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Have you always wanted to become a member of the Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) heavy haul fleet? Have you been admiring the huge loads the drivers on our fleet pull and you’re wondering how you can do the same?
This guide is going to tell you exactly how to do that.
I’m the operations manager for heavy haul here at ATS. I interview drivers on our fleet who are interested in moving up into the heavy haul division.
In this article, I’ll break down:
- Qualifying for heavy haul
- Interviewing for heavy haul
- Testing into heavy haul
- Your first steps in heavy haul
- Moving through heavy haul
- Multi-axle qualifications
Qualifying for Heavy Haul at ATS
If you’re signing on with ATS in our specialized division, you need to work your way up to Class 1 first before you can qualify for heavy haul. You can do that by working with your driver manager (DM) to advance through classes in specialized.
Each class requires you to haul a specified number of oversized loads and the freight gets progressively larger with each class. Advancing requires refining your skill set — especially when it comes to oversized load permits, escorts, and trip and curfew planning. It’s also important to keep a clean safety record, add endorsements to your commercial driver’s license (CDL), and show loyalty and longevity.
If you want to move to heavy haul, you need to articulate your desire to your DM — preferably early on in your tenure at ATS. They will help set you up on a plan that helps you achieve your goals.
Once you’ve reached Class 1, you may choose to progress into the wind blades division and become a Class 1A driver. You could also move straight from Class 1 to the heavy haul division if you’re qualified and meet the required criteria; you don’t have to haul blades before moving to heavy haul.
Interviewing to Get into the Heavy Haul Division
Once you’re a Class 1 driver and express your interest in hauling heavy haul freight, you’ll interview with the heavy haul operations manager. By the time you get to this point, your driver manager should have confidence in you and your ability to succeed in the heavy haul division.
During the course of the interview, you’ll discuss:
- Oversize experience
- Your driver record
- Your service record
- Your safety record
- Your home time preferences
- Your career goals
There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding if moving into the heavy haul division is right for you. Drivers need to be the right fit. Heavy haul isn’t just about earning more money. Heavy haul is a challenge as much as it is rewarding, and we want drivers looking for that challenge!
We’re looking for safe, dedicated, determined drivers who are willing to stay out on the road for upwards of four to eight weeks at a time depending on where you live. Heavy haul is a huge career change. Not only do you have to like a challenge, you have to thrive in an intense environment.
Being on time is absolutely critical. If you’re not on time, you can delay the entire project. For example, you may be hauling a key piece of machinery that fits into a larger project. Without that machine, the rest of the project can’t continue. Delays cost a lot of money, so we can’t take risks on drivers who have a lot of service failures.
Heavy haul isn’t a turn-and-burn type of job. You’ll never be hauling legal freight and you might only haul one load per week, rather than the normal two to three in specialized. The role requires patience. Downtime is part of the job.
If you don’t meet the heavy haul criteria and there are concerns, you’ll need to spend more time in the specialized division before moving into heavy haul.
If, on the other hand, you’re right for heavy haul, you’ll get placed on the schedule to begin the transfer. We have a list of drivers waiting to get into the heavy haul division, so you’ll be placed on that list until we have availability. Remember, patience!
When a spot becomes available, you’ll get put into a heavy haul truck. As a company driver, that means you’ll get put into a truck when it becomes available. If you’re an independent contractor, you’ll be given a truck option and it’s up to you to decide if you want to make that down payment and weekly payments. If not, you’ll have to wait for another truck to become available.
Once a truck is available, we’ll get you routed to corporate headquarters in St. Cloud, Minnesota for training.
Testing into Heavy Haul
Once there’s space for you to move into heavy haul, there are multiple tests and classroom training that you will need to take and pass. These include a written test that has both open-ended and multiple-choice questions on topics like permitting, routing, trip planning, and securement rules. You’ll need to pass to be dispatched on your first load.
If you don’t pass the test, we’ll discuss our concerns and come up with a plan for things to work on before you test again. In the meantime, you’ll continue to haul specialized, not heavy haul, loads.
