Tag Archives: moving heavy machinery

7 Situations When You Have To Move Heavy Equipment

If you use heavy equipment in your projects, there are plenty of reasons you might consider moving the equipment from one point to the other. Some of these reasons as given by heavy machinery moving experts include:

You need to replace the machine

Machines, like other systems, have an expected lifespan. After reaching that threshold, machines require part replacements or, in certain circumstances, full removal.

Replacements are also necessary when the equipment becomes obsolete or is broken beyond repair. Running broken or obsolete machinery will cause more harm than good.

It will not only slow down production and increase costs, but it will also pose a risk to everyone involved. When you are looking to replace your old or malfunctioning machinery, you need experienced machine movers to remove the machinery and install new equipment.

You need to relocate the machine

Is your business outgrowing its current space? Are you seeking a facility with cheaper rent and overhead? Moving or replacing your equipment may be necessary if you want to relocate your operation.

Rather than investing money in new machinery, you should consider hiring a professional rigging company to move your heavy equipment.

If you are relocating the machinery from one section of the business to the other, you can use your own forklifts, air bearings, and other equipment to move the equipment. However, if you are moving the equipment from one state or town to the other, you will need to hire a company to help with the relocation.

You are redesigning the site

Finding the ideal arrangement for your work site can be challenging. As you work, you might find a better and more efficient arrangement and you have no other way out other than to move the equipment around to fit the new arrangement.

You are discarding old equipment

You need to decommission and discard machines as soon as they reach a certain performance level and begin to lose efficiency. However, the size of rejected pieces can vary, and they must be removed from the facility before scrapping.

Such a large-scale movement necessitates the use of expert movers to transport it to the appropriate disposal location.

You are upgrading to better machines

Machines and their components require constant upgrades for optimal functioning. Upgrade parts can be of various sizes, ranging from small screws to massive dynamos and generators.

To avoid damage, you need to ensure that all improvements are transported and unloaded with extreme caution. Depending on the size of the part, movers load and unload the machine using equipment such as air bearings or crane systems.

You are selling the equipment

You can downsize, relocate, or make changes regularly, and often dispose of or sell your old equipment. Discarding occurs when a machine has completed its life cycle and has outlived its usefulness.

If the machine is still functional or requires minor repairs, the best way to handle it is to sell it. When you sell the machinery, you will need expert movers to transport it to the new owner’s location.

Why do you need a professional mover when moving heavy machinery?

Regardless of the reason you are looking to move heavy machinery, you should always hire a professional company to help you out.

If you have your team that can do the moving you must be wondering why you should hire a professional to help you out, right? Well, there are plenty of reasons you should do it. These reasons include:

You reduce the risk of injury

You are familiar with your machine and are aware of its weight and size. Regardless of your motive for moving, it will be extremely unsafe for your employees to try to move it. In some cases, one of your employees may get injuries, and you may incur financial costs.

Hiring a rigging company ensures that your machinery is moved securely by skilled specialists who adhere to their guidelines.

When you are hiring moving professionals, always hire experienced ones with an insurance policy. This way you are sure that even if an accident happens, you won’t be responsible for compensating them.

You don’t strain your moving equipment

Moving big machinery necessitates the use of specialist equipment capable of safely handling the weight of the object being moved. If your equipment fails when transferring your machinery, it may cause harm to critical components of your machine.

Professional rigging companies provide skilled machinery moving contractors with the necessary rigging equipment to properly transport and preserve your machinery throughout the relocation.

You save time

Moving large machinery while trying to do your daily tasks is not only a physical drain on your employees and equipment, but it also wastes time.

Instead of having your employees complete jobs that they excel at for your firm, moving equipment diverts their attention away from the skills they provide to your team.

With a trained rigging business, the jobs are accomplished swiftly and efficiently, allowing your personnel to focus on what will help your business flourish.

Also, if you attempted to move the machine, you would have spent too much time doing it because you don’t have the right machine or skills for the task. With professional movers, they have the right equipment for the task. At the same time, they have been doing the moving tasks for too long which means that they complete the tasks fast.

