Transporting enormous structures like wind turbines or industrial machinery around the country is no easy task.
It requires highly skilled drivers and specialist vehicles to ensure essential equipment gets to where it needs to be undamaged.
This type of ‘heavy haulage’ is used by a number of industries all over the world.
But what industries, in particular, can it benefit – and how can it help them?
In this blog, heavy haulage experts JB Rawcliffe & Sons Ltd provide some insight into the main industries that rely on heavy haulage.
What is heavy haulage?
Sometimes called an abnormal load, heavy haulage is freight that can’t be broken down and transported using standard lorry distribution.
This could include large structures like trusses or heavy machinery like excavators.
Heavy haulage is more than simply getting something from A to B.
Haulage firms need to plan driving routes and assess size/weight considerations in advance to limit disruption during transit, ensuring items arrive undamaged.
Heavy hauling companies – what services do they offer?
The heavy hauling industry is responsible for the safe movement of abnormal or awkward loads, often across the country and overseas.
Hauling firms offer multiple services to industries in need of specialist logistics, including:
Heavy haulage and machine handling systems
State-of-the-art haulage vehicles such as HIAB cranes and hydraulic gantry lift systems are required to lift and load awkward loads, such as large containers and heavy machinery.
Haulage firms are experienced operators of heavy-duty machines and plan the lift of abnormal loads from start to finish.
For example, depending on how awkward the load is to lift, a haulage firm will determine whether two cranes are required to manoeuvre the load safely onto the haulage vehicle.
Abnormal load transport
Moving heavy and wide freight is a vastly different ball game to standard goods transportation.
Trusted and experienced haulage firms will plan the route, devise a lift and loading strategy and organise private escorts to ensure the freight gets to its destination undisrupted.
Cargo handling services
More innovative and specialist cargo lifting methods are necessary within the heavy haulage sector.
Heavy-duty loading cranes and machines are the only way containers can be loaded/unloaded.
Heavy goods storage
Often, businesses don’t have the storage space to house heavy freight or need temporary storage whilst moving between sites.
Most firms offer storage to house the bulkiest loads at their facility.
Jacking
Cranes aren’t always the most practical loading method. The most experienced firms will recognise when there’s limited space on site and tailor a solution.
In those cases, jacking is used rather than cranes.
A jacking system uses skid tracks and hydraulic jacks to lift and move abnormal loads vertically and horizontally onto trucks and trailers.
The jacks raise a load from the ground onto the skid track, which skate it onto the lorry.
Vehicle accident salvage and recovery
Even the most carefully planned conveyance can go wrong sometimes.
Unavoidable events like spillages on the road may cause accidents and loads to fall.
Accident salvage and recovery services by haulage firms recover loads quickly and carefully if such an event occurs.
This is because they have the most advanced and specialist lifting equipment to raise the load off the road and back onto a heavy-duty haulage truck.
What industries require heavy haulage?
From agriculture to infrastructure, specialist lifting and haulage is used across many different sectors.
Oil and Gas industry
Hefty oil tanks and gas vessels are transported from ports to petrol stations by haulage firms using vehicles designed to carry exceptionally heavy loads.
Using a trusted firm that knows what they’re doing is vital – oil is a highly flammable pollutant that will damage the environment if spilt.
No more than 44 tonnes can be transported by a six-axle vehicle, the flammable contents must be labelled and each driver requires a specialist license to transport the oil/gas.
Renewable energy sector
The number of renewable energy projects is growing due to commitments to a greener and more sustainable future.
According to the Global Wind Energy Council, “the global wind power market has nearly quadrupled in size over the past decade”.
Heavy haulage firms are responsible for carrying heavy turbine parts to rural destinations. Locations include off-road terrains, such as cliffsides, hills and sand.
Only specialist companies with off-road haulage vehicles should transport heavy loads across these potentially unstable areas.
Construction & Civil Engineering
The engineering and construction industries rely heavily on abnormal load transportation – think of the large steel structures and heavy machinery required in football stadium construction.
Forklifts, steel trusses and cranes are transported to those projects by heavy haulage companies.
Ports and shipyards
It isn’t just heavy shipping containers that need moving around ports. Weighty yachts and ships need to be lifted and lowered into the dock.
The heavy haulage industry has the knowledge and capabilities to plan these lifts carefully and accurately.
Agriculture
Heavy machinery and equipment are used every day throughout the agricultural industry.
Tractors, combine harvesters, and slurry tanks are examples of the freight that farmers need delivering regularly.
Heavy haulage firms can plan the transport and delivery of this heavy machinery to avoid disruption to farming and agricultural operations.
Aviation
According to the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the value of the global aerospace market reached $298 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a rapid rate of 7.7%. This means that the maintenance and upkeep of planes has never been more vital.
Aircraft cabins, engines and other parts are transported across the country to ensure the aviation industry can continue to grow.
When it comes to heavy haulage, hire a trusted firm
If your sector requires specialist lifting and logistics, be sure to use a reputable firm to carry out the transportation.
Only an experienced company has the know-how and machinery to conduct the haul safely, avoiding damages and getting your load to its destination in one piece.
