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Ways to Avoid Accidents When Handling Heavy Equipment

heavy equipment moving

As much as they come in handy when doing heavy work, heavy machinery can be highly risky and lead to expensive accidents. Thankfully, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk. Plenty of things can go wrong when you are moving heavy machinery, so you should be ultra-cautious when doing it.

To help you out, here are tips given by heavy machinery moving experts on how to transport the equipment safely.

Be cautious when transporting the equipment

As mentioned, when moving the equipment from one place to the other, you need to be ultra-cautious and avoid accidents. As a rule of thumb,, you must ensure that you are working with reputable machinery moving company.

Other than this, you need to:

Ensure that the transport vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating and/or gross combination weight rating are not exceeded.

Determine whether permits for oversized or over width movements will be necessary. These loads may also necessitate warning flags, lights, and oversized or wide load banners. If this is the case, get them.

Find out if there are any loading requirements for the equipment, such as the usage of locking pins, brakes, a specific transmission gear or deck wideners.

Find out where the equipment will be placed on the transport vehicle to ensure proper weight distribution and securement.

Check the equipment’s securement points for wear and damage.

If there will be little friction between the equipment and the transport vehicle (for example, metal crawler tracks on a metal deck), consider if friction devices are required. If you need them, get them before you begin the transportation.

If the item to be moved has rubber tires, check the pressure. Low pressure may cause the tie-downs to loosen.

Remove any excess aggregate, dirt, debris, or other materials that could fall or reduce friction during transport.

Have minimum tiedown requirements during transportation

If the loaded vehicle has crawler tracks or wheels, you should have at least four tie-downs to prevent the machine from moving around.
You can use a chain as two tiedowns provided it is appropriately linked to two anchor points with two binders and has slack in the middle, ensuring that a break in the chain does not affect each tiedown.
The total working load limits of the tie-downs must be at least 50% of the cargo’s weight. If the cargo weight is unknown, more tie-downs may be required.
You can attach the tie-downs near the front and back of the equipment, or
At the mounting locations of the equipment intended for that purpose.
Stop and inspect the load securement 50 miles into the journey, and every three hours or 150 miles thereafter. This is because the loads can move, and the tie-downs can become loose on bumpy roads and during acceleration and deceleration.
If you notice a problem, you should fix it before proceeding with the journey.
Be ultra-cautious when loading heavy equipment for transportation
Do not operate or load equipment you are unfamiliar with or cannot operate safely.
When possible, put the equipment against a vehicle structure to help prevent forward movement, unless weight distribution or securement considerations prevent this.
Attach securement devices cautiously to avoid damaging brakes, hydraulic lines, or cylinders.
Use edge protection to safeguard the tie-downs and equipment.
Whenever possible, utilize the equipment manufacturer’s designated connection points and adhere to the manufacturer’s securement guidelines.
Attach, each tiedown as close to the vehicle’s front and rear as possible, or to mounting points on the car built explicitly for that purpose.
Do not use any attachment point with doubtful strength or compatibility.
Chain is the primary tiedown method for large equipment and machinery. Ensure that no links are strained or have nicks.
Use direct tiedowns whenever possible, but remember that they require more tiedowns than indirect tiedowns.
Place chocks, cradles, wedges, or other measures against the wheels to keep wheeled vehicles from moving. These devices require security.

Protect the equipment after loading.

You should lower all supplementary equipment and moveable elements, such as hydraulic shovels, booms, ploughs, crane arms, etc., and secure them to the transport vehicle with tie-downs.

Accessories with locking pins or similar devices that prevent movement in any direction are not required to be secured with additional security measures.

Hydraulics alone are insufficient to secure auxiliary equipment.

If the equipment you are transporting has an articulation point, pivot, or hinge in its design, secure or constrain the vehicle or equipment to prevent articulation during transit.

Secure accessories and other things not attached to the equipment to the transport vehicle by the normal cargo securement rules.

Confirm the vehicle’s true height and breadth.

Perform all needed en-route security assessments.

Do a final inspection before transportation.

You should do the Level I inspection, a thorough 37-step examination of the vehicle and the driver’s credentials.

As part of the cargo security inspection, you should check the following:

Ensure that spare tires, loads, goods, tools, and dunnage are securely fastened and do not fall, blow, spill, leak the vehicle, or roll or shift while in transportation.
Make sure there are enough tie-downs for the weight and length of the equipment you are transporting.
Check for faulty tie-downs, which may be loose, torn, broken, crooked, or knotted.
Inspect the anchor points and buildings for damage.
Confirm that you are observing commodity-specific cargo security standards.

Know your limits

Even seasoned veterans can sometimes find transporting and operating heavy machinery difficult. Regardless of your instructions, never place yourself in a scenario that makes you uncomfortable.

If you are unsure about loading a machine on a slope or in hazardous conditions, get the help of professional heavy machinery movers VA. Staying calm and aware throughout the day will help you to be more productive and create a great working atmosphere for those around you.

