Construction equipment does a great job of doing everything we need without the help of any other equipment. When it comes to digging holes, leveling land, moving massive materials and preparing land for a giant project, they are the lone wolves.
However, there is one thing that construction equipment cannot do alone: relocate! To do this, we often enlist the help of some other greats in the world of machines and some professionals who know how to get the job done.
New technology means old problems
Nowadays, phones and computers are not the only devices that benefit from technological advances. Shipping, transport and the construction industry as a whole are seeing the benefits of incorporating smart technologies into their businesses.
Being in constant contact with the subcontractor who is moving your equipment, tracking its location, automating parts of the process and ensuring correct documentation for each move with these new management leaps.
Incorporating data and smart technology into a project as large as moving construction equipment can make everything more efficient, cost-effective and safe.
Preparing for transport
Before preparing your machinery for transportation, review the equipment owner's manual for special instructions. Inspect and wrap in bubble wrap any parts, such as gauges, buttons, or levers, that may become loose or shift during shipping. 
Figuring out who will carry the equipment is equally important. Not having the right person in the right place at the right time can lead to costly delays or unsafe conditions. An experienced heavy machinery transport company like A1 Auto Transport ensures that the team working on your heavy equipment moving project is well-trained, experienced and equipped with the necessary moving equipment and knowledge to ensure the transport takes place. no problem. But if A1 Auto Transport can't provide you with the help you need, use this complete guide to moving out of state to find the right transportation company.
Since most drivers routinely transport heavy equipment, you will find that most of them are well-versed in construction equipment. So, you can decide to have the driver drive the equipment to the trailer. Just remember to schedule your crew if that's your preference.
Keeping your equipment safe during transport needs to be a top priority. Maintenance or repairs that need to be done due to poor planning or damage resulting from the move only add costs and downtime.
Preload Checklist
Here are some tips to ensure you have the smoothest transport preparation:
- Start by cleaning your machine. A dirty machine may have hand rests and attachment points that are difficult to find. Make sure there is no damage before shipping now that you can see beneath the dirt.
- Now that you've cleaned your machine, keep it that way. Cover it to prevent unwanted debris from entering your machine through the chimney.
- Avoid a dead battery upon arrival by unhooking it before transport.
- Gusts on the road will cause doors to swing mid-transport, so lock them. If you are having problems with the latch, use clamps.
- Consider lights, signage and safety strips, especially for oversized loads. Your shipping agent will be happy to help with anything you need. But don't forget to take photos.
- If you cannot avoid an oversized load, obtain the appropriate permits and verify that the travel route is safe for these vehicles.
By the way…
Tips for Avoiding a Broad Load Assignment
While the largest pieces of your equipment will likely end up designated as a wide load and transported accordingly, such as cranes, tractors, scrapers, excavators, and off-highway dump trucks, you can avoid this designation for the rest of your construction equipment through careful planning. and modifications that will ensure they meet standard regulations.
It is generally more efficient and cheaper to ship separate attachments of wheel loaders or excavators, for example, than to ship the entire machine in a single oversized load. 
The following tips will help you avoid an unwanted oversized load assignment:
- Excess weight: Separate shipments of bodies and accessories will reduce weight. Exceeding 20 tons, or 40,000 pounds, is probably too much. Check the manual or call the manufacturer if you are unsure about a weight.
- Excessive height: First try to retract the bucket or boom, then remove it completely if necessary. Another load is probably preferable to a single broad load. To determine whether this is worth doing, consider the time it will take to remove the object as well as the time required for reinstallation, and compare this value to the savings from avoiding a broad load designation.
- Excessive width: You probably won't have control over this aspect, as construction equipment often uses tracks instead of tires, and removing tracks is a time-consuming process. If so, however, again consider the cost of removal and installation compared to the savings of a broad load designation.
- Overlength: Consult regulations in the areas you will be moving equipment through for length regulations. If you are going to go longer than that, see if there is something that can be removed and carried separately to fit within the normal length restrictions.
Even if you disassemble a machine and have to struggle to reassemble it upon delivery, this can save you a lot.
Large loads often cost double, triple, or quadruple the price of moving construction equipment. Especially if you need escort vehicles, police escorts, licenses and placards.
Additionally, large loads are prohibited on certain roads and bridges, which can add time and expensive miles to get around them.
Double check the details
Now that everything is in place, go back and check everything. Making sure everyone is scheduled correctly and knows the plan will save you a lot of headaches on game day. Speak to the transporter and confirm:
- Date and time
- Location
- What equipment are they bringing
- What you need to have on hand
- Estimated arrival at destination
Confirm the help you need:
- Someone to operate the equipment
- Those who will transport separate equipment
- Loading help on the website
Confirm destination location:
- Someone who can unload the equipment
- Adequate unloading area
- Mechanic on site to assist with reassembly of equipment
- Adequate access for the tractor and trailer
Match day
When the day comes, it's time to follow this plan to the letter. All participants must have a printed copy of the times, locations, phone numbers and addresses so there is no confusion.
Make sure everyone knows who the main contact is for questions about certain topics and how to contact them.
Take photos of your equipment once it is loaded and secured in the trailer. Having them will prove the condition of the machinery before you leave and will be able to confirm that it was properly protected should anything arise.
As soon as the load arrives at its destination, assign someone or go inspect the machine before the transporter leaves. If any problems are found, they should be resolved immediately and not delayed for a day or two.
With this checklist in hand, we are confident that moving construction equipment can be done smoothly, easily and efficiently.
