Advantages of Lowboy Trailers
Low boy trailers are primarily utilized to haul equipment that can move under its own power. This allows for the equipment to be simply driven onto the lowboy trailer and driven off.
Low profile trailers provide for direct loading and unloading, even if it is in the middle of a mining site. There is no need for cranes or forklifts to load/unload running self powered machinery.
When your company has to ship to a customer large freight or machinery that cannot be divided into smaller parts what will you do?
Your company no longer has to worry about shipping your equipment reliably, when you rely on the professional services provided by Great Western Transportation to arrange transportation of your over sized freight.
Your personal and dedicated load adviser will provide full explanation of the process and complete follow through during the loads transport from pick up to delivery locations.
A lowboy trailer can be used for transporting oversize freight that is very tall. Generally a lowboy trailer can accommodate tall freight that is up to 12 feet in height. Taller than 12′ loads can be transported, but may require permits for legal transport on public roads and highways depending on the state and the height of trailer bed from the ground. Generally the height limits across the USA are 13’6″ or 14′.
Several of the notable and well known lowboy trailer manufacturers are: Doonan, Manac, Landoll and WITZCO. When there is uncertainty if a trailer can haul a load always refer to the trailer’s manufacturer directly. Specific weight capacities or dimensions of a lowboy are most reliable when obtained from the manufacturer’s website directly.
Lowboy Loads
- Excavator
- Backhoe Loader
- Crawler Dozer
- Single Drum Compactor
- Skid Steer
- Rough Terrain Crane
- Parts or Inoperable
Lowboy Freight by Manufacturers
Major yellow iron includes: construction equipment of all types, pick-ups and automobiles, rental yard equipment and attachments. Construction equipment includes motor graders, wheel loaders, dozers, backhoes, forklifts, dump trucks, water trucks, equipment trailers, grounds maintenance equipment, truck cranes, boom trucks, flatbeds, van trucks, tracked loaders, tracked dozers and much more. Some of the notable manufactures are:
- Caterpillar
- Kobelco
- New Holland
- Terex
- Ferguson
- Grove
- Mantis
- Timberjack
- Prentice
Lowboy Trucking
Is your company a construction, industrial or other commercial business needing to haul heavy equipment or supplies to a job site. Or did you buy heavy equipment or heavy items from an auction or for sale by owner website such as: ebay.com or rbauction.com?
Now you need to ship the item on a lowboy trailer. We offer the perfect solution to moving larger, taller and/or heavier freight.
Additionally we provide full lowboy shipping service for all commercial, government and industrial relocation projects.
If you are planning on purchasing at an auction, contact us to get a competitive bid estimate on the transportation costs of your planned auction purchase.
Shipping loads that are very high or tall will add extra challenges to the hauling of such. Primarily the loads will require permits and may have to travel on designated routes with pilot cars and bucket trucks if overhead obstructions have to be cleared. All of this will also add time to the overall transit time.
Use our quick quote form for a free and market spot rate based lowboy quote. Speak to a live lowboy freight specialist at (800) 972 8484.
- Save Your Valuable Time
- Leverage Our Experience
- Easy, Convenient and Comprehensive Customer Support
- Eliminate Uncertainty, Delays and Cost Overruns
- Market Based Spot Prices
Common Lowboy Cargo Control
Below are several of the common cargo control devices used on lowboy trailers to make sure your cargo arrives safely and in the same condition as it was when it departed the pickup location. Various manufacturers have various options, however the list below covers the common options.
- 4 way chain slot center strip. This is located down the middle of the load well for securing 1/2 and 3/8 chain
- Lift/Tie Down Locational Devices. This is used for Military Applications/Aircraft Moving
- Flush Mount D Rings
- Pipe Spools
- Recessed Mount D Rings
- Rub Rail
- Sliding Winch Nylon Straps
- Stake Pockets
- Twist Locks
Lowboy Shipping Case Studies
A Volvo Construction Equipment dozer purchased for salvage value was delivered from Otay Mesa to Baltimore.
A John Deere 410B backhoe/loader was hauled from Baltimore to Nashville.
A Bomag BW120AD-3 asphalt roller was hauled from an auction yard in Otay Mesa to Nashville.
