What counts as oversize / OOG?

Anything that won't fit in LTL / dry van or needs specialized equipment / permits

📐

Over-Height

Loaded height > 13'6" needs specialized trailer and possibly permits

↔️

Over-Width

Width > 8'6" needs wide load permit, may require pilot or escort vehicle

📏

Over-Length

Length > 53' needs stretch trailer or multi-axle equipment

⚖️

Over-Weight

Total weight > 80,000 lbs needs overweight permit and reinforced equipment

Which equipment? Flatbed / Step Deck / Lowboy

Wrong equipment = can't load on site. Confirm before quoting.

🚛

Flatbed

Standard flatbed

Deck height~5'
Deck length48' / 53'
Capacity~48k lbs
Max stacked height~8'6" before over-height

🪜

Step Deck

Drop deck

Upper deck~5'
Lower deck~3'6"
Capacity~48k lbs
Best forSlightly tall loads

⬇️

Lowboy / RGN

Removable Gooseneck

Deck height~2'
Capacity40k - 150k lbs
Max stacked height~11'6"
Best forHeavy machinery, transformers

8 things to prepare before quoting

More info = more accurate quote. Avoids rebill or rejection on site.

L × W × H per piece

Inches or cm, specify units clearly

Weight per piece

lbs or kg — determines equipment capacity

Total piece count

Affects loading and number of trucks

Stackable / tiltable?

Non-stackable / non-tiltable changes equipment choice

Forklift loadable?

Otherwise needs crane / rigging service

Origin / destination ZIP

Drives route and per-state permit requirements

Delivery site conditions

Dock / forklift / appointment / clearance height?

Loaded total height

Cargo height + deck height — over 13'6"?

Real Inquiry · Technical Analysis

One Crusher OOG Shipment: Comparing 5 US Ports on Total Cost

The customer's cone crusher equipment moved in 3 flat-rack containers (1×40FR + 2×20FR) to a stone-processing facility in central Ohio. The RFQ left the port choice open — so instead of comparing only road distance from each port to the destination, we weighed pickup, transload, heavy-lift, empty-return and oversize-permit costs across five candidate ports: Los Angeles, Savannah, New York/New Jersey, Baltimore and Norfolk.

Flat Rack containers

1+2

40FR + 20FR mix

35.7t

40FR total cargo weight

Candidate ports compared

How we analyzed it

The 40FR carries 35.7 metric tons (roughly 78,730 lbs) of cargo. Add container tare weight and chassis, and it likely approaches legal road axle-weight limits — that weight itself is the constraint that should drive the port decision, not an assumption that any port can simply put it on the road.
Rather than comparing the shortest road distance to Ohio, we added port pickup, in-terminal devanning, heavy-lift/rigging, empty-container return, and any oversize-permit needs into one total-cost comparison.
Baltimore and Norfolk both have heavy-lift container capability at the terminal, so they went on the shortlist even though the road distance to Ohio is somewhat longer than from Savannah or Los Angeles — transloading right at the dock can avoid the most expensive leg: moving a 35.7-ton loaded flat rack over the road at all.
The RFQ went out to multiple carriers asking each to quote by port option, rather than assuming one port up front and comparing only on price — that's the only way to see the real total-cost difference between port strategies side by side.

Cargo type, container configuration and weight are drawn from the actual packing list and RFQ, unaltered. The consignee name and exact address have been withheld — only the state is shown. As of publishing, the port ultimately selected and the final freight cost have not been determined — what's shown here is the quoting-stage analysis method, not a specific carrier's actual rate, and no transit time or cost outcome is claimed.

7 most common pitfalls

Only weight, no dimensions — can't pick equipment
Didn't mention non-stackable / non-tiltable
No confirm on delivery-site unloading equipment
Assumed commercial address has dock — not always
Wrong equipment chosen — fails to load
Over-height / width without confirming permit / route
Piece lengths add up to more than the container's deck length — the original load used stacking or a special layout. Ask for the loading diagram before devanning; don't assume pieces unload flat one by one from the packing list alone.

Need a heavy haul quote?

Have dimensions, weight, piece count, ZIPs, and loading conditions ready — we help you pick equipment, file permits, plan routes and arrange last-mile delivery.

Get Heavy Haul Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We arrange drayage from port to a partner warehouse or your designated site, then transload the OOG cargo onto Flatbed/Step Deck/Lowboy for final delivery.

We assist. The carrier typically handles permit application and route survey as part of the quoted price. You provide accurate dimensions, weight and ZIPs — wrong info can cause permits to be rejected.

Heavy haul quotes require human review: equipment matching, per-state permit variation, pilot / escort needs, route height/width restrictions, on-site loading conditions. These can't be auto-calculated and need dispatcher review per shipment.

With complete info, initial quote within 4 business hours. Complex routes (multi-permit, pilot car required, multi-state) may take 1 business day.

Specialized equipment (Flatbed/Step Deck/Lowboy) typically bills per truckload, not LTL. Short routes still have minimum trip charges. Confirmed pricing per quote.

US Heavy Haul & Oversize Freight