Low Loader Hire in Manchester

Road Haulage Manchester offers Low Loader Hire and other solutions to those in Manchester and the surrounding areas.

• Versatile
• Precise
• Dependable

Low Loader Hire in Manchester

When you hire a low loader from us, you get the trailer, the tractor unit and a driver who does this work every day. We do not offer self-drive hire. That means you are not left working out deck heights, ramp angles or chain positions on the morning of the move: our driver handles the loading, the securing and the journey, and you get on with the job at either end. We provide low loader hire in Manchester for plant hire firms, groundworkers, demolition contractors, engineering companies and farms across Greater Manchester and the North West.

Every low loader movement on a public road runs under a goods vehicle operator licence, and loads beyond standard limits need notifications sent before the wheels turn. The operator licensing rules set out what a haulier must have in place. We take care of the paperwork side so that the only thing you need to give us is accurate information about the load.

What comes with low loader hire

A low loader booking with us is a complete transport job rather than a bare vehicle rental. Each hire includes:

• A tractor unit and low loader trailer matched to your load's height, weight and length
• A driver who loads, secures and carries the load to your delivery point
• A route check for low bridges, weight limits and tight junctions before the day
• Movement notifications to police and highway authorities when the load needs them
• Chains, binders and timber packing appropriate to the item being carried

You tell us what is going on the trailer and where it needs to be. We tell you what vehicle combination we will send and what time it will arrive.

Plant and machinery that suits a low loader

A low loader earns its place whenever a standard flatbed would put the load too high or make loading awkward. Around Manchester, the jobs that come up most often include:

• Tracked excavators and mini diggers moving between construction sites
• Piling rigs and drilling rigs for groundworks contracts
• Telehandlers, dumpers, rollers and dozers
• Access platforms and cherry pickers that are too tall for a beavertail
• Agricultural tractors and harvesting kit
• Tall industrial machines that need a low deck to stay within bridge heights

Not every machine needs a low loader. If yours sits comfortably within normal height and weight on a flatbed, our plant and machinery haulage may be a better fit and a lower cost. We will tell you which one makes sense once we know the dimensions.

Choosing the right trailer

Low loaders come in a few forms. A step-frame trailer has a raised neck and a lower main deck, which suits most plant. A low bed sits lower again for very tall items. An extendable trailer opens up for long loads such as beams or boom sections. Some machines can drive straight up the ramps, while others need lifting on. We pick the combination after we have the measurements, not before, because sending the wrong trailer costs you a wasted morning.

When a low loader job becomes an abnormal load

Height is only one part of the picture. If the load is wider than 3 metres or pushes the gross weight past the normal 44 tonne limit, the movement falls under special rules with notice periods and, in some cases, an escort. Our abnormal and wide load transport in Manchester covers those movements in full. For loads where weight is the main issue, our heavy haulage team plans the axle spread and the route around bridge limits.

Areas covered

We supply low loaders with drivers across Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Wigan, Trafford and Tameside, and out across the North West. Plenty of our low loader work also runs from Greater Manchester to sites elsewhere in the UK, and back again when a machine comes off hire.

Why hire your low loader from us

Moving plant is often the job that holds everything else up. A late or wrong vehicle can leave a gang standing around and a machine sitting idle. We plan to avoid that.

• Driver included on every hire, with no self-drive arrangements
• Trailer chosen from your load's actual dimensions
• Route checked for bridges and restrictions before the day
• Notifications handled when the load needs them
• One point of contact from quote to delivery

If you are moving machines between factory units rather than plant between sites, our machinery movers in Manchester are set up for that kind of work.

Frequently asked questions

Can I hire a low loader without a driver?

No. All of our low loader hire comes with one of our drivers. It keeps the loading, securing and licence side with people who do it every day, and it means you do not need an operator licence or the right driving entitlement yourself.

What details do you need for a quote?

The make and model of the machine if it has one, its weight, height, width and length, the collection and delivery addresses, the date you need it moved and anything awkward about access at either end. Photos help.

Is there a maximum height for a low loader load?

The UK has no single legal height limit for lorries, but plenty of bridges sit below 5 metres. That is why we check the route against your load's total travelling height before we confirm the booking.

Can my machine drive onto the trailer?

Most tracked and wheeled plant can, using the trailer ramps. We check ground clearance and the approach angle first. Machines that cannot drive on need lifting, and we will tell you what that involves.

How far ahead should I book?

For loads within normal limits, a few days is usually fine, subject to availability. Loads that need police or highway authority notice need at least two clear working days on top of that, so book as soon as your dates are firm.

Book low loader hire in Manchester

Send us the machine details, both addresses and your date, and we will come back with the vehicle we would use and a price. Call us or use the contact form.