Heavy equipment moving: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering heavy equipment moving

Heavy equipment moving is judged on a safe, legal and undamaged load arriving on schedule. Winning it means confirming weights and dimensions, handling permits properly and securing every load to the rated standard.

What customers ask

  • Do you have the permits for this load
  • Is the trailer rated for my machine
  • Will the equipment be damaged in transit
  • Can you load it without a crane
  • Who pays for an escort
  • Are you insured for the machine while it is moving

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask for the equipment make and model, the weight, the dimensions and the attachments, then confirm the trailer type
  • Check the route for height, width and weight limits before you quote, and say which permits the load will need
  • Quote the trailer, the permits, the escort and the loading as separate lines so the customer can see each cost
  • Show the tie-down rating and the securing plan for the machine before the job starts
  • Photograph the equipment at loading and unloading, and note any existing damage on the bill of lading
  • Confirm the unloading site, the ground surface and the ramp plan a day before the delivery

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of a machine being loaded and secured on a trailer, with the customer's permission
  • A list of equipment types you haul, such as tractors, excavators, skid steers and industrial gear
  • Your trailer types, tie-down ratings and any escort or permit services you offer
  • Your insurance certificate and your commercial registration details

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a second-trip haul for related equipment or attachments at the new site
  • Suggest a check of the tie-downs on the return trip, if the job is a regular route
  • Share a short note on the delivery area that helps the customer plan the unload

Licenses and permits

Commercial hauling and oversize loads are commonly subject to registration, permits and commercial licensing for the vehicle and driver. Check with your state or local licensing agency and the transport authority for each route before taking the load.

Questions

Can I haul an oversize load without a permit?

Not if the load is over the legal limit for the route. Check the requirements before you accept the job and file the permits before the move.

What if the load shifts on the road?

Stop safely as soon as it is possible, check the tie-downs and report the event in writing. Do not continue until the load is secured to the rated standard.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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