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$4.00 - $8.00+/mi

Heavy Haul Dispatch Services

Specialized heavy haul and RGN dispatch services for oversized loads at $4.00-$8.00+ per mile. Permits, route planning, and pilot car coordination included.

Why Choose Expert Heavy Haul Dispatch?

Heavy haul is the most complex and highest-paying segment of trucking. Moving oversized loads requires permits, route planning, pilot cars, and specialized equipment knowledge. Our heavy haul dispatchers handle the logistics so you can focus on safely delivering the freight.

01

Highest Rates in Trucking

Heavy haul commands $4.00-$8.00+ per mile — the highest rates in the industry. The specialized equipment and expertise required means fewer competitors and premium pricing.

02

Full Permit Coordination

Our dispatchers handle the entire permitting process — state-by-state oversize/overweight permits, route surveys, and compliance documentation.

03

Route Planning

Oversized loads can't take just any route. We plan paths that clear bridges, overpasses, utility lines, and road weight restrictions.

04

Pilot Car Coordination

When pilot/escort cars are required, we coordinate certified pilot car services, scheduling, and communication protocols for safe transport.

Rate Range

$4.00 - $8.00+

per mile

Avg: $5.50/mi|market average

Common Freight

  • Excavators & heavy construction equipment
  • Cranes & crane components
  • Transformers & power generation equipment
  • Wind turbine components (blades, towers)
  • Bridge beams & structural components
  • Mining equipment
  • Military vehicles & equipment
  • Industrial plant equipment

Top Lanes

  • Houston, TX → Nationwide (energy/industrial)
  • Caterpillar plants, IL → Construction sites
  • John Deere plants, IA → Dealers nationwide
  • Port of Long Beach → Inland facilities
  • Wind farms (TX, IA, OK, KS) → Installation sites
  • Mining regions (WV, WY, NV) → Processing plants

How We Dispatch Heavy Haul Freight

Our proven process for finding and booking premium heavy haul loads.

01

Load Assessment

We gather exact dimensions, weight, and equipment details to determine permit requirements and route feasibility.

02

Multi-State Permitting

Our team files permits for every state on the route, ensuring full legal compliance before the wheels roll.

03

Route Survey & Planning

We plan routes accounting for bridge heights, road weight limits, turn restrictions, and utility line clearances.

04

Escort & Delivery Coordination

We coordinate pilot cars, law enforcement escorts if required, and delivery scheduling with the receiver.

What Is Heavy Haul Dispatch?

Heavy haul dispatch is the top tier of trucking — we book oversize and overweight loads that require RGN (removable gooseneck) trailers, lowboys, multi-axle configurations, and state-by-state permits. This isn't freight you find on a load board; it's relationship-driven, permit-intensive, and pays accordingly. We handle route surveys, permit coordination across state lines, escort/pilot car scheduling, and rate negotiation for loads that weigh 80,000+ lbs or exceed standard dimensions. A good heavy haul dispatcher is worth their weight in gold because one wrong permit or missed bridge restriction can cost you $10K+ in fines and delays.

Heavy Haul Operations Guide

Insider knowledge for running heavy haul freight efficiently and profitably.

01Permit Requirements by State

Single-Trip vs Annual Permits

Single-trip permits cover one move through one state and cost $15-$200+. Annual oversize permits (available in most states for loads under certain thresholds) save money if you run the same state regularly. We evaluate whether annual permits make sense based on your typical lanes and volume.

State-Specific Quirks

Every state has different rules. Texas allows 12ft wide without escort; California requires escort at 10ft. Pennsylvania charges premium fees for superloads over 200,000 lbs. Illinois requires engineering analysis for certain bridge crossings. Your dispatcher knows the state-by-state requirements and files the right permits the first time.

Processing Times

Standard permit turnaround is 3-5 business days in most states. Superload permits (over 200,000 lbs or requiring bridge analysis) can take 2-4 weeks. States like New York and California are notoriously slow. We file permits early and build processing time into the load schedule to avoid delays.

