Purchasing new boom trucks for your commercial fleet is a big expense, and the coordination for delivery can become overwhelming in no time at all. Boom trucks, by virtue of their special height, hefty axle weight, and need for specialized transportation, call for well-organized logistics.
Knowing and properly addressing the issues concerning regulation compliance, transit issues, and route scheduling ensures a trouble free and inexpensive delivery without any penalty or excessive charge.
What are the Requirements for Boom Truck Delivery?
Transportation of a boom truck from state to state or through city limits needs strict compliance with federal transit laws, state permit requirements, and drivers licensing.
1. Oversized Load Permits (OD Logistics)
Since boom arms are usually wider and may exceed typical vehicle height restrictions, it is your responsibility to acquire special over-width or overweight permits from the various State DOT’s along your route.
2. Federal Highway Weight Limits
The FHWA has established strict gross and axle weight limits for vehicles on the Interstate System:
- Gross Vehicle Weight: 80,000 lbs max
- Single Axle: 20,000 lbs max
- Tandem Axle Group: 34,000 lbs max
Penalties for driving with excessive loads above the specified limit or beyond allowable routes can result in high fines, and out-of-service orders.
3. Safety and Maintenance Standards
To satisfy U.S. DOT requirements and those set by OSHA standards, the delivery truck and boom truck should fulfill inspection/safety/maintenance criteria.
4. Commercial Driver Licensing (CDL)
Commercial drivers and those in a field that require operation of heavy machinery must ensure that they have an active medical card, along with the appropriate class of Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and endorsements.
5. Strategic Route Planning
When transporting or towing any oversize or oversized material it’s crucial to map an overland route while also taking into account and circumventing; any height-restricted (low clearance) bridges, weight-restricted local or secondary routes and urban city zones/routes with restrictions (like downtown access restrictions).
6. Comprehensive Transit Insurance
You need specialized heavy-equipment cargo insurance to ensure property damage or liability would be covered while shipping.
7. Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI)
A comprehensive mechanical and safety pre-delivery inspection makes certain your boom truck is good to go for use.
How to Coordinate a Seamless Delivery Process?
The key is communication, planning your site and selecting the right transport options to limit disruption.
- Pick the appropriate kind of shipping: Choose if you prefer a lowboy trailer transportation, or if it’s less money-saving for you for someone to drive your truck.
- Prepare the Site: Delivery location needs sufficient turn-around areas. A site that can accommodate the large axle weight that is needed is firm, level and with good overhead clearance free from power lines and low-hanging trees.
- Keep An Eye on It in Real Time: Hire a provider that guarantees transparent transit updates and origin and drop off shipment tracking in real-time.
High-Clearance and Specialized Boom Truck Logistics Navigated with Ease
Getting a boom truck from point A to B differs substantially to transporting just a typical commercial vehicle. Boom trucks bring their own issues concerning overhead clearance and balancing the load.
It is generally a far more cost-effective solution to use a driveaway service on a road-ready boom truck versus renting high-priced trailer equipment. The experienced driveaway professionals shuttle the unit under its own power, getting it as close to the remote job site or busy downtown as needed for the last mile. Large commercial car haulers cannot do this job!
How should I choose an effective trucking delivery partner?
When choosing a delivery partner for your fleet, consider the following aspects:
- Experience: Demonstrable history of successfully moving over-dimensional equipment, obtaining permits through the DOT and commercial trucking solutions.
- All-in-one compliance: services that cover state-to-state transit permit acquisition, route survey planning, and comprehensive cargo insurance.
- Open and Honest Communication: Be updated with live asset tracking and assign a personal account manager.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all boom trucks require oversized load permits?
Many do; not all do. If your boom truck is wider than the legal limit (normally 8′ 6” across or 13’6” vertically or state gross weight), you will need state over-dimension (OD) permits for each and every state you travel through on your route.
What is the benefit of using a driveaway service for boom truck delivery?
Driveaway eliminates the cost and scheduling issues of procuring specialized lowboy trailers and delivers directly to your job site or facility lot.
Need Nationwide Fleet Relocation Support?
Let your heaviest machinery deliveries run without interrupting yours. ATC Driveaway offers nationwide, insured driveaway and fleet services for high clearance and heavy-duty commercial assets.
Get your fleet rolling safely and discuss your boom truck delivery requirements with ATC Driveaway today!
