August 8, 2025
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Everything You Need to Know About Lowboy Trailers
Vehicles come in all weights, lengths, and widths; consequently, not all vehicles will fit in one trailer type. For that reason, auto transport companies operate trucks and trailers of all sizes.
One of the key trailer players in each auto transport company is lowboy trailers. The lowboy trailers were designed to haul cargo exceeding the legal heights of regular flatbed trailers, such as heavy-duty equipment. However, because owning heavy-duty equipment isn’t very common in the United States, there’s a lack of knowledge regarding lowboy trailers.
So, in this article, we will demonstrate everything regarding lowboy trailers, their types, regulations, and benefits.
An overview of lowboy trailers
A lowboy trailer, also known as a float or low loader, is a semi-trailer with a drop deck. The trailer consists of two height drops, one straight behind the gooseneck and one before the wheels.
A lowboy trailer has great capacity, as it can haul up to 100 tons of cargo; it also accommodates high cargo that reaches 12 feet tall. Because of its great capability, a lowboy trailer is used to transport agriculture equipment, excavation equipment, mining equipment, and construction equipment.
The history of lowboy trailers
The first lowboy trailer was invented in the 1920s; the primitive early model of a lowboy trailer featured a fixed gooseneck that could be hooked to the hauling truck, allowing cargo only to be hauled on a trailer’s back.
However, when the lowboy trailer improved and a gooseneck became detachable and removable in the 1950s, hauling cargo from the front and back of the trailer became possible, facilitating the load and unloading of heavy equipment.
Types of lowboy trailers
Fixed gooseneck lowboy (FGL)
Fixed neck lowboy
Removable gooseneck lowboy (RGL)
This type of trailer is one of the most flexible, as the gooseneck is easily adjustable and detachable. A fixed gooseneck lowboy is steadily attached to the trailer and supports a drop deck, easing the load from the back and front. The gooseneck could be reattached after loading the cargo to ensure the utmost security.
A fixed-neck lowboy provides less flexibility for loading and unloading cargo than the latest. As the name implies, the neck isn’t adjustable; it’s firmly secured. Heavy equipment, as a result, could be rolled in and out of the trailer using load ramps.
This lowboy type is functional if the equipment needs to be driven, rolled, or rolled. In this lowboy’s kind, a gooseneck is either mechanically or hydraulically detachable, allowing height adjustability.
The removable gooseneck is the heaviest hauler among all the three types mentioned above; it hauls up to 150,000 pounds with up to twenty axles.
The cost of transporting a heavy-equipment on a lowboy trailer
The transport quote is calculated by a mile; the common fee is 3$ per mile. The cost per mile increases to 5$ if the distance exceeds 500 miles. In addition, many factors contribute to the transport quote, including the equipment’s dimensions and operability.
The laws and regulations for operating lowboy trailers
Lowboy trailers, even though designed mainly for transporting oversized cargo, must comply with some height and weight restrictions imposed by the Department of Transportation (DOT)
Restrictions, however, differ from one state to another, as interstate lanes don’t have the same dimensions, consequently requiring different procedures.
So, it’s the auto transport company’s responsibility to check the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) websites.
Benefits of lowboy trailers
Stability
Safety
Versatile
Lowboy trailers are designed with a low center of gravity, and that’s attributed to the low ground clearance; there’s a very confined space between the ground and the trailer’s sill. This design guarantees more stability to the cargo than any other trailer type.
Lowboy trailers are specifically designed and used to transport heavy vehicles and equipment. The various lowboy trailers also provide different levels of safety and protection that fit all clients’ preferences and budgets.
The adjustable and versatile design of lowboy trailers has allowed for easily accommodating the biggest loads. Anything within the lowboy trailers’ enormous carrying capacity can be hauled and shipped safely and with the least trouble.
The recommended auto transport company that uses lowboy trailers
Transporting heavy-duty equipment, whether a backhoe, dozer, trencher, etc., is tedious and risky. It also requires the most experienced drivers and well-maintained, sophisticated lowboy trailers.
When transporting heavy-duty equipment, one must consider a reputable, long-experienced auto transport company. Super Auto Transport is an outstanding auto transport company known for eight years for its high-quality services, safety, punctuality, and reasonable quotes.
Super Auto Transport has also earned a badge from Transport Ranking as one of the US’s top five auto transport companies. For any questions or for ordering a cost estimation, the customer service team of Super Auto Transport is ready to answer clients’ inquiries and eliminate their concerns.
The bottom line
Transporting heavy-duty equipment is increasingly risky and requires a high level of expertise and advanced trailers. However, a shipment can go smoothly by hiring the right auto transport company and choosing a suitable lowboy trailer.
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