Designed to float in shallow water, an amphibious excavator, also known as a swamp buggy or floating excavator, is a highly specialized piece of equipment. Whether you're dredging, clearing, erosion control, wetland construction, deepening waterways, and river deltas - An amphibious excavator is the sort of excavator designed to handle this. While you can get a barge and mount a traditional excavator on it, this setup isn't as well-suited for very shallow situations (1). However, the low ground pressure Cargo Buggy would suffice.
The machine works on a track system. The tracks are designed in a way that debris are prevented from penetrating the pontoons. There are also ram adjustments that enhance the longevity of the track chain and pontoon.
Timely Service
Therefore, if you're looking to have your amphibious excavator and marsh buggies transported, it's likely that you need it delivered without any delays. Otherwise, your entire operation could grind to a halt, while your workers and other equipment wait around for it to arrive. For this reason, hiring a transport company that has experience with every different type of heavy-duty construction equipment is critical. If you're transporting an oversized machine, hire a company that has a special permit to transport them.
Extensive Experience
A1 Auto Transport has moved everything from amphibious excavators, bulldozers, and backhoes to huge yachts shipped halfway around the world. If you need a highly knowledgeable outfit to expertly load, secure and transport your amphibious excavator - we're the right choice. In business for over 20 years, we'll provide a fair quote based on the vehicle's weight, dimensions, and the distance of the move.
Extras Offered
Our service enables you to get your valuable equipment to its new destination quickly, and you can even track its progress in real-time with our GPS monitoring. Fully insured, we guarantee that your excavator will arrive damage-free - so you and your crew can get to work immediately. Express transit and door-to-door delivery are also available.
Call us to learn more - and get your free, instant quote over the phone in just minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Amphibious Excavator Count as an Oversized Load?
Yes, an amphibious excavator is both an oversized and wide load, which makes transporting it especially tricky. It's not the sort of equipment you can move on your own, so it's best to hire a good shipping company.
The weight limit in most states is 46000 pounds, and an average-sized amphibious excavator weighs around 59000 pounds which puts it well above the limit. At the same time, its average width ranges from 13 to 17 feet, and the limitation in most areas is only 8.5 feet.
These dimensions require a special permit to transport an amphibious excavator. It's especially tricky because obtaining the licenses and determining the route is lengthy. It's essential to choose the right company.
Why is Shipping an Amphibious Excavator Expensive?
As mentioned, an amphibious excavator is an oversized and wide load. Not every company can transport them because special permits and insurance are required. At the very least, a company must have $750,000 insurance to transport normal, overweight loads.
Next, rather than one permit, there are several ones for each state, and sometimes city, that the truck carrying the excavator passes through. It's a very time-consuming process because while links for state sites are available on the Department of Transport website, the shipping company must apply for each individually.
Most highways in the US have an average width of 12 feet, while an excavator is at least 13 feet wide. This aspect means the delivery will require one or two escort vehicles. It also makes determining the route hard.
Seasoned personnel is needed to load and transport the excavator, and they're also paid more. These factors make transporting an amphibious excavator more expensive than an average load.
How is an Amphibious Excavator Transported?
As mentioned, it can be hard to transport an amphibious excavator because of its weight and width. That's one reason why it's crucial to opt for an experienced and legitimate company with the necessary equipment.
Usually, a low-loader trailer is used to transport an excavator. It's designed to hold more weight and is open on both sides so the excavator can be loaded onto it despite its width. At times, an expandable low-loader may be utilized for a longer excavator.
Both sides are secured, and the loaders carefully keep the balance, so the equipment doesn't tilt sideways during transport. It has a two-levelled platform, which can be used to adjust the height if needed.
Why is it Important to Choose the Correct Transport Company?
Choosing the right company for a heavy load like an amphibious excavator is especially important because several sensitive matters are involved. As mentioned, there's a lengthy procedure involved when it comes to permits.
It's also tricky loading the excavator correctly so the balance is retained because even the slightest imbalance might cause the platform to capsize. A good company has experienced personnel who can secure it correctly.
You must carefully look through prospective companies because legitimacy is essential for loads like these. As mentioned, $750,000 insurance is the minimum requirement for a company to transport an oversized load.
Finally, the logistics must also be done well because most highways can't accommodate wide loads easily. A qualified driver is necessary because it's hard to navigate sharp turns and narrower roads in small towns.
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