Heavy Construction Equipment Transport
Shipping heavy machinery or construction equipment transport is not an easy feat (no pun intended) and that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. You need to be careful about so many things, plan everything and be able to foresee any possible challenges that might occur during the process. One minor oversight and things can go from bad to worse, jeopardizing the reliability of equipment and safety of personnel.
The stakes are even higher for construction companies. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), the highest rate of accidents recorded are from the construction sector.
When we are talking about hauling heavy equipment, construction machinery was the prime source of fatal accidents between 1992 and 2010. According to a recent study, the number of accidents that took place in 2010 on road construction projects was twice the number of accidents that took place in the entire industry in 2008. The numbers should give you an idea of how dangerous transportation of heavy equipment can be.
The Challenge of Transporting Heavy Construction Equipment
Running a successful construction company is no cakewalk, especially when it comes down to moving freight and load from one place to another. Some companies, for cost-cutting purposes, might consider transporting their heaving construction equipment all by themselves but is it worth it?
Transporting heavy equipment is difficult because it requires experiences and expertise to be done successfully. Construction equipment is expensive, and a slight mishap can cause major damage to your equipment, If the staff is not trained for this task, it will do more harm than good.
The nightmare doesn’t end there. Transportation of heavy machinery requires you to get licenses and approvals, buying trucks and maintaining them and hiring specialized personnel for the entire operation. Not to mention the time and money that you need to invest in different logistic aspects to ensure that you meet deadlines, and the entire process is carried out smoothly. Also, are they certified by the Department of Transportation (USDOT). So, ask yourself again, is it worth it?
Risks involved in Transporting Construction Equipment
Before you start transporting your construction goods, it is important to be aware of the risks that are involved in the process. Here are a few things you need to consider.
Transporting Owned Equipment
When you are considering all the risks that are associated with transporting heavy and expensive equipment, companies often skip the most important aspect, insurance. Whether you are transporting the goods and equipment on your own or outsourcing the service to a 3PL, you need to make sure every piece of machinery is insured to cover for the damages that might take place. Check out our options for crane transport services.
Using Damaged Goods
It is a very common practice among construction companies where they disregard the minor damages that took place while the equipment was in transit. Overlooking it can put the life of the workers and the equipment in severe danger. You need to make sure that you either have a replacement in place or make sure the transportation was smooth enough.
Not Knowing the Right Routes
Your heavy construction machinery needs to be transported on a smooth, well-constructed and broad road. Otherwise, it can cause major damage to the equipment. For some construction companies, it might not be a big deal and here is where they fail to see the bigger picture. Even if the damage is minor, it will affect the performance of the machinery and hence, puts the life of the workers at danger.
Having the right and experienced drivers for your transportation is nothing less than a blessing. It will not only ensure that your equipment reaches its destination safe and unharmed but also on time.
Now, surely you would be looking for a solution. It’s simple, hire an experienced logistics company. Think about it, you get all your equipment transported to any location you want and you don’t even have to take any liabilities with you. See, the load is already off your shoulder.
Hiring Third-Party Logistics
Third-Party Logistics or 3PL is when organization outsource their entire or part of their operations to a third party such as inventory management, order fulfilling, distribution etc. Research shows that domestic and international transportation of goods is one of the most commonly outsourced services in the United States. Manufacturing industries are some of the largest users of third-party logistics services in the world.
There are several heavy hauling and logistics companies in the United States and select the one that meets all your machinery transportation needs is a challenge itself. Surely, you can surf the web and keep clicking on an endless list of service providers but that will only create more confusion.
The best way to pick the right 3PL service is to create a checklist of what you expect from your ideal machinery transportation service. For instance, years of experience, staff expertise, work ethics are just a few things that must be important for you. Before you start panicking, let us make things easier for you as we know you mean business and so do we.
Construction Equipment Service Provider Checklist
Before you decide on a specialized transport service for your construction equipment, here are a few things you need to consider.
