Heavy Haul for Defense & Military Equipment

Defense and Military Heavy Haul Transport Overview

The U.S. Department of Defense moves enormous quantities of heavy equipment every year — between military installations, to and from training exercises, between maintenance depots and units, and from manufacturers to military customers. Much of this equipment is too heavy, too wide, or too long for standard highway transport, placing it firmly in the category of oversize or overweight freight that requires permits, specialized trailers, and experienced carriers.

Civilian heavy haul carriers play a significant role in military equipment transport, particularly for non-classified equipment moving between CONUS (Continental United States) locations. While the military has its own organic transport assets — flatracks, heavy equipment transporters, and rail — civilian carriers handle a substantial portion of domestic ground transport for equipment that does not require classified handling or specialized military transport coordination.

R&RM LLC — based in Cumming, Georgia — has been moving oversize and overweight equipment across all 48 continental states since 2011. This guide covers the types of military and defense-related equipment that civilian carriers transport, the permitting and logistics process, and the considerations that differ from standard commercial heavy haul.

Types of Military Equipment Transported by Civilian Carriers

Wheeled Armored Vehicles

Wheeled armored vehicles are among the most common military heavy haul loads moved by civilian carriers. Vehicles such as the MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected), HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle), and the Stryker infantry carrier vehicle move frequently between installations, maintenance depots, and training sites.

Key transport characteristics for wheeled armored vehicles:

• MRAPs typically weigh 25,000–40,000 pounds depending on variant, placing them in the overweight category for standard highway transport when multiple vehicles are loaded on a trailer
• Stryker vehicles weigh approximately 38,000 pounds and are 8 feet 11 inches wide, making them oversize in width on most trailers
• Armored vehicle dimensions often require oversize load permits even when a single vehicle is transported
• Some variants have ground clearance limitations that require specific trailer types or blocking configurations for loading
• Trailer selection matters: RGN trailers allow drive-on loading for self-propelled vehicles, while damaged or non-running vehicles may need to be craned onto flatbeds

Tracked Military Vehicles

Tracked vehicles — including the M1 Abrams main battle tank, M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, M88 recovery vehicle, and various engineering equipment — present the most demanding heavy haul requirements in the military transport category. The M1 Abrams, at roughly 130,000 to 150,000 pounds depending on variant, is a superload that requires bridge analyses, specialized multi-axle trailers, and extensive permitting.

Civilian carriers who transport tracked military vehicles must be equipped with trailers rated for the gross vehicle weight of the combination, which for an M1 Abrams load can reach 300,000 pounds or more. These hauls require:

• Superload permits from every state on the route, with full bridge analyses performed by state DOT engineers
• Specialized lowboy or hydraulic platform trailers with adequate axle count to distribute the load within per-axle weight limits
• Route surveys to confirm clearances, road conditions, and bridge ratings along the specific permitted route
• Pilot car escorts — typically front and rear — and in some cases law enforcement escorts through urban areas
• Travel window compliance: superloads are often restricted to daylight hours on weekdays, with additional restrictions through urban corridors

For lighter tracked vehicles such as the M2 Bradley (approximately 67,000 pounds), the M113 armored personnel carrier, and various engineering vehicles, RGN trailers with standard oversize permits are often sufficient, making these loads more straightforward to execute.

Military Generators and Power Systems

The military depends heavily on mobile power generation, and military-grade generators are heavy, wide, and frequently moved. Tactical quiet generators (TQG), high-capacity military generator sets, and mobile power unit (MPU) systems range from trailer-mounted units that weigh a few thousand pounds to large fixed-installation generators weighing 80,000 pounds or more.

Military generators used at bases, training sites, and contingency locations are typically transported in several configurations:

• Trailer-mounted TQG sets are self-contained and can be towed if properly permitted; some exceed 8 feet 6 inches in width, requiring oversize permits
• Fixed generator sets and switchgear must be lifted onto flatbed or lowboy trailers for transport — proper lifting points and securing procedures are critical for these units
• Expeditionary power system (EPS) containers are ISO-format units that can be transported on standard container trailers when weight permits
• Large base power systems may require multi-axle heavy haul trailers due to weight

Radar and Communications Systems

Mobile radar systems, communications shelters, and electronic warfare systems are a regular part of military heavy haul. These systems range from Humvee-mounted units that can be transported on standard trailers to large ground-based radar arrays that require specialized heavy haul logistics.

Radar and electronic systems present several transport-specific considerations beyond weight and dimensions:

• Sensitive electronic components may require controlled temperature and vibration conditions during transport; some units specify speed restrictions or road surface requirements
• Antenna masts and radar arrays are often in stowed configuration for transport but still contribute to height and width that may trigger oversize permits
• Communications shelters on wheeled vehicles are frequently transported as cargo on RGN or flatbed trailers, with the shelter secured by its standard military tie-down provisions

Military Engineering and Construction Equipment

Military engineering units operate heavy construction equipment — graders, excavators, backhoes, bulldozers, compactors, and cranes — that is functionally similar to commercial equipment but in military paint and often with specific configuration differences. This equipment moves frequently between bases, training ranges, and operational areas, and civilian heavy haul carriers transport much of it.

Military engineering equipment transport closely mirrors commercial construction equipment hauling in terms of loading, securing, and permitting requirements. The main differences are destination access (military installation gates require carrier coordination) and occasional equipment configuration specifics (military variants may have unique tie-down provisions or blocking requirements).

