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What Types of Equipment Require Specialized Hauling Services?

Transporting heavy machinery isn’t as simple as loading it onto a trailer and driving off. Equipment like excavators, forklifts, and generators are not only heavy but also have complex structures and delicate components that make them challenging to move. Improper hauling can lead to equipment damage, road safety hazards, and costly delays.

Certain types of equipment require specialized towing trucks, rigging expertise, and handling methods to prevent damage and ensure safety during transport. For example, oversized loads often need special permits and pilot vehicles, while sensitive machinery like generators and medical equipment require vibration-free transport to avoid internal damage.

In this blog, we’ll explore the types of equipment that need professional hauling services and why trusting a specialized team is essential for safe and efficient transport.

Heavy Construction Equipment

Excavators, Bulldozers, and Backhoes

Construction machinery like excavators, bulldozers, and backhoes are among the heaviest and most challenging types of equipment to transport. Their sheer weight and size often exceed the towing limits of regular trucks, requiring specialized hauling equipment and experienced operators to handle the job safely.

Excavators, for example, can weigh anywhere from 15,000 lbs to 80,000 lbs depending on the model and attachments. Attempting to transport them with an undersized vehicle can lead to mechanical strain, braking issues, and dangerous instability on the road.

Additionally, their uneven weight distribution—due to tracks, arms, and hydraulic systems—makes them more prone to tipping during transport if not properly balanced.

Why Professional Hauling Is Necessary

• Construction machinery requires lowboy trailers or multi-axle trucks to accommodate the weight and size.
• Professional haulers use custom rigging and strapping to secure the equipment and prevent shifting during transit.
• Improper loading or securing can damage delicate hydraulic components and lead to costly repairs.

✅ Example

A mid-sized bulldozer typically weighs around 40,000 lbs, requiring a multi-axle lowboy trailer with reinforced loading ramps and additional tie-down points for secure transport. Attempting to load a bulldozer onto a standard flatbed can cause damage to the trailer bed and compromise road safety.

Forklifts and Industrial Equipment

Why Forklifts Require Specialized Hauling

Forklifts may look small compared to construction equipment, but their compact weight and high centre of gravity make them tricky to transport. Even though the average forklift weighs between 5,000 and 35,000 lbs, their weight is concentrated in a small footprint, which makes them more prone to tipping during transit.

Transporting a forklift with a regular trailer can result in shifting, sliding, and unstable handling—especially when braking or turning corners. Additionally, forklifts have delicate hydraulic components and lifting mechanisms that can be damaged if not handled properly.

Why Professional Hauling Is Necessary

• Specialized tow trucks with heavy-duty flatbeds or trailers equipped with ramps and tie-down points are required to transport forklifts safely.
• Professional haulers understand how to distribute the load evenly to prevent tipping or sliding during transport.
• Forklifts often require additional support structures, such as blocking and bracing, to protect delicate components.

✅ Pro Tip

Forklifts are often top-heavy, which increases the risk of tipping during transport unless properly secured with professional equipment. Professional towing services ensure the forklift is correctly balanced and secured to prevent shifting or damage during transit.

A standard industrial forklift weighing 8,000 lbs being transported over rough terrain can tip over if not secured with proper tie-downs and bracing. Professional hauling companies use wheel chocks, soft straps, and reinforced tie-down points to prevent movement during transport.

Why You Shouldn’t Attempt DIY Forklift Towing

1. Forklifts have a small wheelbase and high centre of gravity, which increases the risk of tipping.
2. Standard trailers lack the necessary tie-down points and load-balancing systems for forklift transport.
3. If a forklift tips over or shifts during transport, it can cause significant damage to the trailer and surrounding vehicles.

Professional towing companies have the right equipment and expertise to transport heavy-duty forklifts safely, ensuring that they arrive at the destination undamaged and ready for use.

Generators and Power Units

Challenges with Transporting Generators

Large industrial generators are both heavy and fragile, which creates a unique challenge when it comes to transport. While they are built to handle high electrical output, their internal components are sensitive to vibrations, sudden movements, and road shocks.

This means that transporting a generator improperly can lead to internal damage, alignment issues, and costly repairs.

Generators can also be difficult to load and secure due to their uneven weight distribution. The weight is often concentrated at the base, which makes them top-heavy and prone to tipping if not properly secured.

Professional hauling companies use shock-absorbing equipment and soft-strapping techniques to protect sensitive components. Air-ride trailers are commonly used because they minimize road vibrations and provide a smoother ride, which reduces the risk of internal damage during transport.

Why Professional Towing Is Necessary

• Weight and Size: Large industrial generators often weigh between 10,000 lbs and 50,000 lbs.
• Specialized Equipment: Professional towing companies use specialised equipment like air-ride trailers to reduce vibration.
• Loading and Securing: Generators require special strapping and padding to prevent shifting or tipping during transit.
• Permit Requirements: In Alberta, oversized generators require special transport permits and may need pilot vehicles for highway travel.

