Common Challenges Businesses Face When Moving Large Equipment and How to Overcome Them

Moving large equipment between buildings can be difficult. There are many different things that need to be considered, from the safety of workers to protecting equipment from accidental damage. If you are a business owner who’s moving between brick-and-mortar locations, you need to do everything you can to keep your equipment safe.

The last thing you want is to have to pay to make repairs or even replace equipment. The intention of this post is to explore some of the common challenges business owners face when moving large equipment, and how they can be overcome. Read on to find out more. 

Towing Services

If you are moving large equipment, the chances are you will secure it inside a trailer and tow it. How do you plan on towing it if you don’t have a tow truck, though? Simplify your towing in Brisbane by partnering with a towing service.

A towing service will be able to get your equipment where you need it to be quickly, safely, and efficiently. Find the most reliable towing service you can by reading reviews and prioritizing quality and transparency above anything else. 

Obtaining Permits

To move certain types of equipment, permits are needed. This is because accommodations have to be made, such as road closures and redirecting traffic. In order to find out what permits are needed, get in touch with a representative from your city’s planning department.

They should either be able to help you or redirect you to the right place. Do not attempt to move heavy equipment without finding out if permits are needed first, because you could get into a lot of trouble, and may end up receiving fines or penalties.

Clearing Space

Make sure that at your new worksite, there is enough space to accommodate the equipment you plan on bringing in. Finding out if there is enough space is relatively simple–all you need is a measuring tape. If you do not have the time or knowledge to find out if there is enough space, hire somebody to do it for you.

A consultant will not only be able to assess your new workspace’s available space, but they will also be able to recommend alternative pieces of equipment if the ones you currently own are too big. 

Proper Licenses

As well as permits, licenses are sometimes needed to move heavy equipment. Again: The licenses you need can be explained to you at length by a representative from your city’s planning department or the relevant department that deals with that sort of thing.

Do not attempt to move equipment without a license, because even though you may get away with it, if you are ever caught, you can get into a lot of trouble, and may end up receiving fines or penalties. There is even a chance you could be arrested for unsafely transporting equipment without a license. 

Packaging Equipment

Packaging up your equipment is something else you need to think about. If you do not package equipment up properly, it could end up coming loose during transit, and this could pose a threat to the people who are responsible for moving it. The best way to ensure equipment is safely packaged is to hire a professional packing company to help.

An agency that specializes in packing heavy equipment will be able to take care of your business’s machinery or gear for you and make sure it does not get damaged or injure anybody. Always read a packing company’s ‘About us’ page before hiring them, so you can be sure they are the right choice for you.

Route Restrictions

Route restrictions are another consideration. In some cities, streets are too narrow for heavy machinery or equipment to be transported through. Calculate an exact route for your transportation agents to take, so that they can get equipment delivered to your premises on time and safely.

Factor in things like low bridges, narrow streets, and congestion zones. Also, think about schools and other areas that could delay the delivery of your business’s equipment. If you hire a towing company, they will work out an efficient route for you. 

Coordinating Traffic

If you obtain a permit, your local city council might give you permission to reroute traffic and close certain streets to get equipment where it needs to be safe. Alternatively, they might give you an escort to control the flow of traffic.

If you do not need a permit and the equipment you are moving is not that large but will still be towed or carried on a truck, make sure you think about traffic and congestion, so you can get your equipment delivered on time and don’t have to worry about delays or hold-ups due to traffic. 

Safety Concerns

Safety concerns are important, as well. The last thing you want is for your workers to get hurt, or worse, pedestrians. If anybody is hurt because your business’s equipment has not been moved properly, not only could you get in trouble, but you could end up getting employees into trouble, too.

More than that, you might have to deal with a lawsuit or multiple lawsuits. If safety concerns are not your top priority, you need to rethink your strategy toward moving equipment. Make sure that the equipment you move is properly cared for and that all safety requirements are met and accommodated. 

Weather Conditions

Finally, think about weather conditions on the day you plan on moving. If there is going to be bad weather, you should pick another day. It is especially important to find a good day to move equipment if it is going to be towed in an open-topped trailer because if it rains, this could damage your equipment or machinery. Before you send anything, make sure you properly pack it.

Packing it will ensure that it is protected not only from bad weather, but also environmental pollutants, and accidents like debris falling from the sky or being blown by the wind. 

If you are a business owner who’s interested in moving equipment from one location to another, think about the various challenges mentioned here. Thinking about them and then using this post’s advice to overcome them is the best way to ensure equipment arrives safe.