Thanksgiving For Flatbed Trucking and Heavy Hauling Drivers

The flatbed trucking, refrigerated trucking and heavy hauling that we perform for our clients across the continental states; there is no stopping on Thanksgiving. And this, of course, applies to all trucking outfits in the industry. It applies to days leading up to this warm, sharing holiday or the days immediately after. Imagine how many drivers were on the road hauling turkeys, sides and desserts for the Thanksgiving feasting for hundreds of millions of people, or delivering goods that had to get somewhere on time for post-Thanksgiving Black Friday and Cyber Monday retail sales. It is these drivers and their equipment that keep big holidays and big sales happening for all of us.

In a matter of speaking our drivers (and those of the entire industry) literally drive a huge segment of the U.S. economy. Alongside of hauling products, dry and chilled goods, there’s tens of thousands of tons of heavy equipment or supplies needing delivery for projects from California to Connecticut. Day and night, day after day drivers in their rigs are delivering the nuts and bolts of our consumer economy, and this is part of what we need to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving on the road—though a Lone Ranger kind of holiday as you’re generally alone with your rig—can still be celebrated with video chatting with love ones and a good Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant or diner. The road is about the best place to give thanks for all the circumstances and people who make drivers’ lives ones of well being, fulfillment and camaraderie.

Here at Great Western Transportation, we’d like take this Thanksgiving to express our appreciation for all the drivers whose work is to deliver for our clients everyday of the year—doing their work with pride, ethics and intelligence.

And we also have deep thanks for all of our clients who utililize our services—both established clients who use us year after year, and new customers just joining us.

As the holiday season is rushing up to us, please keep us at GW Transportation in mind for all of your flatbed, heavy hauling and chilled freight trucking.

November 24, 2022 | | Category: General

Continued: Traits You Want to See in Flatbed Trucking Drivers

We’re continuing our discussion from late last month on the best traits for trucking drivers. Companies needing hauling know that the driver is the most important cog in the wheel of getting freight or machinery or chilled items from here to there. When the first trucks came out of the auto industry in the early 1900’s, it was the drivers who made them viable, who fixed them en route, who became masters of road types and terrains and the can-do spirit we see and look for in today’s drivers.

Today, of course, long or short hauling with flatbeds or heavy hauling or refrigerated units is a different beast than 120 years ago. Yet, the driver as an industrious, smart, wanting-to-learn-more, doing the job right kind of man or woman is still the poster person of the industry. The trucks are important, and powerful, and high tech, but it’s the drivers who make it all go as it should—with safety, skills, smoothness and delivery responsibility.

Below are more traits in drivers we work with here at Great Western Transportation.

Pride in Work: Freight on the road has a look, a look of being well tended, professionally secured, responsibly tidy, or not. The best drivers are proud of their work and work product. They know every load reflects on them for the work they’ve done or the work they signed off on. When there’s pride in work in action by men or women drivers, there’s far less chance of loss of reputation, damage or other untoward circumstances.

The Adventure of the Open Road: Flatbed hauling or heavy haul trucking are jobs of many moving parts, many of them out in the open, on the road. Situations, conditions and weather can change on a dime. In fast changing open road situations, you want drivers that possess the sense of adventure to look at challenges as opportunities to bring all their can-do spirit and expertise to bear in solving the challenges. Get out of the cab, get geared up and solve the problem whether it’s personally or getting the right people out to do it. These are the kinds of drivers we work with – adventurous natured.

November 10, 2022 | | Category: Flatbed, General, Heavy Haul

The Traits You Want to See in Flatbed Trucking Drivers

Flatbed Trucking Drivers

There are three critically important parts to superb flatbed trucking services across the country, no matter where you live. These are a very competent driver, well maintained and monitored flatbed hauling rigs, and an excellent management team overseeing the sum of all the parts. This is our driving (pun) philosophy at Great Western Transportation.

In terms of actual tires on the road and goods moving, the most important element is the driver. He or she is responsible for all the details of the truck, the load and pickup, following the rules of the road, driving the route and taking care of whatever comes along, and the delivery – all of this on time.

