Heavy Equipment Trucking Companies

Choosing the Best Heavy Equipment Haulers Trucking Companies

A lot of people make the mistake of signing up with heavy equipment hauling companies that offer a low-quality service.

No one wants this and it is A-1 Auto Transport’s goal to help you avoid this altogether.

Heavy Equipment Pricing & Time To Ship Examples

But how do you spot them?

The answer is fairly easy if you know what to look for. The best heavy equipment haulers trucking companies make a living offering a high-quality service at a competitive price. Even if their margins are thin, they know the industry inside and out and know how to generate repeat business.

We won’t lie, finding the right one can be tough. There are many companies out there, especially if a client is looking online as well as offline. Luckily, there are several signs that clients, especially prospective clients, should look for in a company.

The best heavy equipment haulers will showcase some of the following traits:

• They will specialize in specific types of heavy equipment
• They will have an online presence
• They will showcase reviews and testimonials
• They will have certifications

Finding these signs is a surefire way to ensure that the company is legitimate in the eyes of prospective clients, but also that the company is likely to be capable and able to ship their clients’ heavy equipment with ease and finesse.

They Specialize in Specific Hauling Trucking Services

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that you will want to find a heavy equipment hauling company that specializes in… DRUM ROLL… your specific type of heavy equipment.

Seems obvious, right?

The reality is that each type of heavy equipment is different, and has different dimensions and weight.

Depending on the equipment a client needs shipped, he or she should consider using a trucking company that specializes in the same type of equipment. This will help you keep your costs as affordable as possible, while also ensuring that the heavy equipment is delivered without failure and on-schedule.

Think about it, would you rather ship your specialized agricultural equipment with a company that is known for shipping dump trucks? Sure, they can do it, but the better option will always be the company that knows how to properly handle your specific equipment.

While generalized heavy equipment haulers trucking companies may be great, both in monetary value and abilities, specialized companies are simply a safer bet (as long as the company specializes in the same equipment that the client needs shipped).

Open and Informative Website

We live in the Internet age. There is no excuse for not having a website. And if a company is trying to hide their online presence all together, just avoid them all together.

Here’s the deal…

Websites and reviews are the bread and butter of modern businesses. If you are going to trust a company to handle your very expensive heavy equipment, you want them to be willing to stay up to date with today’s trends.

The more open a company is, the more trustworthy it will appear. If a company has nothing, or little, to hide, the public will view it more favorably. While this is not necessarily true, it is a foregone conclusion that many clients make, and many businesses subscribe to.

These things shouldn’t be optional…

The following pages are necessary for a reputable heavy equipment haulers trucking company:

• Services
• Rates/Pricing
• Quote/Contact
• FAQ

Here are the reasons why these pages are necessary.

First things first…

A services page is vital for any service business. How can a client understand the services a company offers if the company does not detail their service process? Providing clients with a breakdown of each service offered, and how each service affects the clients, will result in a better lead generation.

No one wants to visit a website that doesn’t clearly advertise what they are offering. These same rules apply to shipping companies.

Secondly, a rates/pricing page is important. Letting clients know the standard budget rates is vital to prepare these clients to use a company’s services. Once a client is interested in using a company’s service, and that client has determined a basic budget for the service, a sale or repeat sale is a likely conclusion.

The majority of your clients want to know your prices. New customers don’t owe you a thing and if you make it hard for them to determine the cost of shipping their vehicle, they will go to your competition instead.

Thirdly, clients need a way to contact a company. A company that does not make it easy for clients to contact them for a quote is a company that will be difficult to contact throughout the trucking process.

It is inexcusable for any shipping company to not showcase their email and phone number.

Clients value communication, and they may consider using a competitor if they cannot communicate with a company. Company contact information can be found in the form of a contact message form, an email/social media account, or even a quote calculator and form.

Fourthly, trucking is a very complex process. If you want to inform clients about the general process of shipping heavy equipment, you will need an FAQ page. Informed clients are happier clients.