When hiring moving companies, don’t hire the first one you come across. Instead, you should take your time and find a reputable one with a proven track record.

When hiring, ask them to provide proof of having previously handled a similar project. This way, you will be sure that you won’t land into problems and will have an easy time.

Tricks to Having an Excellent Time Transporting Heavy Equipment

If you are looking to transport heavy equipment, you want a great experience, don’t you? And the good news is that it’s possible to do it. To help you out, here is how to go about it:

Work with the right transport company

Everything begins here. You will not have a great experience if you work with the wrong heavy machinery movers.

Thankfully, when you are keen, you can easily pick the right company. One of the things you should look out for is the company’s experience. As a rule of thumb, you want to work with a company that has been in the industry for a long time and knows what it’s doing.

To save money, work with a company that provides various services. For example, it would be good if you can work with a company that also provides packaging services. It also doesn’t hurt if the company can disassemble and assemble the equipment you are transporting.

The company also needs to have a team of experienced and passionate employees. From the drivers to the people loading the machine, they need to be properly trained and passionate about their work. You can tell whether the team is passionate by simply spending time with them. If they are always complaining about their work, it would be best to avoid them.

Only work with passionate workers, who will handle the work professionally and ensure your heavy machinery arrives safely.

Finally, ensure that the company has the right vehicles for transportation. Some companies say they can transport your machine and outsource the vehicles. While they will have done what you hired them to, you often pay more.

Before you sign the agreement, ensure that the company you are hiring has the relevant vehicles.

It will also be good if the company is insured. This way, you are sure that you will get full compensation in the event of an accident.

Secure the equipment properly.

Don’t you want your heavy equipment to arrive safe and sound? To make it possible, you should secure it appropriately. To help you out, here are tips on how to properly secure your heavy equipment:

Use four or more tie downs: You need to tie down your heavy equipment or machinery with no less than four tie downs. Sometimes, you might have to use more tie-downs to meet the general cargo requirements.

Using the tie downs isn’t enough—you need to ensure they are tightly secure. This calls for you to use hooks, clamps, or tie-downs that can’t come loose during transport.

For peace of mind, inspect the ties before you start the journey and ensure they are tight and don’t have any damage or weak sections.

Use chains if possible: If you have the budget, use chains to strap down your equipment as it will provide a better strapping. Another excellent option to go with is steel strapping.

Secure the wheels: If your heavy equipment has wheels, secure them in place using wedges, chocks, or even cradles that will prevent them from rolling during transport. Remember to check the tire pressure on the wheels and ensure the pressure isn’t low. The reason for this is that it has been shown that low pressure can cause the tie downs to loosen, and you don’t want this, do you?

Have the right on and off loading procedure

If the transport company doesn’t provide offloading services, you need to think about how to properly offload your equipment to protect the equipment from getting damaged.

This calls for you to source the equipment that will help you properly offload the machinery. Two excellent tools you should think about are skates and forklifts.

You use the forklift to lift the heavy equipment and place it on skates that have wheels that help you easily move the equipment to your desired area.

Parting shot

To professionally and safely move your heavy equipment from one location to another, you need to work with experienced heavy machinery moving MD. As a rule of thumb, ensure that the movers you choose know what they are doing. You don’t want to hire professionals that will drop your machine, do you?

5 Tips To Successful And Stress-Free Heavy Machinery Moving

heavy machinery moving

When you are looking to move heavy equipment, the sensible thing to do is to hire heavy machinery moving company. For the moving process to be safe and stress-free, you need to consider plenty of tips that include:

Plan plan plan

Everything begins with a plan. Before you even visit the rental company, you should know everything about the project from when you will pick the heavy machinery to when you will set it down.

One of the things you should know is the weight of the heavy machinery. This will help you rent the right moving truck. You also should know the best route to use to easily get to your destination with as minimal disruption as possible.

Once you reach your destination, how will you remove the heavy machinery? You also should know the right location to place the heavy machinery after removing it.

The planning stage is where you spend most of your time. To have an easy time, give all the details to the moving company, and they will help you in coming up with a detailed program of how to go about it.

Use the right transport vehicle.

The right vehicle comes in handy at ensuring that transportation is fast and safe. The right vehicle for the job depends on the size and weight of the machine you are looking to transport.

If moving long heavy loads such as columns, the average trailer will get the work done, but if looking to transport long heavy loads, you should get extendable trailers. From their name, these are trailers with the added functionality of being extended.

To have an easy time choosing the right vehicle, explain everything to the rental company, and they will guide you.

Get quotes from different companies.

Moving heavy equipment doesn’t come cheap, and no two companies are similar. For you to get the most from the moving process, work with the right company. Visit different companies and see what they have in store. While you are there, inspect the machines and ensure they are in perfect working condition.

