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Crane Hauling & Shipping
If you've been searching for “crane haulers and shippers near me,” you've come to the right place. At A-1 Auto Transport, we specialize in hauling and transporting heavy machinery and construction equipment of all types – including cranes. No job is too big or too small for our team of specialized transportation & logistics professionals.
At A-1 Auto Transport, we've been providing crane hauling and shipping services for decades, and we work with companies from all around the company for both short-haul and long-haul shipping. Whether you need to transport cranes to a new job site across town, or you need to send them across the entire country, we're always here to help.
Our pledge is to provide timely and reliable crane hauling and shipping services at a reasonable rate. To learn more and get started with our crane shipping services, contact us now to get a quote and place your service order.
Shipping a Crane
The need for crane owners to ship their heavy duty machinery from one location to the next is more often than you might think. Luckily, finding a transport company to handle either the domestic or international shipping process of a crane is rather easy. With manufacturers and dealerships also using transport companies for their oversized load shipping services, there are many that now have the ability to offer their help delivering such large equipment.
What Characteristics to Look for in a Reliable Transport Company
- As professionals with experience, it should be easy to find positive reviews and ratings online about the company shipping cranes
- They'll have licensed professionals and expert drivers, BBB approval, DOT certification, and others. They should also have proof of their success in the transport industry
- They generally adhere to heavy equipment shipping regulations in the country
- They'll offer several transport options for heavy equipment, even customizing the transport if necessary
- All licensed transport companies are required by law to carry the minimal set requirements for insurance coverage on the cargo they ship for customers
- As a longstanding transport company, they should own all the latest in shipping technology and equipment for handling crane shipments including heavy-duty haulers, trailers, and carriers
- It should be easy to get a hold of the transport company when needed. Customer service should always remain friendly and helpful
- Such a company should be able to handle everything involved in the shipping including helping to secure necessary permits and documentation to move equipment across states and international borders.
The Process of Shipping a Crane
Transporting the crane is a step by step process that entails taking it apart and shipping the individual parts separately. Depending on the destination or construction site, the crane will be loaded onto a trailer or a flatbed ship. The hauler won't leave until the crane is locked down and all its attachments are disconnected or fastened to avoid accidents. Satellite tracking services allow you to keep tabs on your mobile crane wherever it goes.
Crane Haulers And Shippers Near You
At A-1 Auto Transport, we're the best choice for any company looking for “crane haulers and shippers near me.” With our years of experience in the industry, you can trust us to deliver your most valuable and important construction equipment on time and on budget, and get your projects on course. We have shipped all types of construction cranes including terrain cranes, tower cranes, mobile cranes, cargo cranes, and deck cranes.
Above all else, we focus on a safe, timely delivery of your crane. We know that a delay in shipment schedule or an unexpected mechanical issue after your crane arrives can cost you quite a bit of time and money – and result in serious project delays.
That's why we'll work with your team to ensure that your crane is secured safely and properly, and is delivered in great shape. We also guarantee that we will meet our deadlines – so you don't have to stress about missed deliveries or unexpected delays. This pledge to our customers is what makes us such a great choice for crane hauling and shipping services.
So don't just trust anyone with your valuable cranes. We can haul your cranes and other construction equipment nationwide – and with guaranteed rates and delivery dates, we can help simplify logistics for your company.
Relevant Statistics
- The average weight of a shipped crane is approximately 80 tons.
- Over 90% of cranes shipped internationally are transported by sea.
- The maximum height of a crane that can be shipped without dismantling is 25 meters.
- Roughly 70% of cranes shipped globally are used in construction projects.
- On average, it takes around 10 days to ship a crane from one continent to another.
General Facts
- Shipping a crane involves transporting it from one location to another, often using specialized vessels or transport vehicles.
- Cranes are typically disassembled before shipping to minimize size (length, height, and width) and weight for transportation purposes. The disassembly is done following the steps and guidelines outlined by the manufacturer.
- The process of loading and unloading a crane during shipping requires skilled operators, expertise, and proper equipment.
- Shipping documentation, including permits and customs clearance, is necessary when transporting a crane across borders.
- Safety measures like securing the crane properly, protecting delicate parts, and using appropriate packaging materials are crucial during transportation.
How Much Will It Cost To Ship A Crane?
It's difficult to give you an estimate, since the cost to ship a crane varies based on a multitude of factors. For an accurate quote, we recommend contacting A-1 Auto Transport. Below, we've listed a few different factors that tend to affect the cost of shipping a crane.
- Size and dimensions – The larger your crane is, the more costly it will be to ship. Bulky cranes are harder to maneuver when loading or unloading. In addition, very large cranes may require partial disassembly into pieces and transportation on multiple trucks. For example, the boom can be removed and disassembled into parts. Or, if they can be transported intact, they may require transportation as an oversize load, which leads to higher fees and costs like pilot cars and road escorts (vehicles).
- Weight – Heavier loads are always more expensive to ship, so the weight of your crane will be a significant factor when determining the overall cost of shipping.
- Shipment distance – The longer the distance that your crane is shipped, the more it will cost to ship. Transporting a crane across the country is much more expensive than local shipping.