Here at Great Western Transportation our drivers are very important. And they meet certain criteria and exhibit qualities that we feel our customers should know about.

So, what are the qualities of a good flatbed rig driver?

Decision making and Initiative: the ability to take initiative in all occasions and events on the run. This is from decision making to a calm confidence and taking on the job that needs to be done.

Expertise: from the actual driving to securing the freight to effective communication to all the personnel involved in each run; from knowing how to manage their time on the run to personal alertness and conscientiousness.

To be continued in the next blog…

October 28, 2022 | | Category: Flatbed

Take Advantage of This Season’s Low Trucking Prices

Dry Freight Hauling

Whether you’re hauling goods cross country or from an industrial park in one part of the city to a destination cross town, you’re looking for the best price you can get. We always offer personal pricing to our customers, and with this upcoming season being impacted by an inflation-plagued economy (which impacts the demand for trucking services) our prices are even better to look at.

The holiday shipping season is upon us and we’re ready to move your holiday goods on time and on budget, with safe, secure transport. Whether you’re a large company with hundreds of shipments planned to multiple destinations, or a small business needing to haul a partial load, our team is here to work with your exact needs.

We are particularly smart and affordable in helping you with less-than-truckload shipping—and we can work fast, turning on a dime to get your freight delivered. That’s a plus in today’s economy where fast delivery can make a profit for companies.

As for carrier performance, we’re among the top in the country, bringing decades of combined experience with every truck that hits the highways under the Great Western Transportation flag.

We look forward to talking to you about your shipping needs now and into the near future.

October 15, 2022 | | Category: General

GWT is the Trucking Firm To Hire for Hurricane Ian Florida Rebuild

Hurricane Ian struck southwestern Florida with the force of well over 10,000 nuclear warheads detonating over time, leaving death, displaced lives and catastrophic destruction that is unimaginable and historic. As Hurricane Ian slowly made its way across central and north Florida the destruction in the southwest became clearer and the millions of lives affected touched our hearts. Rescues are still going on.

Our team at Great Western Transportation watched the hurricane news and we knew the damage would be so enormous that the cost to clear and rebuild homes, apartment buildings, offices, stores, industry plants, marinas and boats would be in the high tens of billions and require an herculean amount of flatbed trucking and heavy hauling for the restore and rebuild.

We Bring You Flatbed, Heavy Hauling, Refrigerated Trucking to Florida

The flatbed and heavy haul trucking needs – and even the refrigerated hauling needs – are already piling up as government agencies and companies are starting to move freight and equipment into the devastated areas for the clean up process.

Then, there is the rebuild – requiring mega tons of materials to be moved into the most severely damaged counties on the west coast and further inland. The flood damage alone will see the freighting of enormous quantities of building materials and refurnishing so that lives can be rebuilt.

We’re now ready to work closely with you to efficiently, smoothly and safely get your materials or equipment needs moved to where they need to go in Florida.

Or in South and North Carolina as it may be needed.

For the best, affordable Hurricane Ian hauling, call us today.

September 29, 2022 | | Category: Flatbed, Heavy Haul

GWT Offering Great Rates In Trucking in Slowing Economy

August 2022 was an improving month for trucking in the U.S. as the economy is going through fits and starts. With September, the overall economy is slowing again and every business needing trucking is impacted by these conditions.

There was an increased tonnage of 2.8% in August in for-hire trucks, which helps offset the lesser 1.5% increase in July.

Year compared to year, the tonnage of for-hire trucking is 7.4% up – and we’re proud to be part of this growth with our highly-reputed services to clients needing freight moved smoothly, on schedule and at good prices in 2022.

We Offer Excellent Price Rates For Upcoming 2022 Months

We stay on top of the economic weather report so we can offer the best services at the best prices in all economic conditions – or societal conditions as in the case of the covid-19 pandemic.

Our management team at Great Western Transportation works hard to take advantage of slowdowns in flatbed, heavy haul and refrigerated needs by offering the best rates we can for each of our trucking clients.