To choose the company that suits your budget, request free shipping quotes from different companies. Compare the quotes and settle on the one that gives you the most.

Understand all the required permits and regulations

Depending on the size and weight of the equipment you are looking to transport, you might require getting certain permits. Work with companies that understand any permits and regulations you might need during the transportation of the machine as they will guide you towards getting the right ones.

Even if the company tells you that you don’t need any permits, do your research to confirm this. You should note that some companies might tell you that you need permits while you don’t need them. To avoid getting extorted, do your research and even visit the relevant authorities and find out whether you need the permits.

If you need them, ensure that you get them. You don’t want the transportation of your heavy equipment getting delayed, do you?

Ensure the load is properly secured.

You might be working with the right company, using the right vehicle for the work but you won’t get the most from the transportation if you don’t properly secure the heavy machinery.

As the transport company is loading the heavy machinery, be present and ensure that the load is secured with the right restraints. This gives you peace of mind that the machine won’t fall off along the way and get damaged, leading to wastage of money.

Think about the safety aspects of the move as plenty of things can go wrong as you are moving the heavy machinery:

People can get stuck and injured by the machinery.
Parts of the body can be drawn in or trapped between the belts, rollers, and pulley drives.
People can get crushed between the parts of the machine moving together or towards a fixed part of the machine.
Sometimes parts of the machine, materials or emissions can cause burns or scalds and electricity leading to electrical shocks.

In addition to planning, you also should work with experienced heavy equipment movers VA.

How Should A Heavy Machinery Moving Company Prepare Your Machine For Shipping?

When shipping your heavy equipment across the globe, you need to ensure that the heavy machinery moving company does it safely and efficiently.

To reduce the chances of the equipment getting damaged, a good moving company should professionally prepare the machine for shipping. Some of the things the company should do include:

Rustproof the machinery

During transit, it’s normal for the heavy machinery to sit in an open-air environment on cargo ships. This exposes the machinery to different weather elements such as salt and water. Even if you are transporting the machine using a train, the travel also exposes the machine to rain and snow.

This puts the machinery at a high risk of rusting. Rust significantly compromises the efficiency of the machine, so it’s vital you protect it from rust. Some of the ways of doing it include:

Painting: Paint sits at the top of the machine as a separate layer, covering the metal hence preventing corrosion. If transporting the machine over long distances, cover the machinery with oil-based coatings. While they will be difficult to remove, they will provide optimum protection.

Galvanizing: This is a “hot dip” method that coats the machinery in layers of steel and zinc. The final layer coating should be pure zinc. Since zinc is shock-absorbent, the outer layer protects the machinery against impacts and jostling. Galvanization is an extremely efficient protective measure when transporting the machinery over long distances.

The good thing is that the “hot-dip” substances don’t chip or peel and don’t require any maintenance

Plating: Plating is made up of zinc and tin and highly effective at providing an additional layer that keeps off corrosion. You can use plating in conjunction with a coating layer or without, depending on your mode of transport. Plating provides enhanced protection against chemical damage and abrasions.

Shrinkwrapping

Here you use a specialized plastic coating that is sensitive to temperature. You apply heat to its surface, causing it to shrink around the contours of the machinery. To attain a perfect fit, some companies use vacuum packing.

Shrinkwrapping forms a customized outer container that resists wind, water, and other corrosive substances while at the same time serving as a buffer to cushion the machine against impacts.

Since the surface of the plastic wrap is UV resistant, it protects the machine against dust and road grime as well as sea air.

Shrinkwrapping is also highly effective at keeping the essential parts of the machine together, preventing breakage and damage to the delicate parts.

To keep the machine stable, a good moving company should use a pallet to secure the large items. The company will shrink wrap the machinery reducing the chances of the machine shifting or sliding during transportation.

Containerization

This is simply the act of loading the heavy equipment in a metal shipping container. Shipping containers come in standardized sizes ranging from 20 to 53 feet. To increase stability, a good company should load skids or pallets into the container to increase stability.

If moving small equipment, the company should crate it and shrink wrap it before putting it in the container. In addition to making it easy to transport the machinery, containers are highly effective at protecting the machinery from corrosion and other forms of damage.

Large containers are used when transporting the machinery over water while the smaller ones are ideal when looking to ship the machine by air or rail.

Cleaning

Some people joke that they can’t clean the heavy machinery as it’s not going to a fashion show. While this is true, the purpose of cleaning the machinery isn’t to get points on the podium. It’s to remove any dirt, dust, and debris that can attract moisture during the shipping process.

This plays a vital role in protecting the machine when shipping overseas via ship. When you allow the machine to ship dirty, the saltwater will absorb onto the dried-on mud, which increases the chances of getting damaged.

Parting shot

These are some of the ways in which you can protect your heavy machinery from damage. For you to be ultra sure that the machine will arrive safely, work with reputable heavy machinery movers VA.