However, the cost-per-mile of long-haul crane shipping is actually lower than it would be for a short-haul shipment. The overall cost is still higher, of course, but the per-mile cost for long distances is lower than it is for short distances.
- Domestic or international shipping – Shipping a crane internationally will incur quite a few additional costs, including disassembly (piece by piece) to fit it into multiple shipping containers (if necessary), costs of shipping on a cargo vessel, and tariffs/fees/taxes in both the home and destination country.
- Date of delivery deadline – If you need your crane shipped urgently and require it to be shipped within a short deadline, you'll pay more for rush shipping. In contrast, if you plan ahead and have more time to ship your crane, the cost will be lower. So it's more about your needs and specific situation.
Want to learn more about the costs of crane hauling and shipping? Just contact A-1 Auto Transport now for a free, no-commitment quote.
Contact A-1 Auto Transport For Crane Hauling And Shipping Nationwide
Whether you need to haul a crane to a local job site or a nearby area, or you need to ship a crane all the way across the nation – or even internationally – A-1 Auto Transport is here to help. Our team of heavy equipment hauling specialists is standing by, so contact us now online or give us a call at (888) 230-9116 for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions
The average cost to transport a crane changes depending on what you want the company to transport. Just like the delivery time, the distance between the pickup and drop-off has the most significant effect on the final cost.
Driving through traffic-heavy areas also means the driver has to use more fuel, elevating the cost. The market price of fuel also changes the final price. The fuel greatly affects the final price and must be addressed.
Of course, the roads also control how much fuel the truck uses.
A crane is well over DOT limits for what they consider a wide load and what isn't since the usual limitations are 8.5 feet for its width, 48 to 53 feet for length, 13.5 feet for height, and 46000 pounds for weight.
A crane is around 50 tons, 100,000 pounds, and its length is 60 to 100 meters. Since 60 meters is about 200 feet and 100 meters is almost 300 feet, it's hard to accommodate a crane on a trailer, and it may require two trailers bound together for transport.
This means that a lowboy trailer or RGN trailer is the best choice because the former is designed to take more weight. At the same time, the latter has a removable gooseneck that makes heavy-loading machinery much simpler.
It requires a permit before the shipping company can transport it. It's part of the reason why transporting it is a lengthy process.
Although the Department of Transport has links to all the state websites to make getting permits simpler, it still takes time because there's a separate one for each state.
Often, even towns and cities have individual licenses, so it's even worse. Since each town has different requirements, it becomes a cumbersome matter.
This means the process takes a while, and the overall delivery time is also lengthened because of the numerous inspections. Other than that, extreme weather conditions can cause delays by forcing the driver to stop.
Apart from having the needed experience when getting permits, there are many small steps that a company can perform better than you. Just the loading and unloading require a particular skill.
Of course, you might be good at handling a crane, but transporting it over a long distance is different, and it's best to leave the matter to the professionals. It'll ensure your stuff reaches its destination safely.
Just remember to be prudent when you're selecting a company because it's easy to want to hire the cheapest one. You have to look into legitimacy and ensure that your things are in good hands before handing them responsibility.
You browse the internet and search for the best shipping companies near you to get a head start before finalizing your choice.
As mentioned, obtaining permits to transport a wide and oversized load is a complicated process. But other than that, it also takes a long while when the drivers transport the crane to its destination. The main factor that affects the total time is the size.
Since it's so long, the loaders might attach more than one trailer to accommodate it. And since it's heavy, the load may topple.
The driver must be experienced in navigating the road well since passing narrow streets and sharp turns can be challenging. It's vital to hire the best company possible.
Yes, since it's a wide and oversized load. An oversized load is anything over 46000 pounds, and since a crane is around 100,000 pounds, it requires a permit before the shipping company can transport it. It's part of the reason why transporting it is a lengthy process.
Although the Department of Transport has links to all the state websites to make getting permits simpler, it still takes time because there's a separate one for each state. Often, even towns and cities have individual licenses, so it's even worse.
Other than that, a special license is not required for the driver, though they must be well-experienced.
Since a crane's shape is also different from most pieces of heavy equipment, it's slightly harder to accommodate it on trailers. However, a flatbed trailer may transport smaller cranes that don't weigh too much.
On the other hand, it's better to use a step-deck or lowboy trailer because both are designed to take more weight than usual. A lowboy trailer's four-axle variant can handle around 80,000 pounds, which makes it suitable for an average-sized crane. A step deck has two levels so it can accommodate equipment like cranes well. This type of trailer is well-suited for a crane.
Finally, a removable gooseneck trailer is also a suitable mode of transport because it has a built-in ramp that the loaders can prop down to make it easy to load the crane.
A crane is well over DOT limits for what they consider a wide load and what isn't since the usual limitations are 8.5 feet for width, 48 to 53 feet for length, 13.5 feet for height, and 46000 pounds for weight.
A crane is around 50 tons, 100,000 pounds, and its length is 60 to 100 meters. Since 60 meters is about 200 feet and 100 meters is almost 300 feet, it's hard to accommodate a crane on a trailer, and it may require two trailers bound together for transport.
This is because a usual trailer is around 53 feet, so it's hard for the loaders to perfectly balance the crane without falling off.
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