You exonerate yourself from responsibility

As mentioned, moving heavy equipment comes with plenty of risks. The heavy equipment can fall, and people can get hurt, among many other risks.

When there are too many risks involved, the last thing you want is to be responsible for the outcome.

When you hire heavy equipment movers VA, you lift all of the responsibilities off your shoulders and place them on the shoulders of the equipment movers. They will be responsible for anything that happens to the equipment and the people handling the equipment.

To be safe, ensure that you hire an insured company. As mentioned, when you hire an insured company you are sure that the insurance company will handle the responsibility should anything happen.

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.

Heavy Machinery Movers: Which Is the Best for You?

crane services

Moving big machinery is difficult and often requires the use of specialized equipment. The common areas you need to undertake heavy machinery moving are in industrial and construction environments.

If you want to move heavy machinery, a wide range of heavy equipment movers are available. They include:

Forklifts

Forklifts are flexible equipment to lift and move large machinery within a facility. They are available in various capacities and configurations, ranging from small electric forklifts for interior use to bigger diesel-powered forklifts for outdoor use.

Forklifts are ideal for short-distance transportation, but you can also use them for long-distance or off-road movements.

When hiring a forklift, consider the task you want to undertake with the machine. Are you using it in warehouse operations, construction, or manufacturing? Think about this before hiring.

You also need to determine the forklift’s weight capacity and height requirements. This will give you an idea of what the forklift can do and the areas you can use it.

Finally, consider the topography and operating circumstances of the forklift. Are you looking to use it inside, outdoors, or in a difficult terrain? Think about this and hire the right one.

Mobile cranes

Mobile cranes are known for their capacity to lift and transport huge items. There are many types of these cranes, including hydraulic, rough, and all-terrain cranes.

Mobile cranes are ideal for moving heavy machinery on building sites and other outdoor locations. You can equip them with various attachments to meet specific lifting and movement needs.

When hiring mobile cranes, ensure that you hire the right ones that will be able to lift your intended equipment and navigate your area.

The last thing you want is to hire a crane to discover that you can’t use it in your location.

Crawler cranes

These are tracked, self-propelled machines built for large lifting. These machines have the benefit of being stable and mobile on rough terrain, making them ideal for moving big machinery in difficult situations.

Crawler cranes are best used in major construction projects when agility is critical.

When hiring the crane, ensure that it can work in your area.

Transporter systems

Self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) are specialized equipment for transferring big loads. These systems comprise several wheeled modules that may be separately operated, providing for precision movement and weight distribution.

SPMTs are best used to transport huge and heavy machinery, such as transformers and industrial components.

Rigging and skidding equipment

Rigging and skidding equipment comprises hydraulic jacks, skid shoes, and other items used to lift, move, and position heavy machines.

This equipment is best used when moving machinery in a restricted space or when a more cost-effective alternative is required.

Towing and recovery vehicles

Towing and recovery vehicles are used to transport broken or damaged heavy machinery. These vehicles are available in various sizes and capabilities, making them suited for various recovery and transportation jobs.

Hydraulic platform trailers

Hydraulic platform trailers are designed to transport large and heavy goods. They feature hydraulic systems you can change to handle different weights and sizes. These trailers are widely used on public roadways to move big equipment across long distances.

Things to consider when hiring heavy equipment movers

For you to get the most from the machinery you are hiring, you need to consider several things, including:

Weight and dimensions of the machinery

You must consider the weight and dimensions of the equipment you must transport. Heavier and larger machinery may necessitate using specialist machinery movers such as mobile cranes, crawler cranes, or transporter systems.

Choosing the right heavy machinery movers is critical in logistics to ensure industrial equipment’s safe and efficient movement.

Terrain and location

The terrain and location you are looking to use the machine are critical factors in selecting the right mover. Rough terrain may necessitate crawlers or all-terrain mobile cranes, while indoor environments may benefit from forklifts or rigging equipment.