Our rates are calculated by hand by an expert representative who is personally looking out for all aspects of your hauling job – from the rate price to the driver and nuanced details of the equipment.

The summer is over now, and that means retail companies are looking at fall and winter inventories that need stocking – even as far out as Christmas holiday inventory stocking. We’re here to make sure your goods go from point A to point B with unmatched smoothness and at a price that helps you make your profit in the upcoming selling seasons.

And hundreds of companies requiring immediate freight hauling from heavy machinery to cold items need to have transport management teams that they can rely on and who understand the current economic conditions.

For the best and the smartest, call us first.

September 10, 2022 | | Category: Flatbed, Heavy Haul, Refrigerated Trucking

Here’s The Process When Transporting Equipment Bought at an Auction

You’ve landed a great deal on some equipment at an auction. Congratulations. But now you have to get the equipment to your location. The process can be daunting without careful planning, expert advice, and the right equipment. Here’s what you need to know to get your purchase from the auction site to your door.

Understand The Manufacturer’s Recommendations

Manufacturers usually have specific instructions on how to transport their equipment. This is especially important if the equipment is still under warranty. Make sure you understand the recommendations. Some equipment requires disassembly and special packaging, while others can be transported as-is.

Get the Right Equipment for the Job

Once you know how to transport the purchase, have the right equipment. If you’re transporting a large piece of equipment, you’ll need a truck or trailer to handle the weight and size. If you’re transporting multiple pieces of equipment, you may need a truck with a lift gate to load and unload the items.

You’ll also need straps, tarps, and other materials to secure the equipment during transport. Make sure you have everything you need before you begin loading the equipment.

Prepare the Equipment for Transport

Before loading the equipment onto the truck or trailer, prepare it as required. Some require protection from the elements on transit, while others may need to be secured in a particular position. Whatever the case, make sure you understand and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Make Sure You Have the Required Paperwork

You’ll need the required paperwork if you’re transporting the equipment across state lines. It includes a bill of sale, proof of insurance, and any other documents required by the state. Contact the DMV to find out what paperwork you need before starting the transport process, or let an expert handle it for you.

Hire Great Western Transportation

We have the experience needed to help you transport any equipment, no matter the size or weight. No job is too big or small for us. We offer fast, reliable, and safe services. Contact us today to get a quote.

July 8, 2022 | | Category: Flatbed, Heavy Haul

4 Benefits of Flatbed Trucking

Flatbed trucking is extremely important for transporting needed items and tools to workers and businesses around the country. Flatbed trucking is especially beneficial with certain types of equipment and materials that can’t otherwise be moved from location to location. For those considering the benefits of flatbed trucking, there are four good things to know.

The Essentials of Flatbed Trucking

  • Important Tools and Materials can be Transported

Many things are moved via flatbed trucks, but there are a few items that are more commonly transported than others. These include heavy machines and equipment for job sites, as well as construction materials. Indeed, flatbed trucking is one of the best ways to deliver equipment and large materials in one piece.

  • Flatbed Trucks Can be Easily Loaded 

Unlike conventional trucks, flatbed trucking takes advantage of all available space. With these trucks, items can be loaded from the sides to make the process quicker, easier, and more efficient.

  • Items can be Shielded from the Weather

Loads that are being shipped great distances are likely to encounter weather issues. Fortunately, tarping flatbed trucks allows all transported items to remain safe for long journeys. Tarping is also quick; when done right, it shouldn’t take much longer than twenty minutes.

  • Flatbed Trucks are Useful at Job Sites

For those currently working at jobs sites, flatbed trucks are invaluable. From hauling equipment for various tasks to transporting waste products and needed materials, flatbed trucks help safely conduct business and increase productivity at job sites.

While not commonly considered, flatbed trucking is important for so many aspects of modern business. Without it, people would scarcely have new buildings, jobs, or needed equipment and tools used by thousands of companies. Flatbed trucking is not only beneficial to workers and producers, but to all those who participate in the economy. For more information on trucking or our transportation services, contact us today!

June 6, 2022 | | Category: Flatbed