Example

A backup power generator for a large hospital can weigh over 40,000 lbs and must be transported with care to avoid damaging the internal components. A professional towing company will use an air-ride trailer and secure the generator with soft-strapping techniques to prevent internal damage during transport.

Agricultural Machinery

Tractors, Combines, and Harvesters

Agricultural machinery is essential for farming operations, but moving this type of equipment presents several unique challenges. Tractors, combines, and harvesters tend to be large, wide, and heavy, which means they often exceed standard road width and height limits.

Transporting farm equipment requires specialized trailers and towing expertise to navigate Alberta’s strict road regulations for oversized loads. The height and width of this equipment can make it difficult to manoeuvre through narrow roads, underpasses, and bridges.

Additionally, agricultural machinery tends to have exposed components (like arms, wheels, and blades) that make it vulnerable to damage if not properly secured. Uneven weight distribution also increases the risk of tipping during transit.

Why Professional Hauling Is Necessary

• Low Clearance Trailers: Farm machinery is typically too tall for regular trailers, so it requires lowboy trailers to comply with height restrictions.
• Pilot Vehicles: Oversized agricultural equipment often requires escort vehicles to ensure safe transit and compliance with Alberta’s road regulations.
• Weight Distribution and Balance: Professional towing companies use specialized loading techniques to balance the uneven weight of agricultural machinery.
• Permit Requirements: Alberta requires special permits for wide loads, and some farm equipment must be transported at specific times to minimize road congestion.

📜 Did You Know?

Alberta’s road laws require oversized farm machinery to have pilot escorts when transported on highways. Transporting farm equipment without the proper permits can lead to fines and road restrictions.

A large combine harvester weighing 30,000 lbs and standing over 13 feet tall requires a specialized lowboy trailer and pilot vehicles to safely navigate Alberta’s highways. Professional haulers will secure the equipment with heavy-duty tie-downs and load it evenly to prevent shifting during transport.

Oil and Gas Equipment

Pipelines, Fracking Equipment, and Drilling Rigs

Oil and gas equipment presents some of the most complex hauling challenges due to its size, weight, and destination. Much of this equipment is transported to remote oilfields or mining sites, where road access is limited, and terrain conditions are harsh.

Pipelines, fracking equipment, and drilling rigs are often oversized and overweight, which means they require specialized hauling equipment and professional operators. The size and weight of this machinery typically exceed the capacity of standard trailers and may require multi-axle trailers or modular transport systems.

Challenges with Oil and Gas Equipment Hauling:

• Weight and Size: Drilling rigs and fracking equipment can weigh upwards of 100,000 lbs.
• Off-Road Capability: Professional haulers use heavy-duty trucks with off-road capabilities to access remote oilfields.
• Escort Vehicles: Oversized oil and gas equipment requires pilot vehicles to clear the path and ensure compliance with transport regulations.
• Customized Rigging: Professional towing companies use heavy-duty winches, straps, and rigging systems to secure delicate components.

✅ Pro Tip

Drilling rigs and fracking equipment can weigh upwards of 100,000 lbs, which demands multi-axle trailers and specialized handling. Transporting this equipment without professional support can lead to damage, safety hazards, and road violations.

For instance, a drilling rig destined for an oilfield in northern Alberta weighed over 120,000 lbs and required a multi-axle trailer with off-road capabilities. A professional hauling company secured the rig using custom rigging and coordinated with Alberta’s transport authorities to arrange pilot vehicles and special permits for oversized load transport.

Why Professional Hauling Is Essential for Oil and Gas Equipment:

1. Heavy-Duty Equipment: Standard trailers cannot handle the weight and size of oil and gas machinery.
2. Remote Locations: Accessing oilfields often requires off-road capability, which only professional haulers can provide.
3. Regulations and Permits: Transporting oil and gas equipment across Alberta requires special permits and regulatory compliance.
4. Safety Concerns: Improper loading or shifting of oil and gas equipment can cause accidents and equipment damage.

Why DIY Towing Isn’t an Option

Attempting to tow oil and gas equipment with an undersized or poorly equipped vehicle can lead to:

• Mechanical strain and breakdowns.
• Damage to delicate components during loading and unloading.
• Legal penalties for failing to comply with weight and size regulations.

Professional towing companies have the necessary equipment, experience, and permits to ensure safe and efficient transport for oil and gas machinery.

Professional hauling companies understand the complexities of transporting oil and gas equipment, which makes them the best option for moving large, heavy, and delicate machinery to remote locations. Without professional expertise, the risk of damage and regulatory issues increases significantly.

Cranes and Heavy Lifting Machinery

Transporting Cranes Safely

Cranes are some of the largest and heaviest pieces of equipment used in construction and industrial work. Their size, combined with moving parts and hydraulic systems, makes them extremely difficult to transport without professional expertise.

Cranes often need to be partially disassembled before transport to comply with road size and weight regulations.

