Transportation and Medical Tourism

Posted on: 11 December 2019

Transporting oversized loads is a dangerous task. As such, haulage companies must take safety precautions to avoid loading, offloading and transporting accidents. The information below covers some heavy haulage safety precautions.

Understand Your Load

What will you transport? The load will determine what kind of truck will be used, as well as the loading and offloading mechanism. For instance, equipment such as turbines and oil rigs are often transported using self-propelled modular transporters and modular trailers. The equipment is loaded using one or more cranes. Besides, the load must be secured on the truck using straps and chains.

The heavy haulage trucks should be in excellent condition. Ask for an inspection report and request the haulage company to service the vehicles before you commence transport. In some cases, the heavy haulage truck may need to be hauled when climbing steep slopes or pulled when descending. Use heavy-duty cables and winches for such applications.

Road Surveys

Take a road survey to identify slippery roads, sharp corners, steep slopes and overhead hazards, such as low-lying bridges and electrical lines. You are better off using a longer but safer route. Preferably, drivers should visit steep inclines and sharp corners and determine if the heavy haulage truck can navigate such areas. You may have to talk with electric companies and ask them to remove low-lying cables if you do not have an alternative route. 

Route Planning

Route planning is the sequence at which the heavy haulage trucks leave the loading point to the time they arrive at their destination. Below are a few helpful tips for this:

• Driver fatigue is a common cause of road accidents, so for long-distance haulage, each truck should have two drivers.
• The law requires heavy haulage trucks to have pilot vehicles to warn motorists of an oncoming oversized load.
• Have a reconnaissance team to alert the truck drivers of changing road conditions such as wind, rain or traffic build-up.
• Engage local police if you will pass through urban areas.
• Strategically plan pit stops in areas with low traffic.
• At regular intervals, the heavy haulage trucks should be inspected for mechanical problems such as lubricant leaks and burst tyres.

Emergency Crew

Have an emergency crew to respond to any incidents on the road. The team should comprise mechanics, engineers and medics. This team should be in constant communication with the truck drivers, reconnaissance team and the pilot car drivers. Besides, they must have specialised equipment to deal with any incident.

Heavy haulage planning is now easy with the above safety precautions. Understand the load, conduct a road survey, prepare an emergency team and observe the recommended route planning tips.