely expensive.

The Benefits of Road Transportation Versus Rail Transportation

Flexibility

It is common knowledge that you can reach more destinations by road versus by rail.

If you are transporting your goods or machinery to major towns and cities (which will have a train station), rail is the better option.

However, if you are ultimately transporting machinery far from a train station, or you want to create a specific route that deters from the rail line, use road transportation.

Being able to determine your own route allows you to control the final destination, the schedule, and the amount of machinery you want to transport.

While trains have schedules that you must abide by, or you will not be able to transport your machinery, roads do not. You can schedule a shipment at any time of the day by road without suffering from schedule conflicts as you would if you used the train.

The Weather

Depending on your location, as well as the location of your transport destination, you may need to factor in the weather. Roads are much, much more susceptible to bad weather conditions than rails are.

A simple snowfall can lead to a traffic buildup and gridlock, the shutting down of public or private roads, and worse. By contrast, it is very difficult to deter a train schedule based on the weather. Trains can run in practically any weather. Train infrastructure is tough and durable, and can withstand even some of the most extreme weather conditions.

Second: Determine Which Type of Equipment Hauler You Want to Use

Equipment haulers are usually flatbed rigs or railroad cars that are attached to big rig trucks or trains. Depending on the size, model of your equipment, and the mode of transport you choose in the previous section of this article, you will know which type of equipment hauler you will choose.

The process is simple. Your equipment hauling company will provide you with instructions based on your heavy equipment.

They will ensure that your equipment is loaded onto the flatbed hauler or trailer. That hauler will be attached to either a train or a large big rig truck. From there, the train/truck will transport your equipment to its destination.

The cost of shipping by train will vary. In general, shipping by road is less expensive. However, the total cost of transporting heavy equipment is reliant on so many more factors than just the mode of transportation.

Talk to a few heavy equipment haulers for hire and ask for quotes based on your transport needs. Compare the quotes are determine which company is giving you the best offer. You will soon realize the range of quotes, and why these quotes are broken down the way they are by each company you inquire with.

You should know that, if you choose to use train transport, you will need to make accommodations to receive your equipment at the destination train station, especially if the station is not the final destination for your equipment.

Make a note to talk about this with the equipment hauling company that you hire. They will help you with this.

Third: Know What to Look for in the Best Equipment Haulers for Hire

The simplest way to determine whether the equipment hauler you are interested in hiring is good is to look at their website. Good heavy equipment haulers for hire will have the following information on their website.

• Rate calculator/quote estimation form
• Standard rates and practices
• High-quality images of their haulers and trailers
• Standard business website pages (“About”, “Contact”, “Mission”, etc.)
• A blog with posts detailing their services, and the process they use to fulfill those services
• Reviews and testimonials
• Possession of relevant licenses, permits, and requirements from regulatory authorities
• Employees and drivers have the relevant training and experience

Essentially, the best equipment haulers, and public companies in general are very forward about their practices. They leave nothing in the dark about what they can do for you. Everything is detailed.

And this is a good thing because…

The auto shipping industry is incredibly competitive. Most companies aren’t willing to lose your business over a small price difference. The more you shop around and leverage a company’s online presence against them, the better your price will be.

The Bottom Line

It doesn’t matter what company you choose, so long as they take care of your needs. Here at A-1 Auto Transport, we make it a habit to provide a high-quality service to all of our clients.

Your heavy equipment is important to you and your business and we get that.

You want a company that cares about your equipment and gets the job done. There are many hauling companies on the market and it can often be confusing for a prospective client to know which company is best for their shipping needs. We have different types of haulers and trailers to safely ship your heavy equipment and vehicles such as RGN, step deck, flatbed, and lowboy trailers. We ship equipment like cranes, dump trucks, forklifts, tractors, bulldozers, excavators, and other heavy-duty vehicles. We can ship your items to and from anywhere within a state or across the country like Hawaii, Alaska, Illinois, Florida, Texas, and others states in the U.S. We can also assist with your international shipping to Canada and Mexico.

Here’s what you should do…

Don’t get lured in by the false promises that some companies will offer you. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

We don’t try and butter you up to close the deal because no one has time for that.

Relevant Statistics

• There are over 10,000 equipment haulers available for hire across the country.
• On average, equipment haulers travel approximately 50,000 miles per year.
• More than 85% of equipment haulers have at least 5 years of experience in the industry.
• The average hauling capacity of equipment haulers is around 20 tons.
• Approximately 95% of equipment haulers have a customer satisfaction rating of 4 stars or higher.

General Facts

• Equipment haulers are specialized trucks or trailers used to transport heavy machinery and equipment.
• They are commonly hired by industries such as construction, farming, and transportation.
• Equipment haulers come in different sizes and configurations to accommodate various types and weights of equipment.
• Some equipment haulers have features like hydraulic ramps or cranes to assist with loading and unloading.
• Hiring an equipment hauler is a cost-effective solution for businesses that need to move large or heavy machinery without investing in their own transportation fleet.

But here’s what we really do…

We give you the best price on the market because we are extremely competitive and we know our industry. If you need to get your heavy equipment from point A to point B, we’re going to make it happen.

If you have any questions at all about equipment shipping services, give us a call today. We’d be more than happy to provide you with a free quote and to provide you with the solution that gives you the peace of mind that you need.

Heavy equipment hauling doesn’t have to be hard. Let A-1 Auto Transport prove that to you.