December 17, 2021
Trucking
The service of heavy hauling is when a trucker uses a specialized trailer moves oversized or overweight cargo from one point to another. Something is considered heavy haul when they go over the usual dimensions of items that are transported by truck. This includes anything oversized, or things that are extremely wide, or heavy. These heavy items can range from construction equipment to airplane parts, and heavy hauling as a whole is exceedingly important for many industries. With heavy hauling being this important of a task, there comes with it an extreme challenge to the driver. Transporting heavy haul is difficult, and requires a steady, and experienced hand. To get a better idea of what heavy haul is all about, we can first look at what heavy haul actually looks like, and how big it has to be specifically to be listed as heavy haul.
As was mentioned above, anything that is sized above the regulated limit to cargo loads is considered a heavy load. These regulations can change between states, but primarily something beyond 8.6 feet in width, 13.6 feet in height, 53 feet long, or anything that is over 80,000 pounds would be considered a heavy load. For things that are too tall, one would use a step deck trailer, a low boy trailer, a removable gooseneck trailer, or double drop hauls. These are all different types of trailers that specialize in hauling over-sized cargo. Though each of them can handle different kinds of cargo in different ways, overall, each of them are useful for heavy hauling. Now, we can list some of the things that commonly call for the use of a specialized trailer, as they are most often hauled as heavy haul. Much of this type of cargo is construction equipment, so we’ll focus on that for now.
One type of construction equipment that requires a heavy haul trailer is a crane. Cranes are large, and awkwardly shaped, not to mention they are typically very tall. To get one from storage to a job site requires a specialized trailer, and on the road, it will be considered an oversized load. A trailer that specializes in tall loads would likely need to carry a crane, and it would be nearly impossible to move one if it weren’t for heavy haul trailers.
Another type of construction equipment that requires the use of heavy haul trailers is bulldozers. Bulldozers are extremely large, and heavy vehicles, and they, like the crane, would be exceptionally difficult to transport if not for specialized heavy haul trailers. A bulldozer can weigh tens of thousands of pounds and they are very wide, making them awkwardly proportioned. To compensate, a heavy haul trailer that is able to handle such a cargo would need to be used to move one from point A to point B.
Another piece of equipment that shares some resemblance to the crane is a backhoe. These vehicles are very heavy, but their awkward shape is what makes them a challenge to transport. These pieces of equipment are typically used for excavation and the like, which means they need to be big and fairly complex vehicles. Transporting one could prove to be a challenge, but it will certainly meet the requirements to be transported as heavy cargo due its proportions.
Dump trucks are an essential vehicle to most jobs in the construction industry as they are used to haul and dump things on a given site. It only makes sense that they need to be shipped from one site to another, as they are always in pretty high demand. These trucks are heavy, and are awkwardly shaped, making them prime pieces of cargo to be considered heavy hauls. Moving them requires a trailer that can handle the pressure and that can accommodate something so oddly shaped.
We at Twisted Nail are aware of the difficulty that comes with heavy hauling, and we take it on like no other company can. With our fleet of owner operators ready to take on any job that comes their way, we are more than well-equipped to handle your heavy hauling needs. The drivers we work with are experienced and we complete every job with professionalism and an open line of communication with our clients. If you have a job that needs to be done in the Waco, Bryan, or Austin areas of Texas, call us now.
An end dumps carry weight depends heavily on the specific road regulations, the power unit weight, and the composition of the trailer. A steel trailer, typically referred to as a Round Bottom, will be heavier and will have a payload of approximately 21 to 23 tons. By contrast, an aluminum end dump is much lighter and can carry anywhere from 23-28 tons, with some set-ups being able to approach 30-ton payloads.
End dumps are typically loaded by heavy machinery, such as a front-end loader or excavator, or by a series of conveyor belts. End dumps are top load trailers. An owner-operator with an end dump trailer will uncover the trailer via an electric tarp switch in the cab. With the trailer uncovered, the heavy machinery is free to load from the top of the trailer, being careful to evenly distribute the material. Once loaded, the owner-operator flips the tarp switch, covers the load, and continues their run.
There are several different types of hydraulic lifts that are usually part of dump trailers. These include telescopic, dual-piston, and scissor lifts, among others. Most dump trailers use hydraulics to automatically lift the dump box and unload the materials in a quick, seamless action.
An end dump is an excellent investment for owner operators or construction companies that transport bulk aggregate on a frequent basis. Depending on your needs, a steel or aluminum end dump will ensure that you are able to reliable keep your customers jobsites and stockpiles full.
Depending on market timing, a typical aluminum end dump will range between $15,000 to $70,000+, with steel round bottoms priced around $10,000-$50,000+. These trailers are also offered for rent or lease, with trailers available for around $850-$2,000 per month. When renting or leasing, it is typical for all repairs to be the responsibility of the renting owner operator.
Flex base can be an excellent choice for a driveway but is not often used as a primary input in TXDOT construction. Flex base is best suited for farm roads, driveways, RV pads, and for other foundations that will not receive heavy traffic. Flex base is cheaper than most alternative options, such as asphalt or base that meets TXDOT specifications. Additionally, once set and compacted, a flex base road or driveway is cheaper and easier to maintain.
Yes, road base and flex base are the same material family. That said, the differentiating factor is typically the testing results of each material. When shopping for material, it is important to identify exactly what type of material you are buying. Retailers will categorize Base as a broad category and can leave identification to consumers, which is challenging and confusing. In general, if a retailer is selling a Road Base it can be assumed that the material is of higher construction quality than flex base, meaning it will have a wider range of approved uses. However, some vendors will sell Flex Base as a Road Base; this makes it important to understand if the material you are purchasing is a true Flex Base, is ‘Spec 247’, or is TXDOT approved. With each increase in quality comes an increase in cost, so it is important to identify which material will best suit the needs of your project.
Flex Base is a mixture of loose aggregate and coarse aggregate, can be a wide range of color based on source location, and is composed of materials ranging from dirt to rock that are 1”-3” in size. Most Flex Base, particularly around Central Texas, will range from tan to brown, will consist of a dirt material and rocks that range from 1” to 2” in diameter. There are specialty materials that will include rocks up to 3” in size, but these are typically reserved for heavy construction projects.
Any driveway’s depth should be at least 5” to ensure structural integrity and better load capacity. For road base in particular, experts recommend a thickness of 6-8”.
Twisted Nail is here to help. If you need something hauled in central Texas, we can get your job done, safely, timely, and reliably.
