4 Tips for Hauling Oversized Loads in the Commercial Fleet Trucking Industry

There are a lot of rules and regulations when hauling oversized/wide loads. 4 tips to keep in mind for hauling oversized loads for commercial fleets are: 

1. Choose the Right Equipment
2. Learn Your State Specific Laws
3. Look Into ELD Tracking Solutions
4. Understand Factors that Affect Your Schedule

Often times, oversize loads are shipments of huge construction vehicles, prefabricated homes. trailer homes, structures, or other massive products like silos or septic tanks. It is important to know the different qualifications that make up an oversized load. In the United States, loads must exceed height and width of 8’6” (2.59 m), and length of 48 to 53 feet. In the commercial trucking industry, drivers can haul all sorts of unique types of shipments. When a shipment can’t be easily broken down between multiple loads, Regal Service in Ripley, NY offers oversized load trucking services.

1. Choosing the Right Commercial Fleet Trucking Equipment

When preparing for hauling an oversized load or wide load, utilizing the proper trailer is incredibly important. Choosing the right trailer is the first way you can ensure you’re oversized haul will be a success. Some of the most common trailer types you find include:

• Drop Deck Trailers | Extendable Drop Deck Trailers
• Gooseneck Trailers
• Lowboy Trailers

Drop deck trailers and extendable drop deck trailers are built with a drop in the deck height. The upper part of the deck drops in height directly after it clears the back of the driving unit and sits on the back of the tractor unit. For the extendable drop deck trailers, they are the same basic design of a normal drop deck; however, the trailer’s body can extend for loads that are longer. Gooseneck trailers connect to the hauling unit by a permanently attached modifiable bar that is affixed to the bed, and lowboy trailers are a low-bed trailer with two height drops in the deck. These are best for dealing with products that are anywhere up to 12 feet in height.

2. Learn State Specific Laws for Commercial Oversize Loads

Each state deals with oversized loads, but their laws surrounding these hauls often differ. In many places throughout the U.S., oversized loads require pilot vehicles to escort the shipment throughout the haul. These additional vehicles provide additional monitoring of the load and any potential hazards that may be present on the road. They also serve to alert the public of the presence of oversized vehicles to effectively clear a route ahead of time.

Shippers of oversized hauls usually pay accessorial charges, which include the costs of hotels and other incidentals in addition to variable per-mile rates. Another major aspect of this includes securing the proper permits. Again, each state has its own considerations when it comes to oversized loads, so check out this directory of state transportation websites for more details.

3. Benefit with ELD Tracking Solutions for CDL Drivers 

One of the essential tips for oversized loads is to have a technological solution that tracks, monitors and provides ETS’s to clients and the company. Thanks to ELD tracking solutions and GPS technology, doing so is now possible. Electronic logging has already become a big part of the industry, and weight information is quickly becoming part of that in the very near future. Along with letting the company and customer know the whereabouts, ELD tracking technology also helps avoid special circumstances like accidents, updates in maps, or even just traffic jams. All of these factors play into staying on time and it really helps to work with an ELD tracking solution like Pedigree Technologies for optimal efficiency.

4. Understand Different Factors that Affect Your Schedule

In most states, oversized loads can only operate Monday through Friday during a window that is 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, and restrict or prohibit hauls over holidays. Considering all additional state-specific permits and route mapping drivers need, maintaining a schedule while staying within this window can be tricky. Fully understanding the special marking a commercial fleet truck driver has is also important. The size and type of object being shipped dictates the necessity of certain flags, banners, or lights on your truck and trailer. Additionally, pilot vehicles will also require similar markers and this all varies from one state to the next. Working with experienced shippers who are aware of these restrictions will help eliminate having any problems with getting the product to the end user. 

Regal Service – Your Long Haul Trucking Company for PA & NY

At Regal Service, transportation is our lifeblood. We understand the unique and diverse requirements our customers require, and we go beyond meeting transportation needs to provide custom transportation solutions you deserve and make the most sense for your company. We offer professional services that include:

• Satellite Tracking Of Loads
• EDI Capabilities
• Short Haul And Long Haul Capacity
• Electronic Logs (ELD) Compliant
• & more 

If improper loading is present while shipping, harsh braking, and sharp turns can cause a load to shift, resulting in costly overweight fines. Regal Service has the facilities, equipment, and trained staff available to correct overweight problems and reconfigure and repackage shifted loads. Regal Service is your one-stop shop for all oversized transportation needs. Call us today to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to working with you.