Conveyor System Hauling Services
Conveyor systems are the backbone of aggregate production, mining operations, grain handling, port logistics, and industrial material flow. When a portable conveyor or radial stacker needs to move between quarry sites, or when a contractor ships an overland conveyor system to a new mine, the challenge is always the same: conveyor frames are long, often wide, and structurally sensitive in ways that require a driver who understands how to secure and transport them without bending the frame or damaging the belt and idler assemblies.
R&RM LLC — based in Cumming, Georgia and operating since 2011 — hauls conveyor systems of all types across all 48 continental states. Whether you need a single portable stacker moved 200 miles to a new job site or a multi-section overland conveyor shipped across the country for a greenfield mine installation, we handle the permit process, select the right trailer, and deliver on schedule.
Types of Conveyors We Transport
Portable Radial Stacking Conveyors
Radial stackers are the most commonly transported conveyor type in the aggregate industry. These wheeled conveyors — typically 60 to 120 feet in transport length — are designed to move between quarry pits and stockpile areas, but their length and width in folded transport configuration can exceed legal highway limits in several states. Common radial stacker transport dimensions:
- Transport length: 60 to 125 feet — typically requiring an overlength permit when not folded short enough for a standard 53-foot trailer
- Transport width: 10 to 14 feet — units that are 10 feet 1 inch or wider require overwidth permits in all states
- Transport height: Most radial stackers transport under 13 feet 6 inches without special blocking, but some wheel assemblies and hopper frames add height that requires height surveying on the route
- Weight: Smaller portable stackers weigh 30,000 to 60,000 pounds; large-capacity units can reach 80,000 to 100,000 pounds and require multi-axle trailer configurations
We transport radial stackers from Superior Industries, Telestack, McCloskey, Westpro, Masaba, and all other major aggregate equipment manufacturers.
Portable Impactor and Jaw Plant Feed Conveyors
Portable crushing and screening plants — including the jaw crushers, cone crushers, and impact crushers widely used in quarry and recycling operations — often include integral feed conveyors and discharge conveyors that are removed from the plant chassis for transport to reduce height and width. These individual conveyor sections range from 20 to 60 feet in length and may require flatbed transport with overwidth permits when the belt width and structural members place the total transport width beyond 8 feet 6 inches.
For complete aggregate and quarry equipment transport including crushers, screens, and their associated conveyors, R&RM LLC coordinates all components as a single project when you have multiple loads moving to the same site.
Overland Belt Conveyors
Fixed overland belt conveyors — used in coal mining, oil sands operations, potash mines, aggregate quarries, and port facilities — are typically delivered in sections of 40 to 80 feet per steel truss frame span. When a new mine or quarry is commissioned, the conveyor sections are manufactured at a fabrication facility and transported to the site by flatbed or RGN trailer for field assembly. Individual conveyor sections in this category present some of the most challenging heavy haul moves because of their combination of extreme length and structural sensitivity:
- Truss sections are engineered to carry distributed loads in service, but can be vulnerable to point loading during transport if improperly blocked and cradled
- Belt conveyor drives — motor-reducer-pulley assemblies mounted on structural steel frames — can be 10 to 14 feet wide, requiring overwidth permits and often pilot cars
- Head frames and tripper cars for large overland conveyors can weigh 40,000 to 150,000 pounds per assembly, requiring RGN or multi-axle lowboy trailer configurations
- Return idler frames and belt support structure for wide-belt conveyors (72-inch to 120-inch belt width) are wider than standard flatbed legal width and require permits through every state on the route
Mining Feeder and Silo Discharge Conveyors
Underground and surface mining operations use heavy-duty belt feeders to transfer ore from stockpile and silo discharge points to the processing plant feed system. These units are typically short in length but extremely heavy — a large vibrating grizzly feeder or apron feeder frame can weigh 60,000 to 200,000 pounds and require specialized multi-axle lowboy transport with superload permits in states where the weight exceeds standard permit thresholds. See our mining equipment transport page for additional guidance on moving processing plant components including feeders, mills, and screens.
Grain and Agricultural Conveying Equipment
Grain handling conveyors — portable grain augers, grain belt conveyors, and commercial grain elevator leg equipment — are a common transport request in the Midwest and Great Plains states. Portable grain augers up to 100 feet in length require overlength permits in most states, and commercial belt conveyors from grain elevator expansions can present the same overwidth challenges as aggregate conveyor sections. We handle farm and agricultural equipment transport including grain conveyors and all associated material handling equipment.
