- How To Ship Trenchers
- Adequate Preparation Is Required
- Standard Preparation Requirements For Heavy Equipment Shipping
- Make Preparations For The Shippers
- Shipping Insurance

How to Ship Trenchers
Trenchers are essential construction equipment used to dig trenches for piping and laying cables. Trenching can be done to dig through dirt, different types of rock, or frozen ground. There might be a need to move a trencher from one job site to the other thus requiring professional hauling services.
Adequate Preparation Is Required
Aside from hiring a reliable and experienced licensed transporter to deliver your trench digger, you can assure its safety by preparing it accordingly. All transport companies will carry slightly different preparation requirements but most of them are based on your decision to have the trencher shipped.
Get a Free, No Obligation to Buy, Heavy Equipment Shipping Quote.
Get my free quote now or call us to do it for you:
Standard Preparation Requirements for Heavy Equipment Shipping
- If the heavy equipment is to be packaged for its transport, refer to the owner's manual for proper packaging techniques and materials. If you don't own the manual, contact the manufacturer or check their website.
- Disconnect any batteries or alarm systems
- Empty any fluids
- Secure all loose parts
- Make lots of room for the transport company to come retrieve the heavy equipment
- Have all the required permits ready or make sure the transporter has them ready in time
- Cover any parts of the equipment that you don't want exposed to outside elements if it is being shipped by means of open air services
Make Preparations for the Shippers
When all of the preparation requirements for shipping trenchers are fulfilled, you can expect a much safer delivery process. Not only does fulfilling the prep work lessen the risks for your piece of heavy machinery, but for those tending to its transport too.
Shipping Insurance
For insurance purposes, preparation is also essential. If you fail to properly prepare the machinery for its transport, the insurance company may deny a claim if one is made. The insurance coverage carried by the transporter is required to at least meet the minimal requirements by law. For longer distances, try to purchase additional insurance coverage through the transporter or call your insurance agent to see if your own policy covers the value of the trencher while it is in the hands of the transport professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions
The distance the driver must go, the amount of time it must be shipped, the weight, length, and width of the trencher, as well as the weather, will all affect the final cost.
The dimensions are significant because they determine whether the organization needs to pay attention to any unique issues. Since trenchers are so heavy, the transport company has to be extra careful there’s no mishap even if it isn’t an oversized load.
If you ship your trencher during a month with particularly heavy traffic because of a holiday or other reason, the cost can go up. Other factors could be if you are also shipping trencher attachments such as trencher chains in cases of chain trenchers.
A lowboy trailer is the best option to ship a trencher because of how it's built. While a larger flatbed trailer might be used by some companies, especially since they can take up to 40,000 pounds, a lowboy trailer is a better option.
This is because the two-axle trailer alone can take around 40,000 pounds. After all, it's designed for heavier equipment. It's also built lower to the ground to give the driver better control of the vehicle.
Finally, a trencher can go up to 35,000 pounds. While that’s still lower than an oversized load’s weight limit, which is 46,000 pounds, it’s still heavier than most loads. So, a lowboy trailer is the best option.
It's hard to be exact because a firm must consider so many small components before giving you a full delivery schedule. In addition, many variables can't be accurately predicted, which makes the procedure longer.
You can’t expect an exact number, but you’ll get a solid estimate if you ask your company for a quote. This is because the representative will ask for your real-time details, including your pickup and drop-off locations which will make the process easier.
Next, they can give you an estimate according to other deliveries made in the area so you can get an idea of how long it'll be and plan accordingly. You don't want to end up paying for expedited shipping for no reason.
It isn't possible for a normal person to safely transport something as heavy as a trencher. Even if you rent a trailer and hire a driver, you'll still need more people to load it onto the carrier.
People working at the site might be pros at operating it, but preparing it for transportation is different, which is why it’s recommended that you hire a professional transport company. It’s the safest and most fool-proof option.
A trencher is big, and there are certain steps that only professionals can handle, so don't hesitate to look into companies and only settle on one when you're confident in your choice. Don't go for a company just because it is cheaper; always look for experience because it can make a world of difference in this industry.