Weekend & Holiday Restrictions

Most states prohibit oversize moves on holidays, and many restrict weekend travel (no moves on Sundays, some restrict Saturdays). We plan multi-day routes around these blackout periods so you are not sitting roadside waiting for Monday morning with a loaded trailer.

02Pilot Car & Escort Requirements

Front and Rear Escort

Loads over 14-16ft wide typically require both a front and rear pilot car. At 16ft+ wide in most states, a law enforcement escort is also required. We coordinate all escorts and book certified pilot car operators who carry their own liability insurance and state-required certifications.

Pilot Car Costs

Pilot cars run $1.50-$2.50/mile depending on the state and whether they provide their own signs, flags, and height poles. For a 500-mile move needing two pilots, that is $1,500-$2,500 in escort costs alone. We build these costs into the rate negotiation so you are not eating them out of your revenue.

Communication Requirements

Most states require CB radio communication between the driver and pilot cars on channel 19. Some states now accept cell phones as backup. Your pilot cars should carry oversize signs, amber lights, flags, and a height pole for bridge clearance measurement.

03Route Surveys & Bridge Restrictions

Bridge Weight Limits

Every bridge has a posted weight limit, and many are below the 80,000 lb federal limit — let alone the 100K-500K+ loads heavy haul carriers move. We check bridge ratings on every route using state DOT databases and plan detours around restricted structures.

Physical Route Surveys

For superloads (over 200,000 lbs or 16ft+ wide), a physical route survey is usually required. A pilot car drives the entire route measuring bridge clearances, turn radii, utility line heights, and road surface conditions. We arrange these surveys through our escort network 2-4 weeks before the move date.

Utility Line Coordination

Tall loads may require utility companies to temporarily raise or de-energize power lines along the route. This coordination takes 2-6 weeks and involves fees from each utility company. We initiate utility line requests early in the planning process to avoid costly delays.

Contingency Routing

Every heavy haul route plan includes at least one backup route in case of road closures, bridge load postings, or construction detours. Your dispatcher monitors state DOT road condition reports and has alternatives ready if the primary route becomes impassable.

Industries We Serve — Heavy Haul Freight

We dispatch heavy haul loads across these high-demand verticals.

Mining Equipment

Caterpillar 797 haul trucks, Komatsu excavators, and Liebherr mining shovels moving between mines, rebuild facilities, and dealer yards. Single pieces weighing 80,000-200,000+ lbs — multi-axle RGN with jeep and stinger configurations. Loads from Wyoming coal, Nevada gold, and Arizona copper operations.

Wind Turbine Components

GE Vernova nacelles (50-80 tons each), Vestas tower sections (up to 15ft diameter × 80ft long), and Siemens Gamesa blades (200-350ft long on extendable trailers). Wind farm freight runs from manufacturing in Colorado, Iowa, and Texas to project sites across the Plains and Midwest — multi-load projects paying $50K+.

Bridge & Infrastructure

Precast concrete bridge girders (120-160ft long), steel bridge sections, and highway barrier segments for DOT projects. Loads from precasters like Coreslab, Knife River, and Forterra to active highway construction sites — overwidth, overlength, and often requiring night moves with full escort.

Military Vehicles & Equipment

M1 Abrams tanks (68 tons), Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and MRAP trucks moving between Army depots (Anniston, Red River, Sierra), bases, and port facilities. SDDC (Surface Deployment and Distribution Command) contracts — government rates but reliable payment and massive multi-unit moves.

Oil & Gas (Drilling Rigs)

Rig-up and rig-down moves for Helmerich & Payne, Patterson-UTI, and Nabors drilling rigs. A single rig move is 30-60 truckloads — substructure, mast, drawworks, mud pumps, generators — all overweight or oversize. Permian Basin, Eagle Ford, and Haynesville are the hot plays right now.

