What Is Heavy Haul Trucking? A Beginner’s Guide for Ontario Businesses

If you’re in construction, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, or infrastructure development, chances are you’ll eventually need to move something that’s just too big for a standard truck. That’s where heavy haul trucking comes in.

But what exactly does “heavy haul” mean? And what do Ontario businesses need to know before transporting oversized equipment?

At DFS Projects, we help businesses across Southern Ontario move large, heavy, and high-value cargo safely and legally. This beginner’s guide will walk you through:

  • What defines a heavy haul

  • Why it matters

  • What’s involved in the process

  • And how DFS Projects handles it all for you

What Is Heavy Haul Trucking?

Heavy haul trucking refers to the transport of loads that exceed standard legal limits for size and/or weight on public roads.

In Ontario, these limits are set by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). If your load goes beyond these thresholds, it’s considered an oversize and/or overweight shipment — and heavy haul procedures apply.

Legal Load Limits in Ontario (Without a Permit)

To understand what qualifies as heavy haul, here are the basic legal limits for commercial transport in Ontario:

Dimension Legal Limit (Approx.)
Width 2.6 metres (8 ft 6 in)
Height 4.15 metres (13 ft 6 in)
Length 23 metres (75 ft) total
Weight 63,500 kg (140,000 lbs)*

*Varies based on axle configuration

If your load exceeds any of these, you’re in heavy haul territory.

What Types of Loads Require Heavy Haul Trucking?

Common heavy haul loads include:

  • Construction equipment (excavators, cranes, graders)

  • Industrial machinery (presses, compressors, generators)

  • Wind turbine components

  • Transformers and power systems

  • Mining and aggregate equipment

  • Agricultural machinery (combines, sprayers)

  • Modular buildings or large steel components

These are not just big — they’re often tall, wide, or extremely heavy, and require special permits, trailers, and planning.

What’s Involved in a Heavy Haul Job?

Moving heavy freight isn’t as simple as calling a truck. Here’s what a proper heavy haul trucking process includes:

1. Site & Cargo Assessment

We assess your equipment dimensions, weight, pickup/drop-off access, and securement needs.

2. Trailer Selection

Depending on the load, we may use:

  • Lowboys / Double Drops

  • Step Decks

  • Flatbeds

  • Multi-axle or extendable trailers

3. Permit Acquisition

DFS Projects handles all required oversize/overweight permits with the MTO and any municipalities along the route.

4. Route Planning

We identify safe and compliant roads, avoiding low bridges, sharp turns, or load-restricted zones.

5. Escort Vehicle Coordination

For loads that exceed specific thresholds (e.g. 3.7m wide), escort/pilot vehicles are required — we arrange these too.

6. Transport Execution

Your load is moved by skilled Ontario truck drivers using proper securement and communication protocols.

Real Example: Heavy Haul from Hamilton to London

A construction company in Hamilton needed to move a 65,000 lb paver to a project in London, Ontario. The load exceeded legal weight and width limits.

DFS Projects:

  • Supplied a multi-axle lowboy trailer

  • Acquired an oversize/overweight permit from the MTO

  • Coordinated an escort vehicle through Brant County

  • Planned the safest route with proper bridge clearances

  • Delivered the equipment on time, with zero disruptions

That’s the power of experience + compliance.

What Happens If You Skip the Heavy Haul Process?

Attempting to move an oversize load without proper planning or permitting can result in:

  • Fines and penalties

  • Insurance voids

  • Load damage

  • Traffic accidents

  • Project delays

It’s not worth the risk. Partnering with an experienced company like DFS Projects ensures peace of mind and legal compliance.

Who Needs Heavy Haul Trucking in Ontario?

Heavy haul trucking is essential for businesses that:

  • Use large or specialized machinery

  • Relocate construction or industrial equipment

  • Operate across multiple sites or provinces

  • Need cross-border transport into the U.S. or Mexico

  • Are bidding on infrastructure or government contracts

If your operations rely on big, heavy, or unique equipment, DFS Projects is your go-to partner for logistics.

Cross-Border Heavy Haul? No Problem.

We don’t just move heavy loads across Southern Ontario. DFS Projects also provides cross-border heavy haul services to:

  • The United States (Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and more)

  • Mexico (via bonded shipments and customs coordination)

We handle customs paperwork, permits, and route compliance across jurisdictions.

Why Choose DFS Projects for Heavy Haul Trucking?

  • Decades of experience across Ontario and North America

  • MTO permit and compliance management

  • Local knowledge of road restrictions and bridge clearances

  • Modern fleet of heavy haul trailers

  • Professional, insured Ontario truck drivers

  • Transparent quoting and reliable timelines

From Toronto to Windsor, Niagara to Barrie, DFS Projects keeps your operation moving.

Need to move heavy equipment or machinery in Ontario? Let’s talk.

DFS Projects handles the complexity so you can focus on the job ahead.

Request a free heavy haul consultation today.