Essential Truck Transport Tips: From Hiab Cranes to Artic Lorry Hire

If your business requires truck transport or heavy haulage, you may have a lot of questions about the process. Whether you require Hiab cranes or low loaders, there’s plenty to think about. Usually, a heavy haulage company will be able to give you all the advice you need to successfully transport large or heavy loads. They will ensure the right equipment is used and that the task is done safely. If you would like to learn more about the process and what you may require for your project, keep reading.

In this blog, we will talk about the different types of heavy haulage trucks, what they can be used for and how they can benefit your project.

What is heavy haulage?

Heavy hauling is an important industry. It assists many businesses and fields worldwide that require heavy hauling services to move oversized products and materials to their end destination. The loads that need to be transported are not normal sizes or weights, so can’t be done without specialised equipment and experienced workers. Generally, these loads are too big or too heavy to be transported with traditional transportation methods so require specialised trucks such as Hiab lorries, a low loader lorry or an artic lorry.

Truck transport safety tips

Transporting heavy goods across counties, countries or international borders is a big task and it’s essential it is done safely. Here are some safety tips to follow.

● Plan your project extensively. You need to know your project inside and out. You’ll have to plan down to each tiny detail right from initiation all the way through to delivery. For example, you’ll need to know the precise dimensions and weight of the goods being transported. These details determine the logistics of the type of trucks you need. Once these initial details are mapped out, you can go on to assess the project with risk mitigation analysis, budgeting and scheduling and ensure the project goes off without a hitch.

● Choose the right truck and trailer. You’ll need to figure out which trailer will work best out of dual lane, modular trailers or self-propelled. Not only does this ensure the project is safe but it will help the journey go on without any major setbacks.

● Research the pick-up and drop-off sites. While there is a lot of work in the middle, you need to know how to successfully navigate the sites where you will be picking up the items and dropping them off. Are they suitable for the equipment you will be using? Is there space to maneuver the truck?

● Plan your route. You’ll need to know the route well, perhaps even do a test run beforehand. You’ll need to be aware of any roadblocks, traffic congestion areas and roadworks. It’s also good to be aware of the best time of day to travel.

● Gather permits and study rules and regulations. You will need to know what permits you require, especially if you are travelling across international borders as different countries will have different regulations. If your load is over a certain weight you will also have to let the police know when you are travelling.

● Work with a reputable haulage company. Finally, to successfully transport heavy loads, you should use an experienced haulage company such as Macsalvors Hydraulics. They will not only provide you with Hiab hire or artic lorry hire but also assist you in the process and ensure everything is done safely and efficiently. They can advise you on permits, routes and choosing the right equipment to get the job done.

What are the different types of haulage trucks?

There are a few types of haulage trucks you can hire for your project. These include:

Hiab Lorry

A ‘Hiab’ is a term used for a truck crane. This is a crane that is mounted on a heavy, modified truck chassis. They are commonly used in the truck industry for the movement of heavy goods. A Hiab truck is a great alternative to needing a crane on a work site as a crane is limited in location and cannot be driven on a public road. Hiab trucks can be used on various different sites and are ideal for heavy haulage where the goods need to be removed from the truck at their destination.

Low loader lorry

A low-loader lorry is a semi-trailer with two drops in deck height. It has one right after the curved supporting pipe and one right before the wheels. This means that the deck is very low compared to other trailers, allowing you to haul heavy loads. They are often used to hail heavy plant and equipment such as industrial equipment. There are several types of low-loaders including:

● Fixed Gooseneck

● Fixed-neck

● Hydraulic detachable gooseneck

● Mechanically-detachable gooseneck

● Mechanical folding gooseneck

Artic lorry

An artic lorry, also known as an articulated lorry is a lorry with the combination of a tractor and a trailer, connected by a pivoted bar. Goods will be loaded on the trailer and the tractor unit will be used to pull it. These lorries are not as agile as normal trucks which is why they are generally only used for long-distance freight transport. You’ll find that the tractor unit is often used to transport particularly bulky or heavy goods. Articulated lorries can come in various types such as buses, trams and trains. You can also get artic Hiabs, a combination of an articulated lorry and a Hiab crane, which make them even more ideal for heavy haulage.

What capacity does a Hiab crane have?

A Hiab crane or Hiab lorry is usually best suited for many heavy haulage projects. It offers an impressive reach but an even more impressive lifting capacity. It has the ability to handle loads of up to 33 tonnes, so it is capable of handling many heavy-duty assignments. The lifting capacity does depend on a variety of factors such as the size of the crane, the type of arm it uses and the weight of the load being lifted.

It offers an innovative design and hydraulic power making it a valuable piece of machinery for many industries. If you need to lift loads of more than 33 tonnes, then you can add counterweights to increase the crane’s lifting ability, or you may need to opt for a larger crane.

Hiab cranes are great for construction, transportation and logistics and can offer a great solution for many heavy haulage needs. A Hiab crane is likely to be the best option based on lifting capacity and reach.

Macsalvors Hydraulics: Low Loader Lorry and Hiab Hire

At Macsalvors Hydraulics, we’re experts in crane hire and offer the very best plant and crane solutions to our clients. Not only do we offer loading and transport cranes, but we also have a fantastic range of all-terrain cranes and spider and compact cranes. We hope to provide you with the very best options of cranes, ideal for any job. Each of the cranes is suited to a particular job based on size, function and capacity.

You can discuss the details of your project with our team and we will do our best to ensure the crane you hire works well. All our cranes are fully approved and licensed so there’s no need to worry. We will match you up with the right crane and assist you in carrying out the project. If you would like to discuss your project with a member of our experienced team, get in touch today.