Haulage is a
huge industry, and a process that involves many safety and logistical factors,
by no means is it a process that should be taken lightly. A large number of
industries around the world require heavy hauling services in some capacity,
getting oversized products and materials to their end destinations. The kinds
of deliveries made within the heavy haulage industry are no ordinary loads,
they are too substantial or too heavy to be suitable for traditional transport
procedures, needing larger vehicles to move the cargo efficiently and safely
from A to B.
Heavy loads
are frequently hauled across the country and occasionally internationally, in
some cases, this will be under raucous weather conditions, within a tight
timeframe and with constricted budgets. Moreover, heavy hauling can be
challenging to say the very least. With this in mind, in this blog, will look
at some top tips for safely and successfully executing heavy haulage transport.
Read on to find out more.
Adhere to restrictions
This perhaps
goes without saying but any type of restriction you will encounter throughout
the heavy haulage process has been put in place for a reason. In some cases,
drivers may think that weight or height restrictions are precautionary,
It is a
fairly frequent issue, and a real frustration for haulage companies, due to the
fact that it’s all down to a distinct lack of vigilance. If you want to be safe
during a heavy haulage journey, it's imperative that you never ignore height
restrictions, especially on a journey where you know for a fact you're going to
be passing across bridges, or more significantly low bridges.
Plan thoroughly
Prior to a
journey, you will need to make a thorough plan of every aspect of the journey.
Moreover, planning every aspect of the journey from initiation through to
delivery is crucial to the success of the trip. In addition to this, an
integral part of project planning is understanding the specific dimensions and
weight of the necessary equipment or products being transported. These details
are crucial and will regulate the other project logistics such as the type of
heavy hauling truck or transporters you will require.
With this
information mapped out, you can carry out a risk mitigation analysis or risk
assessment, budgeting, and scheduling; this is all to ensure a safe and
successful delivery with minimal hiccups.
Take frequent breaks and rest-stops
For heavy
haulage drivers, understandably at times, it may seem tempting to get the job
done as quickly as possible and ignore scheduled rest stops, and yes, this
means that you finish a job faster but it is not advisable that you take this
approach to heavy haulage delivery.
All haulage
drivers must adhere to the recommended rest periods because this is the only
way to guarantee and ensure your own safety on the road. Skipping rest-stops is
highly detrimental to fatigue management and it can also put you in danger. So,
don’t overwork yourself and take all of the personal time that is afforded to
you, it totally necessary for your welfare.
Invest in a headset
You probably
don’t need reminding but handling a phone while driving is very much illegal.
There are no such rules in place for hands-free headsets and loudspeaker
devices. For drivers who are spending many hours alone on long journeys, they
may not have the time to always chat with friends and family when it's
convenient. So, with this in mind, it can get a little lonely at times on the
road. So, the value of personal calls to friends, family members, and
coworkers, should not be underestimated. This also gives you a break from the
radio and add a little variety to your daily driving routine.
Research the pick-up and drop off sites
A crucial
but occasionally overlooked detail, is researching pickup and drop-off
locations. Researching pickup and drop sites can help make your haulage journey
much more efficient, this is by ensuring you are aptly prepared at different
stages of the journey.
Often the
objects being hauled will need specialised rigging equipment, cranes, and in
some cases forklifts to load and unload the haul, so, with this in mind, it’s
important to keep space, budget, and schedule limitations in mind throughout
this process. Planning for the pick-up and drop off locations will ensure you
select cranes and lifting equipment that are suited for the location you’ll be
stopping at.
Plan out the route
Prior to
carrying out a heavy haulage project, knowing your route is key to a successful
drop-off. Depending on various factors such as the day and time, there could be
issues that prevent a haul from running
on time. Diligently mapping a planned route is very crucial, in an attempt to
avoid toll roads, high traffic areas, or construction zones. Also, it’s
certainly recommended to have a plan B or plan C route coordinated, just in
case any uncontrolled circumstances come up. It’s also a good idea (if time and
budget allows for it) to test run the route prior to the equipment haul, and
assess any potential conflicts and risk, and adjust routes accordingly.
Work alongside a reputable and knowledgeable
heavy haulage company
This tip
might be one of the most significant for ensuring a successful haul. As you can
sense from this guide, a great deal is involved when it comes to planning a
heavy haulage journey such as requirements gathering, determining the right
equipment, selecting routes and so on.
Other
factors also come into consideration such as the requirement for experienced
and knowledgeable drivers. The best way to achieve a successful haul is by
sourcing consultation or services from heavy hauling companies with an established
track record of successful work.
Planning a
heavy haul can be a very highly stressful, time-consuming, and a challenging
task, however, by selecting the right haulage company you can achieve your
project goals.
How can heavy haulage companies benefit you?
When
considering enlisting the help of a haulage company, you may be thinking, what
actual benefits can your operation offer me in my haulage journey? For
starters, hiring a haulage company is one of the most cost-effective solutions
when transporting goods.
Rather than
trying the more expensive process of attempting to transport products
independently, a haulage company will have a fleet at the ready driven by
qualified drivers who understand the complexities of heavy haulage.
A quality haulage
company will also have a wide array of transport options, meaning you won’t
need to worry about whether your goods can be transported. In addition to this,
it can be useful to consider the time-saving aspect of employing a haulage
business. Transporting your goods en masse, will speed up distribution and your
whole operation will move faster in turn.
Of course,
this all depends on whether you work with a quality haulage operator, so keep
the following points in mind when shopping around.
D&D Transport - we are a heavy haulage Company who can support you with abnormal
load transport
We aim to
set the standard for road haulage companies in Nottingham and throughout the
UK, which is why we always upgrade our vehicles to ensure we can accommodate
any and all haulage requirements. Moreover, as an accredited and proud member
of the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS), we prioritise not only the
quality of our services but also safety, efficiency and environmental
responsibility. View more about the scheme on our website.
You can feel
assured that our drivers are always on time and work efficiently, and we only
work with shipping partners that offer fantastic reliability and great value
for money. The next time you’re searching for freight companies in Nottingham,
look no further than D & D Transport. Call us on 01773 533 366 to find out
why we’re the right distribution partner for you. Get
in touch
to find out more.