Distance and accessibility

The distance that you need to move the moving machine and the route’s accessibility are critical considerations you should make.

If you want to move the equipment over a long distance, you should go with hydraulic platform trailers or specialist carriers, whereas indoor or tight places may need rigging equipment.

Safety

Compliance with safety standards and permissions may determine which machinery mover suits your requirements.

Always make sure that you are adhering to all legal and safety regulations to prevent accidents from coming about.

As a rule of thumb, ensure your machinery is strong enough to move your intended machine.

When transporting heavy machinery, footwear is extremely vital because anything that falls might easily injure personnel’s feet. This can lead to issues like accident litigation and employees missing work, which you certainly don’t want to happen.

To keep your employees safe, provide them with the relevant footwear.

You can use machine skates for smaller machinery that must be transported across your business.

Machine skates are an excellent alternative for moving machinery across a factory or shop floor without heavy lifting. As the name implies, this entails placing the equipment on ultra-strong machine-moving skates to transport it to its new location effortlessly.

You should use lifting jacks when placing the machinery on top of the machine skates. Installing the machinery on the skates takes little time, depending on the size of the machinery you are lifting.

Parting shot

You can use this equipment to move heavy machinery for crane rigging DC or any other task.

For an easy time, maintain clear communication with everyone involved.

Tips to Consider When Moving Heavy Machinery

Moving heavy equipment is always tricky, and no one is having fun, even the machines.

The task is not only challenging, but also pegged with plenty of risks.

Thankfully, with some planning and preparation, you can safely ensure that your heavy equipment gets from point A to point B without any major problems or damage.

Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through all the steps you need to take to ensure that your heavy machinery moving is a success.

Some of the things you need to do include:

Keep an eye on the land around you.

When moving heavy equipment, it is important to pay attention to the terrain in the area. Before you leave, take the time to carefully plan a route for your chosen mode of transportation. This can help you avoid trouble.

Also, be conversant with the road widths and bridges where you will be transporting your heavy machinery. The driver will be safer if they don’t have to start, stop, turn, or drive through rough terrain.

Also, think about doing a trial run. Driving through a manned checkpoint is a good way to spot any possible dangers that can be avoided ahead of time. Lastly, if you want to make sure that your cargo always gets to its destination safely, you should be aware of the local geography before you leave.

Apply for the right transportation license.

Heavy equipment, like cranes, dump trucks, graders, and scrapers, should be transported with special permits.

To ensure your heavy equipment gets where it needs to go, you must apply for the right transportation permit. Different states have different rules, so you need to find out what they are and make plans based on that.

Getting the necessary permit can take a lot of time, but it’s important for the safety of your equipment and the people who are transporting it. So, set aside time to ensure you have all the necessary permits before starting any transportation job.

Lock down the wheels.

Not only is it important to ensure your equipment is safe by securing the wheels, but locking the wheels also helps reduce risk when moving heavy equipment.

The time it takes to put on the parking brake, and use wedges, chocks, or cradles on the wheels of equipment will be worth it because they will keep the equipment safe.

When locking the wheels, think about weight distribution forces that could happen during transport, such as:

A 50% force in the back when accelerating, changing gears, or going in reverse.
When stopping, 80% of the force goes forward.
When driving uphill or over rough terrain, you stand to have an upward force of up to 20%.
When turning, changing lanes, or braking while turning, you will have a sideways force of 50%.

These steps cut down on accidental movement and make for a smooth ride.

Put signs and flashing lights on vehicles.

The transport vehicles need to have the right banners, signs, and lights on them. In some situations, there needs to be a vehicle on either side to help guide the truck and show it where to go. The other vehicle follows behind to let other drivers on the route know what’s going on.

For all transportation operations to look professional, ensure communication between transport and escort vehicles. You can achieve this using two-way radios, CB radios, or cell phones.

Inspect the equipment even during transport.

