Scissor lifts are pretty nifty inventions that allow access to hard-to-reach areas. Typically used on construction sites or in warehouses, they are used by electricians, drywallers, warehouse workers, and anyone else who needs to reach a high place. Hydraulically operated, they can raise and lower hundreds of pounds at a time. And they’re really big.
Scissor lift transport services are handled by heavy haul carriers. These are carrier companies that specialize in transporting large equipment such as scissor lifts or other construction or farming equipment. They use specialized trailers that are designed for large and oversize cargo.
Scissor lifts are large, and heavy, and often require a step deck or low boy trailer to haul. We’ll get into the specifics of which trailers are best for your scissor lift in a bit. Regardless, it’s important to understand how scissor lift transport works, what you can expect when you’re searching for it, what to expect in terms of prices you may pay, and how we can help you get it done.
How scissor lift transport works?
Because of their size, scissor lift transport has to be done on a flatbed hauler. They’re too large to fit on a standard car hauler or even in most enclosed trailers. That’s not too surprising, though. They’re designed to be lifted dozens of feet in the air and lift hundreds if not thousands of pounds at a time.
The design of them alone makes them too bulky for standard shipping services, and even some taller flatbed trucks won’t be able to move them. Even at rest, they’re tall, bulky, and hard to move. So step decks or lowboys are the way that they need to be hauled. Otherwise, it works the same as shipping any other vehicle. You get a quote you like from a shipping company and book with them. They’ll make sure to get all the information they need from you to price it correctly, and then they’ll start working on finding a carrier for you. Once that’s done, they’ll dispatch it, give you the carrier’s information, and let you work with the carrier moving forward.
That’s how scissor lift transport works in a nutshell. But there’s more to know about shipping a scissor lift and other heavy equipment, so keep reading to learn more.
How scissor lift transport prices work?
Pricing scissor lift transport can be tricky. It starts with the dimensions. Every shipping company is going to need the length, width, height, and weight of your scissor lift. This is dimensions with it fully retracted – it will need to be at its lowest height possible, after all. No carrier can move a scissor lift that is fully extended.
The size of your scissor lift will play a large role in the overall price you pay, but it won’t be the only factor. Where you’re shipping from and to – and the distance between them – will as well. For most auto shipments, the distance the vehicle will travel is usually the biggest factor in terms of price. Heavy equipment hauling, though, is a bit more complicated. With such large vehicles, only flatbed hauling companies can be used. This cuts down on the number of available carriers and decreases competition among them. Distance, though, is a major factor in the price you pay. Shipping shorter distances yields cheaper prices, but they’ll still be more expensive to move along the route than standard automobiles, so keep that in mind.
We recommend shopping around for quotes for your scissor lift transport services. Finding the right company to transport your heavy equipment is almost as important as finding the right price as well, so be sure to do some homework to find the right shipper for you. Just don’t forget to get a quote from us as well!
How to prepare for your scissor lift transport services?
Preparing to ship a scissor lift is going to be much like preparing any other kind of heavy equipment for transport. You’ll want to get quotes and book your shipment with a shipping company first. From there, they’ll likely tell you the things they’ll need you to do prior to dispatch and pick up. But there are still a few things that you can do yourself! For starters, we touched on this already, but be sure that your scissor lift is fully retracted. Carriers won’t be able to ship it unless it is fully lowered.
Also, have as little fuel in it as possible. Many scissor lifts are powered by conventional gasoline or mixed fuels. But regardless, if it runs on fossil fuel, you’ll need to have as little in it as possible. Fuel is heavy and adds weight, and flatbed trucks are already heavy. To stay within government guidelines, shedding weight on your scissor lift is always recommended. Be sure it can move under its own power. This makes loading and unloading a lot easier as the carrier can simply back it on and off the truck. They will still be able to transport it if it does not, but it will likely cost a bit more.
You should also be sure the size of it does not necessitate any disassembly. Very large vehicles and equipment may require disassembly and loading piecemeal onto the transport truck. If this is the case for your scissor lift, a step deck will likely be needed. Your shipping company, however, will let you know. This is also why it’s important to have the dimensions of your scissor lift on hand when getting quotes and booking your order: it will ensure your shipper gets you assigned to the right carrier regardless of the size of your equipment.
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Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
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