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Maintenance: Equipment Transport

February 07, 2011 |

In the Magazine

How to haul safely

Part 2:

Safe equipment transport involves truck, trailer and machine

by Larry Walton, contributing writer

While we addressed the need for properly rated vehicles to transport equipment in the first part of this article (see January issue), making sure you have enough truck is not the last word in safely moving equipment. Many contractors have adequate trucks, but they don’t have them equipped or maintained properly. Neglected lights, corroded trailer brake connections, missing weight distribution hitches and improperly deployed binders put the driving public, their crew and their businesses at risk.

Clean decks and clean machines are a must. Even small rocks leaving the trailer have an impact on a fellow driver’s day.

When it comes to pickups, Chevy, Dodge, Ford, GM and Toyota all have towing guides available online with information on load ratings, hitch types and driving tips. Additionally, each manufacturer includes towing information in the vehicle owner’s manual. Mastery of this content is essential to transport safety.

Truck drivers and equipment operators alike should be aware of the capabilities, limitations and procedures for all machines involved in the move. To get the full picture, crew members need to study the operator’s manuals for the trailers and for the equipment they are transporting. It will take a combination of information for all three components (truck, trailer and machine) to get everything loaded, secured and safely transported.

Get ready to load

Crew members may load track machines onto the company’s older lowboy trailers from the side and apply a 90-degree turn once on the deck. The same trailer may require that a rubber-tired skidder be loaded from the rear by driving directly over the trailer tires. Newer trailers may need to be disconnected and loaded straight in line over the front. Different machines, different trailers, different procedures.

There are plenty of moving parts and shifting weights in the vulnerable operations of loading and unloading. Make sure all employees know to stay clear until the machines are stationary.

Before loading machines, make sure they are as clean as possible. Some contractors use pressure washers to thoroughly clean their equipment before moving it. Some owners call for this type of cleaning to keep from cross-contaminating properties with weeds. Additionally, it’s a good way to minimize the possibility of having rocks or dried mud drop onto the deck where it can become a projectile on the highway.

Whenever practical, put the transport vehicle and trailer on level ground. Make sure both are stopped, locked and blocked. Load balances shift rapidly during the loading process so the more stable the truck and trailer the better.

Multiple machines can be moved on one trailer. Pay careful attention to weight distribution over the axles.

Pay attention to overhead clearances where you will be loading. Some machines are not yet at their lowest profile during the loading process, which means they can touch power lines, bridges and other overhead obstructions during loading that are of no concern once the load is settled.

Keep workers clear during loading procedures. Shifting, sliding and swinging attachments can serve up trouble in a hurry. Plenty of trailers have tilt designs with a significant amount of movement to transform from ramp to level deck during the loading process. Watch out for the go-getters on the crew who want to rush in and get on the binders before everything is positioned, stopped and settled.

Use a cargo strap to secure blocking during an excavator transport.

Pay attention to the position of booms, buckets, blades and outriggers both while loading and once on the trailer. Avoid damage to the truck, trailer or the machine. Excavators often need to be knuckled to get below highway height limits. This can leave hydraulic rams exposed to potential damage on deck edges and transitions.