For safe and legal transport, heavy cargo must be properly strapped down. During a trip, it’s important to check in often to ensure that the cargo is safe. Safety standards in the industry say that these checks-in should be done at least:

Once during the first 50 miles of travel.
Every 150 miles or every 3 hours, depending on which comes first.
Whenever a driver’s job or station changes.

Ensure that the drivers write down inspections in a transport log so that safety standards are met.

You might be wasting time putting time and effort into running these key checkpoints, but it’s the only way to make sure that cargo is delivered successfully.

For peace of mind, ensure that the heavy equipment movers DC are experienced and have done it before, and know how to do it safely.

Guide to Moving Heavy Machines with Precision and Care

heavy machinery moving

Moving heavy machinery can be challenging and dangerous, but it can be done safely and efficiently with the right planning and preparation. Here are some tips and best practices to keep in mind when moving heavy machines:

Choose a reputable and experienced heavy machine moving company

The heavy machinery moving company can make or break your project, so be cautious when hiring. As a rule of thumb, hire a reputable and experienced moving company that knows what it’s doing.

Many people make the mistake of hiring the first company they see in the search results. This is wrong. The best way to do it is to research and find at least five or more companies and then schedule interviews with them.

As you are interviewing the companies, Look for companies with a proven track record of safe and successful heavy machine moves.

Besides doing your research online, you can also ask colleagues, friends, and other businesses in your industry for recommendations on heavy machine moving companies.

Regardless of how you find the company, ensure it’s licensed, insured, and compliant with all relevant regulations and standards.

Have a solid plan and prepare for the move

You can’t just wake up and decide to move the machinery—you need to have a detailed plan that includes a timeline, logistics, and any special requirements or considerations for the move.

Work with the moving company and devise a plan and logistics for the move, including the route, necessary permits, and potential obstacles or challenges.

As a rule of thumb, ensure that the machinery is properly prepared for the move, including securing loose parts and disconnecting any power or fuel source.

To be on the safe side, closely monitor the move to ensure that it is done safely and efficiently, and be prepared to address any issues that may arise.

Use the right equipment.

The best equipment for moving heavy machinery depends on the specific machinery being moved and the conditions of the move. In general, however, some common pieces of equipment that may be used for moving heavy machinery include:

Heavy-duty trailers or lowboy trailers, which are designed to carry heavy loads and can be attached to a truck or other vehicle

Forklifts or cranes, which can be used to lift and move the machinery

Skates or rollers can be placed under the machinery to make it easier to move

Straps or chains can be used to secure the machinery during the move

Dollies or carts, which can be used to move smaller or lighter pieces of machinery

Choosing the right equipment for the job is essential to ensure that the machinery is moved safely and efficiently.

Thankfully, if you are working with a moving company with heavy machinery experience, you will have an easy time telling the best equipment to use for your specific needs.

Protect your machine

To protect heavy machinery during transport, you should observe the following tips:

Secure any loose parts or attachments on the machinery to prevent them from moving or falling off during transport.

Disconnect any power or fuel sources to prevent accidents or damage to the machinery.

Use straps, chains, or other secure fasteners to secure the machinery to the trailer or other vehicle. Make sure the fasteners are properly tightened and will not loosen during transport.

Use skates or rollers to support the machinery and make it easier to move. This will help prevent damage to the machinery and make it easier to load and unload.

Cover the machinery with a protective tarp or other material to protect it from the elements and prevent debris from getting inside.

Monitor the machinery during transport to ensure that it remains secure and is not damaged. Be prepared to address any issues that may arise during the move.

Follow safety protocols

Ensure all workers involved in the move are trained and experienced in heavy machine moving and follow all safety protocols and guidelines to prevent accidents and injuries.

For example, all heavy machinery movers DC should use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as hard hats, gloves, and safety glasses, to protect themselves and others from potential hazards.

How Do You Move A Heavy Machine?

Do you have a heavy machine and you are wondering how you can move it? There are plenty of ways to go about it. Some of these ways include:

Using a bulldozer

The bulldozer is an excellent machine to move your heavy machinery. The beauty of it is that it’s powerful, so it will easily push the heavy weight to your desired location.

