Requirements for Hauling Over dimensional Loads Using An Interstate Load Trailer

There are certain requirements which need to be met in hauling over dimensional loads and these varies from state to state. One has to know all these requirements so as not to encounter any problems when the day of the hauling. Bulky objects or over-sized loads which cannot be separated are considered to be indivisible. These loads are not allowed to be transported on roads and highways if the requirements given by the Department of Transportation are not fulfilled. The following requirements are stated below:

For the height requirement, the normal limit for hauling an over dimensional load is thirteen feet and six inches. There are times the requirements in height vary because of the different clearance in various states which permits the load to pass bridges or tunnels. In case the loads exceeds these measurements, a special transportation permit with a route stating the bridges and tunnels that should be avoided. When it comes to the width requirements, a very heavy and over-sized load requires it to be not less than eight feet and six inches. Just like the height requirement, the width requirement for hauling over-sized loads varies from state to state. There are some roads, highways, and bridges in some states which do not allow vehicles carrying very large loads to pass based on their width. Some requires special transportation permit if the loads go over the measurement limit.

Vehicles carrying over dimensional loads are usually trucks with trailer. What are the different specifications of an interstate cargo/load trailer which hauls heavy equipment or loads? Well, there is the interstate victory series 6 foot-wide load trailers which can be 10 feet or 12 feet in length. It has an A-frame deign with 14 inch tires and exterior aluminum panels. Then there is a 6 feet wide interstate Load runner trailers which is in 10, 12 and 14 feet in lengths. It has also a frame design, 15-inch tires, 32 cam lock door and a16-inch aluminum diamond plate guard. There is the interstate Pro series trailers which has a 15-inch tires, a double rear, an A frame design, a covered undercarriage and a rubber torsion axle. These trailers often require an escort or pilot cars in front and behind them. Sometimes the escort car needs to be at the rear of the hauling vehicle or trailer. 

These escort or pilot cars alert the driver of the vehicle as well as the other drivers they encounter on the roads. The hauling vehicle typically has at least one flashing light or both flashers are on while on the road. If transporting or hauling at night, the truck must have its flashing lights turned on. There are times the escort or pilot cars likewise have their lights on so as to let the other drivers on the road will be aware that the truck is going slow and may use the two lanes. Hauling very heavy loads are not permitted to travel at nights. A license should be obtained before hauling very heavy loads over each state’s borders to where the vehicle will pass and transport the loads. One will get these licenses at a state’s Department of Transportation.

Semi-trailer Used To Haul Over Dimensional Loads

Trucks and other transportation equipment/vehicles have become bigger and bigger over the years as the need to transport over dimensional loads arise and engines and systems can now provide the power levels which are much greater than in the past. There are certain basic requirements to meet in using vehicles for super loads or over dimensional loads. One of these is that all these vehicles must not exceed the load weight of each tyre (tire) which touches the ground so as to avoid any damage to the roads. There are multi wheel combinations because there should be minimum distances between these wheels. The rules and regulations specify the limits but these rules and regulations would depend on the geographic area like which state, province or country.

A semi-trailer also called a semi-tractor-trailer, truck and trailer, transfer truck, 18-wheeler, mack truck, big rig, transport, artic, and lorry is a vehicle having permanent or semi-permanent pivoting joint which allows the it to turn sharply and it has a towing engine and a semi-trailer which carriers the freight.  A semi-trailer does not fully tail the towing vehicle but it joined at a point that it is just forward of the rear-most axle of the towing unit. A fraction of the weight is carried by the prime mover with most of that at the rear axles of the prime mover and a small amount at the front axles. Most semi-tractors have two-three axles and are commonly called tractor-trailers in North America. 

They are used for hauling over dimensional loads.  These vehicles can legally haul payloads of 40,000 – 50,000 pounds depending on the configuration of the vehicle and configuration of payload not to be over the 80,000 pounds gross weight. The dimensions of a trailer differ a lot depending on the amount and type of cargo it was intended to haul. Nowadays the use of two single, wider tires called super singles on each axle is used. The advantages of this are reduction of fuel consumption from less energy wasted flexing tires side walls, the lighter tire weight lets a truck to be loaded with more freight and the single wheel covers less of the brake unit thereby reducing the fading of the brake and making the cooling fast. The disadvantage probably would be the lack of redundancy. In case a tire gets deflated or destroyed there won’t be another tire fixed to the same hub to sustain the dynamic stability of the vehicle. With the dual wheels, the remaining tire may be overloaded but usually it makes the vehicle stopped safely or can be driven to a repair shop. 

Many have accepted a new innovation known as the skirted trailer for hauling over dimensional loads. The air moving under the trailer is an aerodynamic drag because the area between the road and the bottom of the trailer was left open before. When airflow is block under the trailer the fuel economy would improve. With the design of the skirted trailer the fuel economy has improved based on a test made in 2009.