Transportation for the Elderly

If you want to have an oversized load transported across the country, you need to partner with a trucking company that is well versed in everything that an oversized load needs for a successful journey. You can't just place the item on a large flatbed with a sign and hope for the best; oversized loads often weigh much more than many roads will allow, and many states want you to have permit after permit to confirm that the load is going to stay on roads that can support it and the flatbed's weight. If you're getting oversize trucking in your local area, find a company that deals with big loads to make your workload a lot lighter.

Plan Your Route Carefully

The routes available for your load will vary based on the weight per axle. An interstate highway will be able to handle a lot more than a city street, and planning the exact route, plus potential detours, is critical for your success. The trucking company can check construction schedules, too, to ensure the route you plan is actually possible; the last thing you want is for the truck to have to make detours onto roads that can't handle the weight of the oversize load or that aren't wide enough to let the truck and load pass in one piece.

Get All Permits for Each Step of the Way

Permits for oversized loads aren't terrible to deal with, but they can be time consuming, and you could have to get more than one. A permit for one state isn't going to help you in another state, so if you're making a cross-country delivery, that's a lot of permits to get. The trucking company will know exactly what permits you'll need for the route you and they planned out. Who applies for the permits can vary; sometimes the trucking company can do it, and other times you may have to with the help of the trucking company. It really depends on whether the trucking company is offering complete service or just transportation.

Make Sure All Signals Work and All Signs Are Visible

If you plan to add extra tail lights and signs to the load, other than what the trucking company itself will have for the flatbed, make sure those lights are hooked up properly and that they all work. Make sure those extra signs are legible and visible from a distance, and that they don't obscure the signs the trucking company will add.

If this is the first time you've arranged for an oversized load to be transported, the process may seem like a lot at first. Once you break it down, however, it's not that bad -- you just have to be sure you complete every step, and a trucking company can help you.