If you are doing the moving yourself, you will need to hire a bulldozer from your local heavy machinery movers. When doing it, be cautious of the one you choose.

You have two options: track or wheeled dozer.

From the name, a track dozer has tracks instead of wheels, which makes it an excellent choice when looking to move your heavy machine in soft soil.

On the other hand, a wheeled bulldozer does everything a tracked bulldozer can but on nice solid ground. This means you should go for this when you want to move your heavy machine on decent ground.

There is no right or wrong bulldozer that you can use. It all depends on the equipment you are moving and the conditions of your location.

Utility machine skates

These are perfect for moving machines of medium load, and they make excellent alternatives for cranes or forklifts.

When using the skates, remember that they have a weight capacity of 37.5 tons. They also work best when moving your heavy machinery in straight lines or turns.

Roller dollies

These are best suited for heavy but not oversized equipment. There are a variety of dollies in the market, so take your time and find one that is right for you.

Their beauty is that they require less power as they have a central load-bearing plate. These dollies can move up to 15 tons and rotate to 360 degrees when properly maintained.

When moving your machinery using the dollies, always use a ratchet strap to help secure the equipment and prevent accidents.

Crane

A crane is an excellent choice if you are moving your machinery up or over a short distance. Like dollies, many types of cranes are in the market designed for different applications.

For example, if you are looking to move your heavy equipment upwards, a tower crane would be the ideal choice, but if looking to move it vertically over a short distance, a mobile crane would be the best choice.

If you aren’t sure about the right crane to get, seek the services of an expert.

A plan

No, this is not a machine you can use to move your heavy machinery, but you need an expert plan to move your unit.

You need to know the right unit to accomplish your work and the right route, among many other details. Remember that without a solid plan, you will lose time, money, and plenty of opportunities to be strategic in how you go about it.

Again, if this is your first time going about it, get the input of a professional.

To get your machinery to your desired venue on time and with as little disturbance as possible, plan to move it when there is little traffic. An ideal time would be on the weekends when most people are in their homes.

You also should always take the shortest distance possible.

To avoid complications, have all the necessary paperwork before you begin the big move. You don’t want to put your machine on the side of the road upon realizing that you don’t have some vital documents.

You will always have risks when moving heavy machinery, so you can’t avoid them. The best you can do is to prepare for it. A good rule of thumb is to have insurance for the machine.

This way, you are sure that in the event of an accident, your insurance company will step in and settle it. You don’t want to be in a situation where you leave everything to fate, as things sometimes don’t go as planned.

Parting shot

These are tricks on how to move your heavy machinery. You can move the machine yourself but work closely with expert heavy equipment movers VA for the best outcome.

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?

7 Safety Tips For Moving Heavy Machinery

According to heavy machinery moving companies, safety is one of the most important factors to consider when moving any heavy machinery. And for you to ensure you are safe when moving the machinery, you need to consider several tips that include:

Work with the right professionals

Everything begins here. There is no way you are going to have a great experience if you work with the wrong people. Working with the right people begins with the moving company you hire.

If you hire the wrong company, you won’t find experienced professionals who know what they are doing.

Before you decide to work with any company, take your time to research the company and ensure that the company knows what it’s doing. This calls for you to ensure that the company has handled similar projects in the past. The last thing you want is a new company doing a trial run with you.

Besides the new company failing to have the right tools for the job, chances are also high that it won’t have the right people.

An ideal company should have successfully moved several similar machines. This way, you are sure that it will expertly move your heavy machinery.

Undertake thorough inspection before the move

Before moving, thoroughly inspect the machine you are moving and the moving vehicle. For the machine, you want to move, ensure that you have switched it off and there isn’t the risk of it accidentally coming on.

You also need to ensure that it’s strongly strapped into place with high-quality ratchet straps.

For the transporting vehicle, inspect the tires for any form of damage. Also, check the fluid levels, booms, hoses, and other components for damage signs. If there is any sign of damage, it’s time to replace the part.