Due to their height and width, cranes require modular trailers and specialized handling to avoid tipping, shifting, or damage during transit. Professional haulers secure the crane’s components separately to reduce road stress and protect the hydraulic systems from vibration damage.

Why Professional Hauling Is Necessary

• Disassembly and Loading: Cranes often need to be disassembled into manageable components before loading.
• Specialized Trailers: Modular trailers are required to balance the crane’s weight evenly.
• Permits and Escorts: Oversized crane loads require permits and coordination with local authorities.
• Route Planning: Cranes exceed the height and width limits of many roads and bridges, requiring expert route planning to avoid obstacles.

🚛 Fact

Some mobile cranes weigh over 200,000 lbs and require partial disassembly for legal transport. Attempting to move a crane without professional hauling equipment could result in damage to the crane and road infrastructure.

Medical and Laboratory Equipment

Handling Fragile and High-Value Equipment

Transporting medical and laboratory equipment presents a unique set of challenges because of the delicate internal components and high value of the machinery. Equipment like MRI machines, CT scanners, and X-ray units is extremely sensitive to vibrations, temperature changes, and road shocks.

Even a small shift in position during transport can misalign internal mechanisms and cause costly damage.

Professional towing companies use specialized equipment to protect fragile medical devices during transport.

This includes:

• Shock-Absorbing Trailers: Reduces road vibrations to prevent damage.
• Temperature-Controlled Transport: Prevents damage from heat or humidity during transit.
• Soft-Strapping Methods: Protects fragile components from shifting or impact.
• Custom Crating: Provides additional padding and protection for delicate items.

📞 Need expert transport for delicate equipment? Specialized towing companies can provide customized handling to protect sensitive medical machinery during transit.

Mining Equipment

Conveyors, Crushers, and Loaders

Mining equipment is among the largest and heaviest machinery in the world. Crushers, loaders, and conveyors are often oversized and extremely heavy, making them difficult to transport with standard towing equipment.

Due to the size and weight of mining equipment, professional haulers must use:

• Modular Multi-Axle Trailers: Designed to handle extremely heavy loads and provide even weight distribution.
• Heavy-Duty Towing Trucks: Equipped with enhanced suspension and braking systems to handle rough terrain.
• Escort Vehicles: Required for oversized loads on highways and construction zones.
• Custom Rigging: Ensures the secure transport of moving parts and hydraulic systems.

✅ Fact

Mining loaders can weigh over 100,000 lbs, which exceeds legal road limits without special permits and escort vehicles.

HVAC and Industrial Cooling Systems

Challenges with Transporting HVAC Units

Large HVAC systems and industrial chillers are not only heavy—they are also bulky and hard to balance. Their size makes loading and securing them onto a trailer difficult, and improper handling can cause damage to delicate coils, compressors, and electrical systems.

Professional towing companies use specialized equipment to protect HVAC systems during transit:

• Flatbed Trailers: Provide a stable platform for loading and securing large units.
• Crane Support: Used for lifting and positioning heavy HVAC units onto the trailer.
• Shock-Absorption Systems: Reduces vibration and protects delicate internal components from damage.
• Custom Padding and Strapping: Prevents movement and minimizes impact during transport.

Military and Government Equipment

Secure and Protected Transport Requirements

Military and government equipment often requires high levels of security and protection during transport. This includes weapons systems, armoured vehicles, and communications equipment, which are not only sensitive but also subject to strict handling and transport regulations.

Professional haulers specializing in military transport provide:

• Armoured Transport Trucks: Designed to handle heavy loads and protect sensitive equipment.
• Escort Vehicles for Security: Ensures secure transport and compliance with legal requirements.
• GPS Tracking: Provides real-time monitoring of the shipment to ensure security and proper handling.
• Permits and Special Clearance: Military and government equipment often requires additional transport permits and security clearances.

Why Professional Hauling Is Necessary

• Military equipment is often classified as oversized or overweight, requiring multi-axle trailers.
• Certain military loads are subject to highway weight and height restrictions, requiring route planning and pilot escorts.
• Security and confidentiality must be maintained at all times during transport.

Conclusion: Why Specialized Equipment Hauling Services Are Essential

Transporting heavy equipment isn’t just about size—it’s about handling complexity, securing moving parts, and balancing weight for safe transit. Professional towing services have the right trucks, tools, and expertise to handle even the most challenging hauling jobs.

Specialized hauling ensures that sensitive and oversized equipment like cranes, medical devices, mining machinery, and HVAC systems are handled with care and transported in compliance with local and federal laws. Professional towing companies also provide the necessary permits, escort vehicles, and security protocols to handle military and high-value shipments.

If you need reliable and secure transport for heavy-duty machinery, industrial equipment, or delicate cargo, hiring a professional towing company is the smartest choice. Professional haulers ensure your equipment is transported safely, securely, and efficiently.

📞 Need professional specialized equipment towing in Edmonton? Contact Action Towing for expert hauling solutions!