Loads that exceed standard legal limits demand specialized equipment, expert route planning, and meticulous permitting. SwiftLink handles all of it — so you don't have to.
Heavy haul freight refers to any shipment that exceeds standard legal limits for weight or dimensions on U.S. highways. Federal regulations set the standard limits at 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight (GVW), 8.5 feet wide, 13.5 feet tall, and 53 feet long. Any load surpassing these thresholds requires special handling.
Moving oversize and overweight loads is not as simple as loading a trailer and driving. Each state has its own permitting requirements, weight restrictions, and designated routes. Bridge weight limits, overhead power lines, road width restrictions, and low-clearance underpasses all factor into route planning.
SwiftLink's heavy haul division manages every aspect of the process — from initial load assessment and permit acquisition to escort vehicle coordination and final delivery — ensuring your oversized freight arrives safely, legally, and on schedule.
Exceeds 80,000 lbs GVW — requires overweight permits per state
Exceeds 8.5 feet wide — requires oversize permits and possible escorts
Exceeds 13.5 feet tall — route surveys for bridge and wire clearances
Exceeds 53 feet long — requires extended trailer and permit coordination
We match the right trailer type to your load's weight, dimensions, and loading requirements for safe, legal transport.
The workhorse of heavy haul. Standard flatbed trailers provide an open deck for easy loading from the sides or above via crane. Ideal for steel, lumber, machinery, and construction materials.
Capacity: Up to 48,000 lbs
Deck: 48' length standard
Best for: Steel, lumber, equipment
Features a lower rear deck that provides extra vertical clearance for taller loads without exceeding over-height limits. The upper deck accommodates the tractor while the lower deck carries the freight.
Capacity: Up to 44,000 lbs
Lower deck height: ~38 inches
Best for: Tall equipment, vehicles
The lowest deck height of any trailer, sitting just 18-24 inches off the ground. Designed for extremely tall and heavy machinery like excavators, bulldozers, cranes, and industrial equipment.
Capacity: Up to 40,000 lbs
Deck height: 18-24 inches
Best for: Heavy machinery, crawlers
The gooseneck detaches and the front of the trailer lowers to the ground, creating a ramp. Equipment can be driven directly onto the deck — no crane needed. Essential for tracked and wheeled machinery.
Capacity: Up to 42,000 lbs
Loading: Drive-on / drive-off
Best for: Self-propelled equipment
For the heaviest loads that far exceed standard weight limits. Multi-axle and perimeter trailers distribute massive weight across many axles to meet per-axle weight regulations and protect road surfaces.
Capacity: 80,000+ lbs
Axles: 9-20+ axle configurations
Best for: Transformers, reactors, turbines
Telescoping trailers that extend to accommodate extra-long loads such as wind turbine blades, bridge beams, utility poles, and structural steel. Available in flatbed and step deck configurations.
Length: Up to 80+ feet extended
Configurations: Single & double extend
Best for: Blades, beams, poles
Every heavy haul shipment follows a rigorous six-step process to ensure safety, compliance, and on-time delivery.
We begin with a comprehensive assessment of your load — exact weight, dimensions, center of gravity, and any special handling requirements. For ultra-heavy or oversized loads, we may conduct an on-site survey to plan loading and securement.
Every state along the route requires its own overweight and/or oversize permits. Our permitting team secures all necessary documentation — single-trip permits, annual permits, and superload permits — well in advance of the move date.
Our logistics team maps the optimal route considering bridge weight limits, overhead clearances (power lines, signs, overpasses), road width restrictions, construction zones, and turn radius limitations. Every obstacle is identified and accounted for.
Many states require one or more escort/pilot cars for oversized loads. We coordinate certified pilot car services that travel ahead of and behind the load, warning oncoming traffic and ensuring safe passage through intersections and narrow corridors.
Proper load securement is critical for safety and DOT compliance. Our experienced operators use chains, binders, straps, edge protectors, and blocking to secure your cargo per FMCSA regulations. Weight distribution is carefully balanced across all axles.
With permits in hand, route confirmed, and load secured, transport begins. You receive real-time GPS tracking and proactive updates throughout the journey. Our team coordinates delivery logistics including crane services and offloading at the destination.
Our heavy haul expertise spans the industries that build America's infrastructure, power its economy, and drive its growth.
Excavators, bulldozers, cranes, concrete beams, structural steel, and prefabricated building components. We move the heavy equipment that builds everything from skyscrapers to highways.
Wind turbine blades (up to 230+ feet), nacelles, tower sections, solar panel arrays, transformers, and substation equipment. Renewable energy projects rely on heavy haul logistics.
Haul trucks, crushers, conveyors, draglines, and processing equipment. Mining operations often require moving massive machinery to remote locations with limited road infrastructure.
Drilling rigs, pressure vessels, pipe racks, compressors, and refinery modules. The oil and gas industry demands heavy haul expertise for both upstream exploration and downstream refining operations.
Combines, harvesters, grain silos, irrigation equipment, and large farm implements. Agricultural machinery is often too wide and heavy for standard transport and requires oversize permits.
Bridge girders, water treatment equipment, tunnel boring components, and utility-scale electrical systems. Public infrastructure projects depend on reliable heavy haul coordination.
Navigating the patchwork of state-by-state oversize/overweight regulations is one of the most complex aspects of heavy haul logistics. Each state has different permit requirements, fee structures, travel time restrictions, and escort requirements.
SwiftLink's permitting team handles the entire process so you can focus on your project. We manage it all:
Issued for one specific move between defined origin and destination. Most common permit type, valid for a set number of days.
Covers multiple trips within a state for a year, up to specified weight/dimension limits. Cost-effective for frequent heavy haul shippers.
Required for loads exceeding even oversize/overweight thresholds — typically 150,000+ lbs or 16+ feet wide. Involves engineering analysis and state DOT review.
From a single piece of heavy equipment to a multi-load project move, our heavy haul team has the expertise, equipment, and permits to get it done right.