February 10, 2014
Finding Specialized Contractors To Safely Transport Your Storage Containers
In the minds of many, freight is as large of concern as is buying a container itself and it doesn’t need to be. In terms of hauling stuff, an empty container is fairly light. A 40 foot container weighs in at just over 8,000 lbs and an empty 20 foot container weights just under 5,000 pounds (about the weight of a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado). If you have the equipment to like a fork lift available to unload your container then the delivery piece of the transaction is even easier, your new (to you) container can be delivered on a simple flat bed or drop deck trailer. If you do not have access to a fork lift then you need to locate a heavy equipment hauler with a Landoll, or tilt deck trailer. The question becomes, “where am I going to find this kind of equipment?” The answer is “easy, with just a little digging.”
What you’ll need is a heavy equipment hauler, not because your containers are heavy but because they are big, especially the 40 footers, heavy equipment haulers will have the right equipment for you. If a fork lift or loader is available to unload your storage container then you should save some money because your freight contractor will simply need a flatbed to haul your container to its new home. However, if you need your transporter to place your container on the ground then the cheapest way to do this is to have your hauling contractor bring a tilt deck or Landoll trailer. A Landoll is a $40,000 – $50,000 dollar investment and a lot of ongoing maintenance for a heavy equipment hauler, versus a $10,000 investment for a simple flatbed trailer, that’s why he needs to charge more for this service.
Finding these types of companies is easy, a simple Google search of “heavy haul (your city)” or “equipment hauling (your city)” should provide you with a good list of potential candidates to get started with. If you want to expand your search I always recommend that you check out the Drayage Directory. The Drayage Directory is a huge listing of truckers, freight forwarders, trains, everybody and anybody who handles transportation loads. You should have no trouble finding a source from this here, but if the people you call can’t help you make sure you ask if the can refer you to someone who can move your container. Another great source for equipment hauling is a monthly publication called “The Equipment Trader.” You’ll need a subscription to view this publication, it’s a free subscription but unless you know someone who can lend you one you’ll need to wait for your first issue to arrive before you can use it as a research tool. However, once you do lay your hands on one you will find page after page of potential freight contractors to mover your containers. You can even get an idea of the type of equipment the contractors have, what they are buying and what they are selling. You may even find some containers for sale; the Equipment Trader is a great tool and can be an ongoing resource for you.
And last but not least, look around you, as you travel around town you’re sure to see shipping containers on various trailers and container chassis. The trucks will usually have a phone number where you can contact them. If you see other types of equipment being moved behind a truck make sure you contact those haulers as well. As we said earlier, they work in a tight knit community, if they can’t help you they will likely know someone who can. Good luck in your search!