Have a clear plan

Besides the plan helping you stay organized, it also comes in handy in protecting you from getting into accidents. When you have a clear plan, you know what you need to do, which prevents you from making hasty decisions that might land you into problems.

With a clear plan, you know the right routes, the equipment to use, and any other vital information.

Of course, you can’t develop a clear plan if you don’t know what to do, can you? To have an easy time coming up with a plan, work with an experienced company that will explain what to do and the process to achieve your desired results.

Use the three-point mounting and dismounting rule.

People have been hurt and even machines damaged as a result of careless mounting and dismounting of the heavy equipment. To avoid accidents on your site, use the three-point rule.

Use two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand to mount or dismount the heavy machinery.

Be cautious when loading and unloading the machine

Besides observing the three-point mounting and dismounting rule, you need to be ultra-cautious when loading your heavy equipment. As a rule of thumb, ensure that the transport vehicle sits on level ground. This way, you are sure that the vehicle can’t roll or slide.

It’s also wise to have a spotter on the site to inspect the loading and unloading and identify any problem that might be present, and prevent it before it turns deadly.

Look out for hazards before you start work.

You might be using the most experienced moving company, but if you aren’t keen on the hazards in the area, you stand having an awful heavy machinery moving experience.

Before loading the machine, look out for overhead and underground dangers such as gas lines, cables, and even hydro wires.

It will even be better if you can get a map of the area you are working in.

Know and obey the load limits

Every machine has a load limit, and you should be cautious about it as exceeding it will put yourself, your moving vehicle, and other people on the site in great danger.

Heavy equipment movers DC recommend you keep a close eye on the capabilities of your moving vehicle. You should also double-check the weight of the equipment you are looking to move and ensure that it’s not too heavy for your vehicle.

5 Reasons to Hire a Heavy Machinery Moving Company

crane moving

There are plenty of reasons you should consider hiring heavy machinery moving company to move your heavy equipment. Some of these reasons include:

To replace the machine

Like any other thing, machines have a lifespan, and once they have crossed their threshold, you have no other way out other than to replace them.

You can also decide to replace the machine after it has become obsolete or damaged beyond repair.

You can hire a heavy machine moving company to help you move the damaged or obsolete machine from the factory to the storage area. The machinery mover will also help bring in the new machine.

To move the machine within the building.

This is known as in-house movement, and it involves moving the heavy machinery from one area to the next, often to create more space or increase efficiency and production.

When you hire the machinery movers, they use the best tools, usually forklifts or air bearings.

To move the heavy machinery across the country.

Sometimes you might be interested in moving your heavy machinery from one factory to another across the country.

While you can buy a completely new machine for the new production line, this isn’t always possible due to limited resources.

Hiring a moving company to move the heavy machinery is much cheaper than buying a new one, which, as you can tell, saves you a lot of money.

When looking to discard the old equipment

While some people store their old machines so that they can use them for parts, others opt to discard their obsolete units altogether.

If this is you, you need to hire a company that will move the heavy machine from your place of work to the area where you want to discard it, usually a scrapyard.

When you are looking to upgrade the machine

For machines to perform at their best, you need to upgrade them. This calls for you to replace the old parts with new ones. You can replace large to small parts depending on the upgrade you want to make.

When looking to upgrade large parts, you may need heavy machinery moving company to help you move the large machine to an area where you can easily work on it.

What should you look for when hiring a machinery moving company?

To get the most from the moving company, you need to hire the right one. What should you consider when hiring?

Experience of the company

How long has the company been around? It’s important to know this as the older the company, the more experienced it is, hence the higher the chances of it providing you an excellent service.

You should work with a company providing heavy machinery moving services for years. This way, you are sure that the company will professionally move your heavy machinery without any hiccups.

Equipment that the company uses

You should know that the equipment the moving company uses to move the heavy machinery influences the speed at which it does it and how safely the process proceeds.

