Heavy duty and rig towing is a professional type of toling that always depends on certain experience, clear understanding of the situation and specific precautions. This article will provide you the general information about the issues arising from heavy duty towing and rig towing and the recommended precautions to be taken in handling such vehicles in the road.
What is Heavy Duty Towing?
It can range from the towing of big and bulky machines like semis, buses, trailers, and even heavy equipment. Heavy duty towing is a process that needs some equipment different from the normal one such as tow trucks with winches, flat beds, and integrated booms.
It is mainly applied for rescue mission, for breakdowns and for the moving of heavy structures.
Common Problems During Heavy Duty and Rig Towing
Here are the problems which can arise:
Weight and Balance
The peak challenge of heavy duty and rig towing is the load and the balance that comes with the tug of the vehicles in question. Loads that are not properly distributed can cause things such as rollovers and jackknifing to occur. This means understanding the weight distribution specially in regards to how the towed vehicle is harness and how balanced it is.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Every heavy duty and rig towing operation has some restrictions by the legal means. To and from operations, towage firms are subjected to limited weights, permits, and rules governing road usage that differ from one state to another. Breaches of these regulations attract severe penalties and fines which companies stand to face.
Best Practices for Safe and Efficient Towing
Here are the best practices for efficient towing:
Proper Equipment Usage
Safe towing need the right equipment for the same. Make sure that the tow truck can tow the car being towed by assessing the tonnage of the truck. Employ good quality chains, straps and hitches and ensure that they undergo periodical exercises with the aim of checking their ability to handle the loads that they are supposed to withstand.
Pre-Tow Inspection
It is mandatory that an assessment of the tow truck as well as the vehicle to be towed is made. Some of the few common regular car maintenance which should be checked include checking tire pressure, brakes, lights and securing mechanisms.
Route Planning
Before transporting oversized and overweighted loads, plan your route based on traffic, bridge clearances, weight and axle restrictions and other possible concerns.
Do not take routes that require sharp turns or steep gradients because such areas are extremely dangerous for heavy loads. Truck GPS and other similar devices can be used to access information regarding restriction in access to some roads in real time.
Conclusion
Rig towing is a high intensity and fulfilling job that is informative of the continuity of the distribution of commodities. Towing professionals, therefore, need to appreciate the difficulties involved and the need to follow the guidelines so that their operations can be safe and efficient.
Any job when properly training, the right tools, and proper plan can increase the risks involved during heavy-duty towing.
