BLOG: On The Level

[#1]

When you’re transporting a 30,000-pound machine, it’s a good idea to take safety very seriously. Although many of us use proper methods for securing machines and components for safe transport, it’s possible to overlook an important step that could potentially put you and others in jeopardy. Here are safety tips to keep in mind when you’re transporting a machine.

Tying the Machine Down:

·         As a rule, you should use one chain for every 8500 pounds (3855.5 kg) of weight, or one chain for every 10 linear feet (3.1 meters) of cargo

·         Check all chain anchor points

·         Always check every chain before using it; look for cracked, bent, twisted or stretched links

·         Check for broken or cracked side or pocket rails, supports or welds. Also look to see if rails are bent or distorted where hooks or fittings attach, and check if floor rings are nicked or gouged, worn, twisted, bent, stretched or have broken welds

·         Keep chains straight and tight

·         Be sure to flag the machine if it exceeds the width requirements for transporting

·         Check to be sure all items on the trailer and the machine are secured

·         Re-check for fluid leakages, rocks, and other debris

Transporting the Machine:

·         Check that the machine is properly chained down and balanced

·         Many governmental agencies throughout the world require that the truck driver, within the first 25 miles (40.2 km) after beginning a trip, recheck all load securing devices and make proper adjustments

·         Make sure you obtain the proper permits required by your municipality and state

·         ALWAYS use common sense

Improper safety precautions could lead to property damage, personal injury, DOT fines, increased insurance rates, and loss of driving privileges, so play it safe!

Do you have any safety tips related to transporting machines? Please share your comments below.

[#2]

Every time I see an article about transporting heavy equipment, I have to think back to the day my company took possession of an old twin engined Euclid earth mover, (which was bigger than any comparable Cat twin engine scraper of that time).  We loaded it on the low-boy and found that the tires actually hung over so bad, that the trailer was like supporting the axles.  So we took off the tires, and then sat around trying to figure out how to chain the machine down for safety.  Since we had a short time to remove it from the auction grounds, the decision was made to chain down the axles, hang our over-size load flas in place, and haul the tires (still mounted on their rims), on a second rig.  That was a machinery move to last us for a long time, as we could only drive sunrise to sunset.  I don't know how many times we had to find space alongside the highway to pull off and set up for the night.  It was a slow trip, coming from Upstate New York, all the way out to Western Kansas.  We also had to go thru Minnesota, via Minneapolis/St.Paul, to cross the Mississippi, as the weight of the load would have prevented us from crossing down near St.Louis.  At every stop, we rechecked the chains, greased everything that needed it, and when we got to a truck stop, we did other servicing as well.  We also had to let Every State DOT inspector, who cared to, check out our ways of chaining down that monster earth mover.

I know, that if I had it to do all over again, I'd ship it by railroad.  They do a better job than we can at ahuling extremely heavy loads.  And they can deliver in less time than we took to haul it home.

[#3]

Beware of freshley painted lowboy trailers! When I repainted my rusty old lowboy I never knew how slick that could make it. Was loading a dozer on a slight incline and slid from back to front, turning about 120 degrees,then off the side.

[#4]

Good advice. I purchased a Cat 305C CR last year. The machine weighs about 12,800 lbs, so the DOT rules require 4 seperate chains/binders to the frame and each implement to also have a chain across them with a binder. So by law it needs 6 chains. My machine came with rubber tracks, so I cannot chain to a track pad. There is a hole in the frame at the rear, which I have inserted a shackel to and I attach 2 chains to this. I throw a chain over the bucket, so I have 1 implement chained down. The blade I attach a chain and binder to the holes on the side of the blade near the top. This is per the written instructions as printed on a sticker which is just below the glass on the front of the cab. According to DOT rules, I cannot count these 2 chains as being attached to the frame of the machine since I am chaining to an implement. I cannot find another location on the front of the frame to attach my chains. What is Cats recomendation to meet the current law?