We find that the best shipping companies offer a wealth of information. The more they can prepare their clients and inform them about the shipping process, the more prepared and satisfied you will be when you hire them.

They Publicize Previous Clients via Testimonials or Some Other Method

While there are valid reasons why a trucking company may not publicize previous clients (some companies choose not to divulge their clients publicly), it is suspect if they do.

Did you know that…

Most people trust reviews. Even if they don’t know the person, it helps build credibility and provides them with peace of mind.

The reason why testimonials and reviews are so highly regarded by every industry is that prospective clients can contact previous clients and obtain detailed information about a company.

A prospective client is able to ensure that he or she is able to make the right decision, and to contract the right trucking company. Even a 2-star rating can be the determining factor that influences a prospective client to use a company’s services (not all low reviews are bad, and not all high reviews are good).

But you need to remember this…

Reviews aren’t everything. Too many good or bad reviews should set off red flags. A large amount of negative reviews could mean the service is awful, or it could also mean that the companies competition bombed their review page. The same can be said about too many positive reviews.

Always be skeptical and realistic!

Unless a company is perfect, they should have a mix of good and bad reviews, 3-star reviews, and everything in-between.

Keep in mind that a company may simply direct clients to a social media account to leave testimonials/reviews. Just because testimonials/reviews do not show up on a company’s website does not mean the company does not have any.

Sometimes you have to dig around to find them. And if you look and can’t find anything, that’s when you need to start asking questions about the legitimacy of the business.

Personalized Service

The best heavy equipment hauling trucking companies will offer some sort of personalized service.

• This may be in the form of a detailed quote
• It could be in the form of immediate answers to your questions
• They may link you up with a customer service rep to answer all of your questions
• Their website may include a shipping calculator to provide you a rough estimate

A broker or agent may even be assigned to your shipping order, contacting you at a contracted time and date based on your shipping details. The personalization of service will be determined by the company you contract.

However, if a company does not attempt to ensure that your shipping needs are fulfilled, perhaps you should look for service elsewhere.

Here’s a tip…

The shipping industry is extremely competitive and there are many companies that are more than happy to help you ship your heavy equipment. You don’t have to settle for anything. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, try to get a better price, and to pick a company that is willing to take care of your needs.

Certified Service

Reputable heavy equipment trucking companies will usually be certified by, or a member of, one of the following, or similar, organizations:

• Truckload Carriers Association (TCA)
• Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT)
• Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association (SCRA)
• Department of Transportation: Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
• Associated Equipment Distributors (AED)
• Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)

Being associated with any of those organizations shows that the trucking company is dedicated to providing great service, and abides by the laws and regulations facing the freight industry.

These are just a few of the many associations a trucking company can join. There is really no need to join all the associations out there, especially since membership usually costs money.

However, learning that a company is part of an organization that symbolizes a conformity to a standard is key to ensuring that prospective clients respect the company more, and in doing so are more likely to make a sale.

Your Next Steps

Now you know exactly what to look for when it comes to finding a heavy equipment shipping company.

This cheat sheet will save you a lot of time…

1. Make sure the company actually specializes in the type of heavy equipment you are trying to ship
2. The company should have a website and an online presence
3. Leverage reviews to find companies that provide quality service. Be skeptical of too many good reviews and too many bad reviews
4. Look for professional certifications to determine a company’s credibility

Spotting reputable trucking companies is easy when you know what you are looking for. The next step is to go out and find one.

Don’t settle for the first company you find. Take the time to research companies online, look through your local phone book, search industry websites for recommendations, and ask local companies for their carriers.

But we have an easier way…

If you want to safely ship your heavy equipment with a reputable company, choose A-1 Auto Transport. We’ve been working in this industry for many years. We don’t try and sell you anything you don’t need, we just get your heavy equipment from point A to point B, on time and as you expect it.

Give us a call today for a free quote. No pressure, we only want to show you how great our prices are compared to our competition. Feel free to shop our prices around too, you’ll be surprised how good they are.