Tips on Choosing a Heavy Equipment Shipping Compan

When you win a bid, it's important you have an equipment shipping company that will get your equipment to the job on time and on budget without damaging it on the way. This is not a job you leave to just any equipment shipping company. Make sure you check out a company's safety record, past customer satisfaction, estimated delivery times and insurance information.

Be sure the company is licensed by asking for their MC and US DOT numbers. You can look at their safety rating by going to safersys.org, a website run by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Also run a quick check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints against the carrier.

If all checks out, do a quick check on forums to see what past customers are saying about the company. One or two complaints is normal, but if you see the carrier's name coming up on several consumer complain websites, there is reason to be cautious.

When the company quotes you a delivery date that is far in the future, think about using another carrier. The longer the move, the more transfers along the way, adding wear and greater chances for damage to your heavy equipment. Shorter moves are more direct and offer fewer chances for problems.

Get a copy of the hauler's insurance certificate and make sure they have enough liability and physical damage coverage for your equipment while it is in transport. Find out about the carrier's loss history too and makes sure their claims to damage ratio is low.