Heavy Equipment Transport in Michigan
Excavators, dozers, loaders and tractors moved across Michigan on the trailer each machine needs, with the state's oversize permits arranged before pickup.
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- PICKUP LOCATION
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- MAKE & MODEL
- WEIGHT (LBS)
- DIMENSIONS
- FULL NAME
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Every carrier is vetted for operating authority and insurance, and we check the certificate before every dispatch, not once a year. USDOT 3411782 · MC 1100274
At a glance
Shipping in Michigan at a glance
The facts that decide how a load moves here. Regulatory figures link to the official page they come from.
- I-69
- I-75
- I-94
- I-96
- I-196
- I-275
- I-696
- Port of Detroit
- Port of Monroe
- Port of Muskegon
How freight moves in Michigan
Freight in Michigan runs on I-69, I-75, I-94, I-96, I-196 and I-275. Ocean and river cargo moves through Port of Detroit, Port of Monroe and Port of Muskegon. The state's economy leans on automotive manufacturing and suppliers, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and food processing and Great Lakes shipping of bulk materials, and that is most of what moves on its roads.
Rules of the road
What shapes a move in Michigan
- When oversize loads can travel
Michigan issues oversize permits for daylight hours only (half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset), Monday through Friday, allows weekend movement of loads up to 10 ft wide, 14 ft high and 90 ft long all day Saturday and until 3 p.m. Sunday, and allows no permitted movement from noon the day before until daylight the day after six major holidays. Source ↗
- Escort vehicles
Michigan requires a rear escort for loads over 12 ft wide and front and rear escorts over 14 ft wide, with one escort for loads 90 to 100 ft long and two over 100 ft. Source ↗
- Seasonal conditions
Spring frost laws: when MDOT imposes seasonal weight restrictions, axle loads on seasonal routes drop by 25 percent on rigid pavement and 35 percent on flexible pavement, vehicles of 10,000 lb or more are held to 35 mph on frost-restricted routes, and no overweight permits or permits for loads over 14 ft wide are issued.
Michigan allows combinations of up to 11 axles to exceed 80,000 lb gross weight when axle-load limits are met, so a load that is legal in Michigan can be overweight in neighboring states.
Rules change. The specialist on your move checks the current ones for your exact route before anything is booked.
Permits by state
If the route leaves Michigan
Every state a load crosses issues its own oversize permit. These are the offices next door, closest first, with their legal limits.
Indiana
Indiana DOR · Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services
Legal height: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Legal width: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Ohio
ODOT · Ohio Department of Transportation, Special Hauling Permits
Legal height: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Legal width: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Wisconsin
WisDOT · Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services
Legal height: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Legal width: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Cities
Heavy Equipment Transport by city in Michigan
These are the busiest pickup points. Any address in Michigan works, including the towns between them.
DetroitWayne County
Detroit connects I-75, I-94 and I-96 to Canada through the bridge and tunnel crossings to Windsor, Ontario, and sits at the center of the regional automotive supply chain.
- I-75
- I-94
- I-96
- I-696
Grand RapidsKent County
Grand Rapids is West Michigan's main freight hub, where I-96, I-196 and US-131 meet.
- I-96
- I-196
- US-131
- M-6
LansingIngham County
Lansing is the state capital and a vehicle assembly center in central Michigan, served by I-496, I-96 and I-69.
- I-496
- I-96
- I-69
- US-127
FlintGenesee County
Flint lies on I-75 and I-69 roughly 65 miles north of Detroit and has a long history in vehicle and parts production.
- I-75
- I-69
- I-475
KalamazooKalamazoo County
Kalamazoo is on I-94 and US-131 in southwest Michigan, on the I-94 corridor between Detroit and Chicago.
- I-94
- US-131
Port HuronSt. Clair County
Port Huron is where I-69 and I-94 end at the Blue Water Bridge to Sarnia, Ontario, a major commercial border crossing.
- I-69
- I-94
Heavy Equipment Transport
Trailers and machines
RGN (removable gooseneck)
The neck detaches so tracked and wheeled machines drive on at deck level.
Lowboy
A deck close to the ground for tall machines that would break the legal height on a flatbed.
Step deck
For loaders, tractors and skid steers that clear the height limit on its lower deck.
Flatbed
For attachments, smaller machines and anything loaded by forklift or crane.
Questions about shipping in Michigan
Who issues oversize permits in Michigan?
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). A load over the legal limits (13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) tall, 8 ft 6 in on designated highways (8 ft on other roads) wide) needs its permit for the exact route, and it is arranged before pickup so the machine does not wait at the yard.
When can an oversize load travel in Michigan?
Michigan issues oversize permits for daylight hours only (half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset), Monday through Friday, allows weekend movement of loads up to 10 ft wide, 14 ft high and 90 ft long all day Saturday and until 3 p.m. Sunday, and allows no permitted movement from noon the day before until daylight the day after six major holidays.
When does Michigan require escort vehicles?
Michigan requires a rear escort for loads over 12 ft wide and front and rear escorts over 14 ft wide, with one escort for loads 90 to 100 ft long and two over 100 ft.
Are there seasonal restrictions in Michigan?
Spring frost laws: when MDOT imposes seasonal weight restrictions, axle loads on seasonal routes drop by 25 percent on rigid pavement and 35 percent on flexible pavement, vehicles of 10,000 lb or more are held to 35 mph on frost-restricted routes, and no overweight permits or permits for loads over 14 ft wide are issued. Michigan allows combinations of up to 11 axles to exceed 80,000 lb gross weight when axle-load limits are met, so a load that is legal in Michigan can be overweight in neighboring states.
Which trailer does my machine need?
The machine decides: its weight, height, width and whether it drives on. Tracked machines usually ride an RGN or a lowboy, loaders and tractors a step deck, attachments a flatbed. With the make, model and dimensions we tell you which before we quote.
How fast do you reply to a quote request?
In under 10 minutes during business hours, by text or phone for a move inside the U.S., and on WhatsApp for one going to Mexico.
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Our logistics specialists are standing by. We reply in under 10 minutes.
Every carrier is vetted for operating authority and insurance, and we check the certificate before every dispatch, not once a year. USDOT 3411782 · MC 1100274