Coordination is the Key
Communication is the key in every industry. Construction companies are always in search for transportation services which can keep them updated such as what route will be taken for the transportation of equipment, when will the equipment will be transported, who is carrying out the process, driver’s experience and most importantly, a written agreement addressing all the specifics of the process.
Getting Exactly what you paid for
If it’s the first time you are hiring a 3PL service, then you must know that not all hauling companies keep their promises. It’s an age-old trick, let us give you a brief.
There is a possibility that whatever 3PL heavy hauling service that you have chosen to do business with promised you an amazing rate. You are happy thinking that you got a bargain and have nothing else to worry about
Sorry to break it to you but, here is where the real problem exists. Most construction companies switch their service option at the eleventh hour when you have no time to make a rational decision and take whatever they are offering you. Otherwise, you are going to suffer delays and lose valuable business.
Remember, always get a written agreement, dictate the terms you are comfortable with, read every clause and never and we mean NEVER rely on commitments. That’s the best way you can get exactly what you paid for and ensure accountability in case things don’t go as planned. Here is a useful tip for you, download the agreement on your device as well.
Compliance with Regulations
Your 3PL service provider must be familiar with the rules and regulations associated with different territories. If the driver is unaware of the regulations and laws of equipment transportations in other countries and states, it can cause severe penalty charges to fall on you. Some states have regulations on how much weight can be carried by a single vehicle and what documents are required to cross a national boundary.
Door to Door Services
What’s the worst thing that can happen when hiring a construction equipment transport and hauling company for your equipment transportation? It gets stuck halfway. Construction companies hire 3PL services to get rid of the hidden costs and hassles of logistics. It is also carried out to streamline the entire transportation.
It is important that when you hire a company, you ensure that it is providing door-to-door services. What we are trying to tell you is that your 3PL service provider should pick and drop the shipment at the location of your choice. Door to door shipping can save you from all involved hidden costs associated with the shipment process such as customs fees and taxes.
The Backup Plan
Perfect plans don’t exist, at least not here. Construction companies always find themselves stuck in a situation where they have to come up with a plan B. Having a good backup plan can give you the assurance that everything is covered and everything is and will be under control.
Make sure the company you are outsourcing your services to offers a backup plan and cares about your business as their own. If they don’t, time to look for those who do.
You might be wondering, why should anyone worry about having a plan B? Well, nobody likes their back against the wall and surely neither do you. To make sure your butt saved at all times, always discuss contingency plans with your 3PL service provider. Not only will this help you secure your assets but will increase your corporate image in the market.
All in all, it is always a good thing to have a plan B which you can rely on. Running a construction business is not a walk in the park, and having the support of a reliable hauling company can make all the difference in the world. If you are looking for such a service, Titan Logistics checks all the important boxes for you. We provide expert project managers to all our clients to streamline the communication process and help you with every complication, logistics concern etc.
Making the right choice for your heavy construction equipment transportation requires extensive research and careful analysis. It is only obvious that they are you are sharing a massive responsibility with them and therefore, they need to prove themselves.
As mentioned earlier, the slightest of mistakes can create a ripple effect on other operations aspects during construction equipment transport, and we don’t want that for any of our clients. The construction industry is massive and even minor mistakes can cost you millions.
Other than the checklist we mentioned above, you can also do background checks, talk to our previous client, whatever brings peace to your heart, be sure to do that. There is nothing else we want other than your trust and confidence in our services. We can also provide you with the physical examinations, DOT drug tests, copy of licenses and endorsements you name it.
Get a FREE Construction Transport Quote Today!
Titan Worldwide Logistics has some of the most qualified and experienced professionals you can find in the industry. We are committed to providing you nothing less than the best and cater to all your needs. Whether you need your construction equipment delivered within the United States or anywhere else, we can do it for you.
We follow our company policies religiously and are very careful regarding the permits and licenses required for construction equipment transport. Our job is to ensure you are free from all worries and all your equipment is delivered at the spot successfully and efficiently.
