Moving construction plant by road is a job in its own right. Excavators, dumpers, rollers and telehandlers are heavy, awkward and valuable, and getting them from yard to site safely takes the right trailer and proper securing. This guide covers how it is done and what to plan for.
Choosing the right trailer
The trailer depends on the machine’s weight and height. Common choices include:
- Plant trailers and beavertails for smaller machines like mini-diggers and dumpers
- Step-frame low-loaders for larger plant, where the low deck keeps tall machines within height limits
- Extendable low-loaders for long items such as telescopic boom machines
The low deck of a low-loader matters more than people expect. By carrying the machine close to the ground, it keeps the overall height down and gives extra clearance under bridges, which can be the difference between a straightforward run and an abnormal load.
Loading safely
Tracked and wheeled plant is usually driven onto the trailer up hydraulic or detachable ramps. This is one of the higher-risk parts of the job: the ground must be firm and level, the ramps correctly set, and the machine driven on slowly and squarely. Where a machine cannot be driven on, a Hiab or crane lift may be used instead.
Securing the load
Once on the trailer, plant must be secured against movement in every direction. Good practice includes:
- Chains and tensioners rated for the weight of the machine
- Lashing to the manufacturer’s designated points
- Lowering buckets, blades and booms onto the deck
- Immobilising and isolating the machine so nothing shifts in transit
Poorly secured plant is a serious hazard, and load security is something enforcement officers check closely. It is not a corner worth cutting.
When plant becomes an abnormal load
Many larger machines tip the combined vehicle and load over standard limits. Remember the thresholds: over 44 tonnes, over 2.9 metres wide, or over 18.65 metres long makes it an abnormal load. At that point the operator may need to notify the police and highway authorities, plan a route avoiding weak bridges, fit marker boards and possibly arrange escorts.
Tracked excavators in particular are often wider than 2.9 metres, so it is worth checking the machine’s dimensions early rather than assuming a standard move.
Site access at both ends
Plant often lives and works in places that are not built for big lorries: muddy compounds, half-finished sites, quarries and farms. Both the collection and delivery points need to be considered. Is there room for a low-loader to turn and position? Is the ground firm enough to load over without the trailer or ramps sinking? Is there a hard, level spot to load and unload safely? A quick honest assessment of access avoids the classic problem of a machine that cannot be reached or a trailer that cannot get out again once loaded.
Insurance and timing
Plant is expensive, so check the haulier’s goods-in-transit cover comfortably exceeds the value of your machine. It is also worth thinking about timing: an abnormal-load movement may be restricted to certain hours to avoid peak traffic, and notifications take time to arrange. Booking with a little notice means the move fits neatly around your project rather than holding up a site waiting for a digger to arrive.
Planning a smooth move
To get plant moved without hold-ups, have these details ready:
- Make, model, weight and dimensions of the machine
- How it will be loaded – driven on or lifted
- Ground conditions and access at both ends
- Any timing constraints on site
The more your haulier knows, the better they can match the trailer and plan the route.
Common types of plant we move
Construction and industrial equipment comes in all shapes and sizes, and most of it can be moved with the right trailer. Frequent jobs include mini and midi excavators, tracked excavators of 13 tonnes and up, wheeled loaders and dumpers, telehandlers, rollers and compactors, dozers, and site welfare cabins. Cranes, piling rigs and crusher and screener plant are heavier and often classed as abnormal loads, calling for multi-axle low-loaders and the notifications that go with them. Whatever the machine, the same logic applies: weight and dimensions decide the trailer, and access decides how it is loaded.
Move your plant with confidence
Northampton Road Haulage transports plant and machinery of all sizes across the UK, with the right low-loaders, securing equipment and abnormal-load experience to do it safely. Call 01604 385213 with your machine details for a quote.