Guidance On Hauling Heavy Construction Equipment
Posted on: 25 June 2020
When it comes to heavy transport jobs, few are as demanding as the requirement to shift big construction equipment. Although many types of heavy construction vehicles are quite capable of making their way from A to B on a building site, transporting them more than a few kilometres under their own steam is often inefficient. Of course, things like backhoe loaders are a common sight on Australian roads, but large pieces of construction equipment such as bulldozers, cranes or excavators need to be moved on other vehicles. If you are planning on hauling some heavy construction equipment shortly, what are the key considerations to bear in mind?
1. Protective Personal Equipment
Anyone involved with heavy transport work should have the necessary protective personal equipment, or PPE. If you don't know which sort of PPE is suited to a heavy transport job, then conduct a risk assessment or subcontract it out to a safety professional to do one for you. If something goes wrong and the right PPE was not issued, it can lead to significant legal problems.
2. Inspect the Truck
Unless you are loading your construction equipment onto a train, it is more than likely that a truck hauling a low loader will be used for the job. Heavy transport trucks must be capable of taking the weight involved, and that may affect the number of axles you need. In turn, this may alter who is allowed to drive the truck and who is not. Make sure that the truck and driver are suitable and then conduct a thorough inspection before even attempting to load it. Tyres, lights, brakes and tie-down anchor points should all be visually checked before you proceed.
3. Use Ramps
The best way of getting heavy construction equipment onto a trailer is to use ramps. The longer the better because this makes the incline less dramatic. However, you may be restricted by the space available. If so, consider conducting the heavy transport loading at another location. Make sure that your ramps are clean. This means that they must be clear of any liquid spillages or oil marks. Make sure leaves or dirt are also removed so that you can gain the best possible traction.
4. Chain Down
With your previously confirmed anchor points, it is crucial to secure the construction equipment you are moving before the heavy transport can begin. Chains are by far the best means of doing this, although webbing straps are also often used to augment the tethering of chains. Use downward force to clamp the equipment to the trailer and avoid unnecessary twists.
Contact a heavy transport company to learn more.
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