As a rule of thumb, you need to hire a company using the latest equipment. You don’t want to work with a company using old tools that keep breaking down.

Reputation

You don’t want to work with a company with a bad reputation, do you?

Unlike years ago when you could hire an awful company without knowing, things have rapidly changed, and now you can easily find out how reputable a company is, simply by googling the company.

Most people have embraced leaving reviews on various review sites like Facebook, Google, and Yelp.

If you want to know the company’s reputation, you simply need to search for the company name online, and you will find out what the previous customers have to say about it.

You should work with a company with a stellar reputation. The last thing you want is working with heavy equipment movers MD that is a part of a problem, instead of being a solution.

While you should always go for highly reputable companies, you should note that a perfect 5-star record is hard to get, even for the most experienced. If a company has a 4.5-star rating, that’s an excellent company to work with.

Which Heavy Machinery Can You Move?

Although you can hire heavy equipment movers and move any machine you want, there are some machines that are more common than others. These include:

Bulldozer

The bulldozer is a classic heavy machine used in different applications. When you have a construction project, the bulldozer pushes large quantities of landmass to your desired area. You can also use it to clear large amounts of dirt or soil. And if you have a junkyard, you can hire it to push scrap metal onto the processing machines or simply clear the area.

There are two types of bulldozers: track and wheeled bulldozers. The track dozer has tracks instead of wheels, and it’s excellent for use in soft soil. The tracks easily move around muddy or soft areas as the machine’s weight is spread.

The wheeled bulldozer does everything a tracked bulldozer does, but it works better on nice solid ground. Since this bulldozer has wheels, it moves much faster. If you are working on decent ground, this is the bulldozer to go for.

Bulldozers require specialized equipment to move them from one place to the other, so you should ensure that you hire the right company to help you out. As a rule of thumb, only hire experienced companies that have been around for some time.

Asphalt pavers

You use asphalt pavers to lay down asphalt to your desired ground surface. Large construction companies use it for roads, lots, parking, bridges, and garages. The pavers come in all sizes depending on the job you want to undertake.

If you want to lay the pavers in a large area, you should get a large machine and vice versa.

You should note that the machine doesn’t do the job by itself—it purely lays down the asphalt on the road in your desired width. This means that it needs another machine to bring the asphalt to it.

After laying down the asphalt, it compacts the soil to keep the asphalt in place. For the best results, you should always follow it up with a roller.

Again, like the bulldozer, you need specialized machinery to move it to your desired site. To avoid damage, work with a company that has successfully moved pavers before.

Roller

The roller is one of the most common heavy equipment you can come across. The machine comes in handy when you are having a project with a large floor area. From its name, the roller rolls throughout your desired area to ensure that the ground is well compacted, which ensures that the floor is strong and smooth.

Backhoe loaders

It’s the most versatile heavy machines you can come across. You should consider getting this machine when you have a large project that involves lifting, digging, and loading.

The machine comes with a loader, tractor, and rear hoe.

One of the most common applications of the loader is lifting heavy materials such as sand, rocks, and gravel then placing them onto a dump truck or any other area.

Cold planers

You use cold planers when replacing the pavement. The machine has a large drum inside with ridges that grind off the asphalt or concrete. The cold planers then push out the ground material through a conveyor belt towards your desired loading machine.

Although, the machine is so powerful, it has plenty of built-up features that minimize the worksite hazards. For example, it shoots water onto the drum at regular intervals, which prevents extreme dust and heat you get during regular grinding.

Valuable tips when moving heavy machinery

Regardless of the machinery, you are looking to move, you should hire the right movers. The last thing you want is the machine failing to reach your desired site at the right time or, even worse, getting damaged on transit.

If you hire the machine from a rental company, you are better off working with the heavy machinery moving DC company recommended by the rental company. This is because they might have worked together before, so the moving company is conversant with the machinery, so they will most likely move it professionally and with as little damage as possible.

To protect yourself, only work with an insured company. This way, you are sure that you don’t carry the responsibility in the event of an accident or damage—the insurance company does.