Helicopter Airframes and Aerospace Ground Support Equipment

Helicopter airframes — rotors removed, tail boom folded if the aircraft allows — are moved by civilian heavy haul carriers between maintenance depots, air bases, and manufacturers. A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in transport configuration is approximately 50 feet long and weighs around 22,000 pounds, making it a manageable RGN load. Larger aircraft like the CH-47 Chinook, at approximately 99 feet long (with folded rotor) and 24,000 pounds, may require specialized aircraft transport trailers.

Aerospace ground support equipment — aircraft tow tractors, hydraulic lift units, and maintenance stands — is transported as standard heavy haul cargo when individual units exceed highway weight or dimension limits.

Permitting for Military Equipment Transport

From a permitting standpoint, military equipment transport follows the same rules as any other oversize or overweight haul. A civilian carrier transporting military equipment must obtain permits from all states on the route. The equipment being military property does not change the permitting requirement — civilian carriers on public roads must comply with state and federal oversize and overweight regulations regardless of what they are carrying.

Our permit services team handles all state permit applications for military and defense-related equipment hauls. For loads involving military installations as origin or destination, we coordinate with installation transportation offices (ITO) on gate access procedures and any base-specific requirements that affect departure or arrival logistics.

State DOT Contacts for Military Corridor Routes

Military equipment hauls frequently travel the same corridors — from major defense manufacturing regions (Huntsville, Alabama; San Antonio, Texas; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia) to large military installations. Relevant state permit authorities for these corridors include:

• Georgia Department of Transportation — Permits Unit (serving Fort Stewart, Fort Moore, Robins AFB, Dobbins ARB)
• North Carolina DOT — Permit Section (serving Fort Liberty, Camp Lejeune, Seymour Johnson AFB, Pope AAF)
• Virginia DOT — Oversize/Overweight Permits (serving Fort Gregg-Adams, Fort Belvoir, Quantico, Langley AFB)
• Texas DOT — Oversize/Overweight Program (serving Fort Cavazos, Fort Sam Houston, Fort Bliss, Dyess AFB)
• Alabama DOT — Permit Section (serving Redstone Arsenal, Maxwell AFB, Fort Novosel)
• South Carolina DOT — Permits Office (serving Fort Jackson, Shaw AFB, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort)
• Kansas DOT — Permit Office (serving Fort Riley, McConnell AFB)
• Colorado DOT — Permit Section (serving Fort Carson, Peterson SFB, Buckley SFB, Schriever SFB)

Military Installation Access: What Carriers Need to Know

Transporting to or from a military installation requires coordination that commercial deliveries do not. Military installations are controlled access facilities — not every carrier and driver can simply drive up to a gate and make a delivery. Carriers hauling to military installations should be prepared for:

Gate Access and Vehicle Registration

• Advance coordination with the installation transportation officer (ITO) or logistics office — typically 24–72 hours before arrival for routine deliveries
• Carrier vehicle registration on the installation visitor management system (Common Access Card readers are standard at most large installations)
• Driver identification — a valid state ID or driver's license is the minimum; some installations require additional verification for commercial carriers
• Oversize load escort on installation: many military bases require that oversize or overweight loads be escorted by installation personnel from the gate to the delivery point; civilian pilot cars typically cannot enter

Scheduling and Coordination

• Confirm delivery appointment with the receiving unit or depot before dispatching the load — a truck with no scheduled appointment may be turned away at the gate
• Identify the specific gate to use — large installations have multiple gates, and only certain gates may be authorized for commercial vehicles or oversize loads
• Account for potential gate delays in scheduling — security processing at military installations can add 30–60 minutes to transit time even for pre-registered carriers
• Confirm that unloading equipment is available on site — not all military facilities maintain forklifts or cranes at every location; some require advance arrangements for unloading heavy cargo

Defense Contractor and OEM Transport

Beyond moving military government property, the defense heavy haul sector includes transport for defense contractors and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who build, maintain, or modify military equipment. This includes:

• Moving prototype or production vehicles from manufacturer facilities to government test ranges or acceptance locations
• Transporting vehicles or systems to depot-level maintenance facilities operated by contractors
• Moving training system components — simulators, target systems, instrumented vehicles — between contractor facilities and military ranges
• Delivering major systems components from subcontractors to prime contractors for final assembly

These moves follow the same oversize permitting and heavy haul logistics as any other civilian industrial shipment. They do not require special DOD coordination because the equipment is in contractor custody, but they may be subject to export control or transport security requirements depending on the technology involved.

How R&RM LLC Supports Defense-Related Heavy Haul

R&RM LLC — headquartered in Cumming, Georgia, within a few hours of several major military installations including Fort Moore, Fort Stewart, and Robins Air Force Base — has been hauling oversized industrial and government equipment since 2011. We understand the permit process, the installation access coordination requirements, and the specialized trailer needs that defense-related heavy haul demands.

We transport wheeled military vehicles, government generators, construction and engineering equipment, and aerospace ground support equipment for defense contractors, military surplus handlers, depot operators, and government logistics contractors. Our permit team handles all state applications; our drivers are experienced with the installation delivery process.

To discuss a military or defense-related heavy haul requirement, call us at (404) 987-6225 or submit your load details through our quote form.

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