Industrial and Warehouse Conveyor Systems
Manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and industrial plants periodically relocate large conveyor systems when facilities move, expand, or change operations. Heavy-duty industrial conveyors — including roller conveyors, chain conveyors, power-and-free systems, and overhead monorail sections — can be lengthy and heavy enough to require oversize permits when transported as complete sections on flatbed trailers. R&RM LLC coordinates industrial equipment transport for plant relocations, including multi-load coordination when an entire conveyor line moves simultaneously.
Conveyor Transport Trailers
Extendable Flatbed Trailers
The extendable flatbed — a standard 48-foot flatbed with a telescoping rear section that can extend to 80 feet — is the most commonly used trailer for portable radial stackers and overland conveyor sections. By extending the deck, the trailer can support the conveyor frame at multiple points along its length without requiring the load to cantilever unsafely beyond the trailer deck ends. For conveyors in the 60-to-80-foot range, the extendable flatbed is usually the most cost-effective trailer option.
RGN (Removable Gooseneck) Trailers
RGN trailers are used for conveyor components that are too low-profile to drive up a ramp but need a deck height that is lower than a standard flatbed — typically components that are tall when loaded and would exceed height limits on a higher-deck trailer. The removable gooseneck allows the trailer to be positioned under the load using a crane, and the gooseneck reattached after loading. Large conveyor drive units, head pulley frames, and heavy transfer tower components are commonly transported on RGN trailers. See our RGN hauling services for details on how the RGN loading process works.
Multi-Axle Lowboy Trailers
When conveyor components exceed 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, a multi-axle lowboy or drop-deck trailer configuration is required to spread the weight across enough axles to comply with bridge formula requirements and state permit axle weight limits. Large crusher feed conveyor frames, heavy belt drive assemblies, and conveyor tripper cars weighing 100,000 to 200,000 pounds are typically transported on 13-axle or heavier configurations.
Permit Requirements for Conveyor Transport
The permit requirements for conveyor system transport vary significantly by conveyor type and size:
- Overlength permits: Required when the load — including the trailer — exceeds 53 feet (most states) or 65 feet (some states). A 100-foot radial stacker on an extendable flatbed will typically trigger overlength permits in all states on the route.
- Overwidth permits: Required when the load exceeds 8 feet 6 inches wide. Most belt conveyor structural sections exceed this threshold. Many states require pilot car escorts once load width exceeds 12 feet.
- Overheight permits: Required when the combination of trailer deck height and load height exceeds 13 feet 6 inches. Most conveyor sections transport well within height limits, but unusually tall drive assemblies or conveyor structures may require height surveying.
- Overweight permits: Required when the gross vehicle weight exceeds 80,000 pounds. Heavy conveyor assemblies, large feeders, and crusher-mounted conveyor sections often require weight permits in addition to oversize permits.
Our permit services team handles all oversize and overweight permit applications for conveyor moves, coordinating permits across every state on the route so you receive a single point of contact for the entire move.
Conveyor Transport Considerations
Frame Blocking and Load Distribution
Conveyor frames are engineered to carry their rated belt load in service — typically a uniformly distributed load along the length of the truss. During transport, the frame is supported only at the truck and trailer contact points, which are discrete locations rather than a continuous support surface. Improper blocking that concentrates the conveyor's dead weight on a small number of points can cause permanent frame distortion, particularly in long truss sections with high span-to-depth ratios. Experienced heavy haul drivers with conveyor transport experience know how to distribute blocking to avoid overstressing the unsupported spans.
Belt and Idler Protection
Belt conveyors transported with the belt installed must be blocked to prevent the belt from sagging and contacting the trailer deck or dragging on the ground. Return idlers — the unpowered rollers on the underside of the belt — are particularly vulnerable to damage if the belt sags onto obstructions during transport. Some operators remove the belt before transport and ship it separately on a reel; others use blocking and tensioning to maintain belt position during the move. We work with your site crew to determine the appropriate belt transport approach for each specific conveyor.
Site Access and Delivery
Quarry and mine sites present some of the most challenging delivery conditions in the heavy haul industry. Unpaved access roads, weight-restricted bridges on the approach, tight turning radius restrictions, and variable site grade all affect the trailer configuration and approach path. We assess site access conditions as part of the pre-move planning process to avoid surprises at the delivery end of the haul.
Get a Conveyor Transport Quote
For an accurate quote, provide the following information:
- Conveyor manufacturer, model, and type (radial stacker, overland section, feed conveyor, etc.)
- Dimensions in transport configuration: length, width, and height
- Estimated weight
- Pickup location (including any access road conditions or restrictions)
- Delivery location (including site access details)
- Desired transport date
Call R&RM LLC at (404) 987-6225 or submit an online quote request to get started.