If you do pass, you’ll get into your four-axle truck and go through heavy haul expectations with your heavy haul driver manager.
Your First Steps in Heavy Haul
When you transfer to heavy haul you start out as a seven-axle driver — meaning you’ll be hauling a three-axle trailer or a 3+1 trailer. You'll be hauling oversized loads up to 15 feet by 6 inches wide, 14 feet by 11 inches tall, 120 feet long, and up to 80,000 pounds.
Moving Between Heavy Haul Classes
You can think of heavy haul as broken into three separate classes, as outlined below:
- Drivers Qualified to Haul our three-axle and 3+1 Trailers
- Drivers Qualified to Haul our Jeep-Trailer-Stinger Combination Trailers
- Drivers Qualified to haul our Schnabel Trailers
It’s perfectly fine to stay as a seven-axle driver, but drivers can advance up to haul our multi-axle trailers or towers on our Schnabel trailers. In each class, the freight gets larger and heavier and the trailers more complex. It’s a lot more work both physically and mentally, so it’s something you have to be ready for.
You also don’t have to advance through the classes. If you’re comfortable hauling seven-axle trailers all the time, that’s fine. Don’t push yourself so far outside your comfort zone that you’re intimidated and overly stressed by your job each day.
To move up a class, you have to haul a specified number of loads and spend a specific amount of time in that freight class with no issues. Every time you move up, it’ll be a conversation between your DM and the heavy haul operations manager to determine if you’re ready to advance.
If there are any concerns or issues, your DM will keep you at your current freight class to help you improve on a particular skill or aspect of the job. Once you’ve improved, together you’ll revisit the conversation.
If you’re excelling, you’ll move into the next freight class.
It typically takes a year or two to move from seven-axles up to multi-axles. It’s a long process that requires patience and persistence. You should get as much experience as you can in these classes to prepare for multi-axle class. Your DM will help you along the way by giving you large loads with expandable or stretch trailers, stingers, and other trailer combinations.
Multi-axle and Beyond
When moving from seven-axle to multi-axle and beyond, you’ll have to jump through a few more hoops. You have to have the doubles and triples endorsement on your CDL, take and pass classes, haul multiple multi-axle loads, and remain claim-free.
Multi-axle requires different trailer setups and dimensions. You’ll need to haul larger trailers with more axles, such as a three-axle trailer, two- or three-axle jeep, and two- or three-axle stinger. You’ll be moving from hauling three to nine axles on a trailer. This requires you to learn how to navigate complex turns, understand and navigate complicated permits, and trip plan meticulously. You’ll also have to work with a lot more people, including pilot cars.
Skills you learn in multi-axle class include loading, trailer operations, and maintaining a clean record.
Once you move through multi-axle, you can talk to your DM about moving to Schnabel by taking the Schnabel class. If you’re still progressing you would go through our Schnabel class to become qualified to pull steerable Schnabel trailers and/or perimeter trailers.
Join the ATS Heavy Haul Team
Becoming a heavy haul driver with ATS is a journey that requires commitment, skill, and a willingness to take on new challenges. If you've always dreamed of handling the biggest, most complex loads on the road, the heavy haul division might be the perfect fit for you.
The path to heavy haul isn't easy — it involves advancing through various classes, refining your skills, and demonstrating a strong safety record. But for those who are dedicated and eager to push their limits, the rewards are well worth the effort. You’ll have the chance to work on significant projects, manage specialized loads, and play a critical role in our customers’ success.
Remember, heavy haul isn’t just a job — it’s a career choice that demands patience, persistence, and a love for challenges. Whether you’re aiming to stay as a seven-axle driver or have ambitions to climb all the way to hauling towers, your journey will be filled with opportunities for growth and development. Take your time, stay focused, and make the most of every step along the way.
If you're ready to take on this challenge and become part of an elite group of drivers at ATS, start by talking to your DM and setting your plan in motion. Your next big move could be just around the corner — are you ready to make it?
If you already have heavy haul experience and want to join the ATS team, you can fill out an application here.