Verified By Shipper
The shipper should verify the machine functions properly especially the power-train, hydraulics and both service and parking brake. Someone who is thoroughly knowledgeable with the machine should test it. In the cases of powered machinery it will be driven onto the lowboy trailer under its own power.
Suggested Trailer Type
In most cases when you provide us with the weight of the machine and the overall dimensions, one of our lowboy heavy haul freight consultants will know what type of trailer is required to haul your load. If you have suggestions as to other possible suitable trailers, let our heavy haul freight consultants know.
Are Permits Required
Providing accurate weight of the load and accurate width, height and length, will allow our freight consultants to assess if a permit will be required for the travel route.
When permits are required this may also signal that pilot cars may be required too. If the load is very tall then bucket trucks may be required to temporarily move overhead obstructions, such as traffic signals or utility lines. However the staff at Great Western Transportation is well aware of all permit requirements for oversize/over-dimensional (OS/OD) loads.
Lowboy Rates and Quotes
Lowboy rates and quotes depend on several factors. A key factor is if permits will be needed to transport the freight. Permits may be required if two major measurements are over a specific dimensional or weight limit as set by states traveled trough. When permits are required for oversize maximum dimensions being exceeded, pilot cars may be required to follow the load behind or drive in front of the load to make sure there is overhead clearance. Pilot cars will always add to the overall transporting|shipping cost.
Always book lowboy trailers well in advance to get your freight delivered on schedule and within your budget.
Competitive market based rates are the key to making Great Western Transportation your best choice for lowboy transport.
Load Preparation Checklist
- Owner’s Manual
Refer to the owner’s manual for things that must be done prior to shipping your equipment. Newer equipment has a manufacturer’s website from which manuals will most likely be available. For older equipment search on a major search engine by equipment and model number with the words manual or pdf included in the search phrase.
When it is ideal to reduce the weight or overall dimensions of a machine always refer to the owners manual.
- Cover and Protect
Usually heavy equipment is quite resilient to the elements of the weather, however when on an open trailer is traveling 55 mph down the road, extra protection may be needed. This is especially true for the interior of a machine’s operator cab.
- Pick Up and Drop Off Locations
Provide ample room at both the pick up and delivery locations to load and access the trailer. Generally the tractor-trailer have to have enough room to drive in and load or unload the machinery.
If there is a need for loading docks, ramps or cranes for loading and unloading you should communicate this immediately when booking the tractor trailer. Plus, provide as much specific loading and unloading requirements as possible.
- Port and Export Preparations
When the delivery destination is a US port for loading onto a ship for foreign export, make sure the equipment has been power washed and is cleaned thoroughly. Additionally, there should be no leaking fluids. Equipment that is not cleaned properly will not be loaded onto a ship for export and additional costs will be incurred to clean it. If there are leaking fluids such as oil or coolant, this may cause major delays for repairs and significant additional costs.
- Ask Questions Well in Advance
Vast experience and background in specialized trucking reveals one of the most common issues in heavy haul trucking delays is shippers not asking questions that would have prevented delays. When you as the shipper are in doubt about a question regarding snipping the heavy freight always ask and make sure you fully understand the answer.
A lowboy trailer or lowbed trailer is a type of flatbed trailer that is very close to ground level and is designed to transport very heavy freight. Lowboy trailers are used when the freight is in excess of 55,000 pounds. Most lowboy trailers are between 48′ to 53′ long and 96″ to 102″ wide. Occasionally, lowboy trailers are made 108″ wide. These units are referred to as a 9′ wide. Most lowboy trailers are made of heavy gauge steel, some are made of aluminum. Great Western Transportation has access to an extensive selection of lowboy trailers to fit your heavy hauling requirements.
Common Lowboy Trailer Applications
Lowboy Trailers are generally used to haul the following products:
- Construction Equipment
- Militray Tanks or Other Military Equipment
- Forklifts
- Steel Coils
- Transformers
- Generators
- Any product that is excessively heavy or tall.
Lowboy trailers are equipped with 3 or more axles to disperse the weight of heavier loads. A common add-on for a lowboy is a flip axle, which can flip up and lay on the rear deck, or flip down and create an extra axle for additional weight dispersion. Flip axles provide the functionality of a stinger, which too is a detachable rear axle on a trailer. All roads and highways have a maximum weight that each tire can exert on the road surface.
Great Western Transportation is your answer when you need Lowboy Rates.
