Heavy Equipment Transportation Process - Permits, Escorts, and Route Planning

The heavy equipment transportation process is at the core of many logistics operations, where weight, size, and time limitations matter the most. There are also permits and route inspections that must be dealt with, so careful planning is absolutely crucial for any heavy equipment haul.

Some businesses and organizations have full fleets, while others solely rely on a single piece of equipment, helping them load/unload and transport the heavy freight.

That’s why in this guide, we’ll walk you through what heavy equipment is, how to classify it, how it’s being transported, and where to locate and book a heavy machinery transportation company.

What Is Considered Heavy Machinery

To understand what is considered heavy machinery, we need to check the rules, or “factors” that classify whether the machinery is heavy or not.

The most important aspect is, of course, the weight and the type of work the machine is used to handle. There is a specific weight threshold, and many pieces of machinery used for industrial purposes, such as construction site equipment, fall under the category of “heavy” machinery.

Another thing that judges what is heavy machinery is the power rating (lift force), the hydraulic system, and the structural design.

To understand this better, here are the rules to classify heavy machinery:

The bottom line is, even if one of these factors applies, then the piece of equipment then it falls under one of the types of heavy equipment or “heavy machinery” classification.

Is a Car Considered Heavy Machinery?

Wondering if a car is heavy machinery? Well, not exactly!

A traditional car does not fall under the “heavy machinery” category. This is because many cars do not surpass the weight threshold, and they are not used for industrial purposes. Well, some of them can even be transported without specialized equipment (using regular car shipping options).

What Is Considered Heavy Equipment

We now know how to classify heavy machinery, and heavy equipment always falls under the category, mainly because of its industrial design. The heavy equipment is more like a support pillar, rather than pure power (force). 

Here are a few prime examples of what is considered heavy equipment:

• Dump Truck: Moves bulk material in steady cycles and keeps crews supplied without slowing the workflow.
• Skid Steer Loaders: Handles loading, grading, or cleanup in confined spots where quick turns and stable control matter.
• Backhoe Loaders: Supports digging, trenching, and loading when you need one unit to cover several task groups on site.
• Pallet Stackers: Lifts pallet loads for short transfers and keeps staging lines organized during peak activity.
• Yard Tractors: Pull trailers inside controlled yards and helps you shift freight or gear without long delays.

In short, we can say that “heavy equipment” is what helps with heavy-duty tasks, to prevent any drawbacks in production. This equipment is critical for planning, requires specialized heavy equipment transportation, and exists in almost any construction site.

Is a Forklift Considered Heavy Equipment?

Yes, a forklift falls under the category of “heavy equipment” because it’s directly involved with industrial uses and surpasses the weight threshold.

A forklift plays a critical role in many projects and is often part of equipment hauling, machinery shipping, and is always offered by equipment transportation services. There are a lot of rules for forklift haul, such as planning the route according to the machine’s turning radius, weight limits, and matching the piece of equipment with the correct trailer.

How to Transport Heavy Equipment - a Step-By-Step Guide

When it comes to heavy machinery hauling, planning, coordination, and strict preparation are absolutely crucial for safety and success.

The process involves matching the piece of heavy equipment with the right trailer, confirming weight, size, and category, securing permits, and route planning. Heavy machinery transport companies would help you with all of this, but it’s always nice to know what you’re up against.

Here is a step-by-step guide for transporting heavy equipment:

Step 1: Inspect the Load

The first step is to inspect the heavy machinery you’re dealing with. You must identify any leaks, weak spots, or potential hazards, especially for construction equipment shipping. In case of any unusual findings, you must record them thoroughly.

Step 2: Set Parameters

You need to check and clearly outline the parameters, such as weight, size, and category, so you can find a correct heavy equipment shipping service.

The heavy transport company will then compare these numbers with local limits to ensure that nothing will go wrong with the oversize load hauling.

Step 3: Permits and Route

The next step is mapping of all routes, bridges, and turns, which is always handled by the heavy machinery logistics company to guarantee safety. They also secure any permits tied to height and width to avoid roadblocks.

This provides you with a clear path for shipping heavy equipment.

Step 4: Choosing a Trailer

The next step is for the specific load to be matched with a step deck or other trailer, designed to handle heavy shipments of this type. The loading and unloading process may involve ramps or cranes, especially when the heavy machinery shipping is more complex and requires support.

In this step, critical points are the control of tilt, balance, and anchor strength, and rigging points, all of which are handled by the transportation company.

This is how to move heavy machinery!

Step 5: Transport and Monitor

When the hauling process begins, the drivers from the heavy machinery shipping carriers will almost certainly track every mile in real time. This helps with monitoring precision, alerting you to potential stops, weather issues, road limits, and more.

Step 6: The Final Inspection

At last, when the piece of heavy equipment arrives at its destination, a final inspection is conducted to confirm that its condition remains the same as at the start. This applies to absolutely any shipping, from shipping heavy machinery overseas via lift-on-lift to international shipping and local hauls.

This step wraps up the process of heavy equipment hauling.

Book Oversized Equipment and Machinery Hauling Services on FreightRun

If you are about to get involved in heavy hauling and ship heavy machinery or equipment, then you definitely need to find oversized freight shipping services.

When looking for heavy equipment haulers and equipment shipping quotes, your main priority is checking their rating, prices, and whether they are a suitable transport company for your needs.

We recommend exploring a few equipment transport services and comparing their rates to find the most cost-effective solution for your demand.

An additional thing to bring up during your conversation with equipment hauling services is the routing, timing, and full cost before you book anything to avoid overcharges and unwanted fees.

If you haven’t found a shipping service for your heavy machinery yet, we recommend using the Freight Run Quote Calculator to compare options and get heavy equipment shipping quotes to compare and select from. Best of luck!