If you need to transport a crane, excavator or another type of heavy construction equipment to a new location and you intend to use a rented or borrowed semi-trailer truck for this journey, it is important to pick the right type of semi-trailer vehicle. Here are two tips that should help you to do this.
1. Make sure the truck's trailer has a high barrier that is extremely sturdy
Some semi-trailer trucks come with trailers that are fully enclosed; however, these are not usually suitable for transporting construction equipment, as the height of this type of equipment usually exceeds the height of the enclosed trailer's roof. As such, you will probably need to choose a truck with a trailer that is surrounded by a barrier with an open top. If you do this, it is important for you to pick a truck with a barrier that is very high and extremely robust.
The reason for this is as follows; whilst the truck's barrier should never be used as the main means of keeping the heavy construction equipment on the trailer whilst the truck is being driven (as this should be done by strapping the machinery down with chains), it does need to be tall and durable enough to prevent the equipment from falling off the trailer, if the primary materials being used to secure it (i.e. the aforementioned chains) fail.
For example, if the chains that are tying down the machinery on the trailer break whilst the truck is travelling on a road, the machinery may slide towards either the side or rear section of the trailer barrier. If the barrier is very low or unstable, the machinery could either topple over it or could cause it to collapse. If this happens, a serious road accident could occur that could severely injure all those involved in it.
2. Ensure that the truck's trailer is slightly wider and longer than the equipment that will be placed on it
If possible, you should pick a truck whose trailer is slightly wider and longer than the piece of equipment that you intend to place on top of it. The reason for this is as follows; if the equipment barely fits on to the trailer and presses tightly against the barrier, the barrier could crack during the road journey as a result of being put under too much pressure.
Whilst this should not necessarily lead to the machinery falling off the trailer (provided it has been properly secured to the base with chains), the broken section of the barrier falling onto the road could cause an accident, if the truck happens to be travelling along a busy highway. Given this, it is best to pick a truck that has a trailer which is spacious enough that the equipment won't be pressed against the barrier for the entire journey.