Transformer & Utility Equipment

ABB, Siemens Energy, and Hitachi Energy ship power transformers weighing 100,000-500,000+ lbs from manufacturing plants to substations. The heaviest legal loads on US highways — requires multi-axle Goldhofer/Scheuerle trailers, bridge studies, utility line lifts, and months of route planning.

Heavy Haul Dispatch Challenges We Solve

Every equipment type has unique challenges. Here's how we handle them.

Complex Permitting

Oversized loads need permits in every state they cross. Each state has different requirements, fees, and processing times. Our dispatchers manage this complexity so you don't have to.

Route Restrictions

Heavy haul loads face bridge weight limits, height restrictions, and construction detours. We conduct thorough route planning and have backup routes for every move.

Weather & Timing

Many jurisdictions restrict oversized movement to daylight hours or prohibit moves during adverse weather. We plan schedules that account for these restrictions and minimize delays.

Heavy Haul Dispatch Pricing

Transparent rates. No hidden fees. No contracts.

Percentage Model
6%
of gross per load
Flat Rate
$250/week
per week flat rate
  • No setup fees
  • No contracts
  • Cancel anytime

Industry data from DAT Trendlines FMCSA BTS Freight Data

Heavy Haul Dispatch FAQ

What qualifies as heavy haul?

Heavy haul typically refers to loads exceeding standard legal dimensions or weight — over 8'6" wide, over 13'6" tall, over 80,000 lbs, or requiring special permits. This includes most construction equipment, industrial machinery, and oversized components.

What rates do heavy haul loads pay?

Heavy haul is the highest-paying segment in trucking, typically $4.00-$8.00+ per mile. Complex multi-state permitted moves with escort requirements can pay significantly more.

Do you handle all the permits?

Yes. Our dispatch team handles the entire permitting process — filing applications, paying fees, planning routes, and ensuring every state permit is secured before departure. You don't need to worry about any of the paperwork.

What equipment do you dispatch for heavy haul?

We dispatch RGN (removable gooseneck) trailers, lowboy trailers, multi-axle configurations, and specialized heavy haul equipment. Your equipment specs determine which loads we target.

Do you coordinate pilot cars?

Yes. When pilot/escort vehicles are required by state regulations, we coordinate certified pilot car services, schedule them for your route, and ensure proper communication equipment is in place.

How far in advance do you need to plan heavy haul loads?

Permit processing typically takes 3-7 business days depending on the states involved. For complex multi-state moves, we recommend 2+ weeks advance planning. We can expedite permits when needed for urgent loads.

How do you prevent fraud on heavy haul loads?

Heavy haul fraud is less common than van freight because the loads are specialized and hard to steal, but fake brokers do exist. We verify every broker's authority, confirm they have a legitimate relationship with the shipper, and check their bond amount (heavy haul brokers should carry higher bonds). We also confirm the pickup location is a real industrial facility.

What insurance do I need for heavy haul?

Heavy haul requires significantly more coverage than standard trucking. Most shippers require $1M-$2M auto liability, $250K-$500K cargo coverage (single loads can be worth $1M+), and specific oversize/overweight endorsements. Your dispatcher verifies your coverage meets the shipper's requirements before we book loads that exceed your policy limits.

How does detention work on heavy haul loads?

Heavy haul detention is expensive for everyone because your escort cars, permits, and crew are all on the clock. Standard detention is $100-$150/hour after 2 hours free time, and for superloads with escorts it can be $200+/hour. We build firm detention language into every contract because a 1-day delay on a permitted move can cost you $2,000+ in rebooking escorts and extending permits.

Can you dispatch heavy haul loads into Canada?

Yes. Cross-border heavy haul into Canada requires PARS customs clearance plus separate provincial oversize permits (each Canadian province has different rules, similar to US states). We coordinate with Canadian permit services and customs brokers to handle the additional paperwork layer. Alberta oil sands and Ontario infrastructure projects are common cross-border heavy haul destinations.

Ready for Premium Heavy Haul Loads?

Get matched with a dedicated heavy haul dispatcher who knows the freight, the lanes, and how to maximize your revenue.

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