Heavy Haul Rates Per Mile for Oversize and Equipment Loads

Three Factors that Affect Heavy Haul Rates Per Mile

You may have heavy equipment that you need to be shipped. But, like most, you want to find a reasonable rate because heavy haul rates per mile can quickly become quite expensive.

This article is going to explain the three main factors that affect heavy haul rates per mile:

1. The type of equipment you are looking to ship
2. The type of trailer you need to ship your equipment
3. The time of year you are trying to ship your equipment

Heavy haul rates from multiple shipping companies may seem similar at first glance. Still, if you take some time to observe the differences between them, you will notice that the rate you get from Company A differs from the rate you get from Company B.

This difference is calculated based on several factors, many of which can significantly alter the rate you must pay to freight your heavy equipment.

We’re going to help make sense of it all.

By preparing you to scrutinize the rate, you are being quoted, so that you can modify it to suit your needs. Quotes aren’t one-size-fits-all, and your shipping situation is likely unique.

So, where do you start?

Simple.

Consider the type of heavy equipment you will need to ship. Not all shipping companies can ship the same heavy equipment. Most heavy equipment shipping companies specialize in certain types of equipment. Think of things like farming equipment, construction equipment, oversized, and more.

If you cannot find a shipping company specializing in the type of heavy equipment you need hauling, consider contacting a general shipping company instead (although they may be more expensive). They may be able to ship your equipment, or they may recommend a specialized hauling company to you.

Here are a few examples of heavy equipment that you can ship:

• Backhoe loader
• Bulldozer
• Tractor
• Grader
• Compactor
• Cherry picker

The above list isn’t meant to be definitive. There are too many types of heavy equipment to list, so do not worry. A heavy equipment shipping company can ship your equipment. The challenging part is finding the right one.

The Type of Trailer You Use to Haul Heavy Equipment Matters

The more specialized your trailer is, the higher your rate will be.

Knowing this, you can increase or decrease the heavy haul rate by choosing a different trailer option.

Some standard options include:

• A van
• Flatbed trailer
• Step deck trailer
• Drop deck trailer
• Double drop trailer

This is just land-heavy equipment hauling. Nevertheless, even if you plan to ship your heavy equipment by sea or air, there will still be a land shipping component. You will need to ship your equipment to the airport or seaport so it can be shipped.

Don’t lose hope

Sometimes, your equipment is too big or bulky for traditional shipping. But there is still another way. You can fully or partially disassemble your equipment to be shipped.

Now, you may find by visiting different heavy hauling companies, that some companies offer different rates on the same trailer option. Don’t stress, there are a few reasons for this:

• The company specializes in specific types of trailer-hauling
• The trailer you want is in huge demand
• The company may need to prepare the trailer you want to use, especially

Ultimately, the best you can do is to shop around with different shipping companies for rates and observe the various rates you receive based on your trailer selection.

If the rate you received is competitive, other comparable hauling companies will match the rate. The most significant service you can do yourself is to shop around.

The Time of the Year You Ship Heavy Equipment Matters

Whenever possible, book your heavy haul well in advance.

This is because you can get a better deal on your rate. Not all dates result in the same rate. Certain times of the year are better than others when it comes to hauling heavy equipment. By providing your hauling company enough notice, the staff there can give you a more attractive quote.

Did you know?

The earlier in the year, you can haul your equipment, the better. As the year progresses, the rate to ship practically anything in any industry increases. There is a simple reason for this: supply and demand.

Now, we won’t provide you with a detailed economics lesson, but just know this. If an item has high demand and low surprise, prices will rise.

Think about it like this.

The earlier it is in the year, the less busy a hauling company may be. The first quarter is always less busy than the last quarter. This is more of a rule than an exception. This may be due to a company's accounting practices that need equipment shipped. Another reason may be due to the vast holidays that occur in the last quarter of the year (Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, etc.). Whatever the reason, you’ve been warned!

Regardless, the busier a hauling company is when you need to ship your equipment, the higher the rate will be. So, ensure you plan to ship your heavy equipment earlier in the year rather than later.

A small change in seasons will help you get the best rate possible, saving you a lot of money in the process.

Extra Charges Do Apply

Some extra charges may be tacked onto your initial quote, but don’t fret.

Based on your recommendations and specifications, these charges may sway your decision to pick one hauling company over another. Some charges that you may find on your rate are:

• Additional equipment needed (tarps, cables, etc.)
• Mandatory Insurance (this will be requested by the company, and may even be provided by them)
• Additional insurance (i.e., marine insurance, for instance, if you are hauling equipment overseas, again, the shipping company will tell you which insurance you need)
• Driver unload fees (this may be optional depending on the shipping company)
• Toll fees (this may be optional, and you may be able to eliminate it if you can change your route)

These fees can be negotiated, especially if you first see them on your quote.

If you are unhappy with these charges, talk to your shipping company. Most hauling companies will budge on small fees because the overall contract is worth more than losing it over something like throwing in a tarp.

Sometimes, extra charges like insurance are mandatory for the specific hauling shipment you want to contract out.

Keep these extra fees in mind when creating a budget for your heavy equipment shipments.

The Key Lesson You Need to Know About Oversized Load Rates Per Mile

Costs for transporting heavy loads range widely. No two shipping firms or charges will be identical. You should get quotes from multiple shipping firms to get an idea of the pricing range available for your project.

The market for transporting heavy machinery is highly competitive, with prices fluctuating often. These are three primary criteria that affect heavy haul rates per mile, which we have presented to you. It is up to you at this point to use that information to negotiate the best possible price.

But keep this in mind.

These aren’t the only factors; you will see the ones that pertain to you listed in your quote.

That’s perfectly normal.

Compare the quotes you receive from different companies, and do not hesitate to contact many companies before you receive the rate you are happy with. If one company charges for something that another company does not, ask both companies why. A charge that may be included in one company’s quote may be present for many reasons.

If you want to make your heavy equipment shipping process even easier, contact A-1 Auto Transport. We specialize in shipping heavy equipment, and we save you time by providing you some of the most competitive prices in the industry.

Give us a call today if you want to get your heavy equipment shipped from point A to point B on time and in the same condition that you shipped it in.