Heavy Haulage in Australia is a major industry. The company you choose to partner with will become an extension of your company. How they deal with your customers in essence becomes how you deal with your customers. Because this is such an important relationship, you must choose your supplier wisely. While price is an important consideration, it’s not the only consideration..

Join us as we weigh the most important factors in choosing the right heavy haulage transport partner.

1. First, consider the types of goods or equipment you need to haul

This is the cargo you will be hiring the heavy haulage company to haul. Next, consider the experience the company has with successfully shipping those types of goods. If your company is shipping an item that is fragile, ensure that the company has experience with hauling fragile or oversize equipment. If, after doing a bit of due diligence, you find that they are experienced in this area, then they can remain in the running as your heavy haulage service provider.

2. Next, consider delivery time

It’s likely in the sales process that you’ve promised to deliver the equipment to your client within a particular time frame. Speak with the heavy haulage company’s transport team. Gain an understanding about how they schedule their jobs, their honesty in estimating time accurately and the availability of their fleet. This is an important consideration. Once you’ve partnered with them, in some cases they may become the face of your company as they make deliveries on your behalf. Take special care in assessing their ability to deliver on time.

Finally, after you’ve considered the company’s ability to transport the types of goods and equipment you need moved, their experience and their ability to deliver on time, assess their rates. Given the competitive market, with various transport companies, the pricing should be fairly competitive. While you should look for a company with affordable prices, also take factors, such as customer service, statutory compliance, reputation and trust, into mind. Though these intangibles can’t be put into numbers, they are vital to the successful delivery of your goods and equipment.

Here at SMC Heavy Haulage, we specialise in being one of the premier transport companies in Brisbane that services Australia wide. We can help you create a transport solution that works for your business. Whether you are looking to load, doze, grade or haul, we have state of the art transportation equipment and technology that you need to complete the job.

3. COR (Chain of Responsibility) Penalties, infringements and non-compliance:

Heavy Vehicle National Law – 2015 Court Imposed and Infringement Penalties (PDF, 988 KB) provides a summary of the penalties and infringements outlined in the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

If you consign, pack, load or receive goods as part of your business, you could be held legally liable for breaches of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) even though you have no direct role in driving or operating a heavy vehicle. In addition, corporate entities, directors, partners and managers are accountable for the actions of people under their control. This is the ‘chain of responsibility’ (COR).

The aim of COR is to make sure everyone in the supply chain shares equal responsibility for ensuring breaches of the HVNL do not occur. Under COR laws if you exercise (or have the capability of exercising) control or influence over any transport task, you are part of the supply chain and therefore have a responsibility to ensure the HVNL is complied with.

The law recognises that multiple parties may be responsible for offences committed by the drivers and operators of heavy vehicles. A person may be a party in the supply chain in more than one way. For example they may have duties as the employer, the operator and the consigner of goods.

Legal liability applies to all parties for their actions or inactions.

If pulled over in transit, for example; without a permit, incorrect equipment for the mass of the load (overweight) for the particular trailer or trailer combination that is being used, or under estimating the weight of the load are extremely severe.

Penalties in excess of $10,000.00 are applicable in these instances in Queensland alone.

4. Insurances

The heavy haulage business involves shifting oversize or overmass equipment that happens to be worth a lot of money so insurance is extremely important.

You most likely have contractors plant, machinery or plant and equipment insurance in place already to protect against a range of risks that can be encountered in day to day operation of your equipment and business. However, when it comes to moving your equipment, there are additional insurances required.

Before transporting your goods, SMC Heavy Haulage requires you hold:

• Insurance against theft or loss of any kind to the full replacement value;
• Public liability insurance for a minimum value of $20 million on a per occurrence basis; and
• Maintain workers compensation insurance as required by law.

SMC Heavy Haulage also maintains additional insurances and together you’re covered for damage, loss, accident, fire, theft or overturning of the vehicle while in transit.

Our insurance costs are always included in our total quoted price to move your equipment. Always ensure your service provider holds the correct insurances. Use your due diligence to confirm insurances are current and in place. If you and your current heavy haulage supplier do not hold the correct insurances, you will be responsible for costs associated with damage, loss, accident, fire, theft or overturning of the vehicle while in transit.

SMC Heavy Haulage does everything possible to ensure your cargo is safe and secure throughout transport, however loading, transporting and unloading equipment will always involve a level of risk and even with strict safety measures and extensive heavy haulage experience, proper insurances are essential.