The Do’s and Don’ts of Loading Heavy Equipment on Your Beavertail Truck

Published on: 7th April 2025

Loading heavy equipment onto a beavertail truck is a routine task in the construction and plant hire industries – but it’s not one to take lightly. Poor loading practices can lead to equipment damage, safety hazards, or costly downtime. Whether you’re transporting non-driven plant machinery, excavators, or other heavy-duty machinery, following the right procedures is essential.

Here are the top do’s and don’ts to ensure safe, efficient, and damage-free loading every time.

Do: Inspect Your Beavertail Truck Before Loading

Before you even power up your machine, give your beavertail truck a thorough inspection. Check the ramps, hydraulic systems, lashing points, and decking for any signs of wear, damage, or obstructions. Timber decking should be intact and offer enough grip to prevent slippage.

Routine checks not only ensure safety but also extend the life of your plant body. Read our preventative maintenance guide on how to maintain your beavertail truck for longevity and performance.

Don’t: Ignore Weight Limits

One of the most common and dangerous mistakes is overloading. Every beavertail truck has a manufacturer-specified Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). Exceeding this not only puts you at risk of mechanical failure or legal penalties – it also compromises road safety.

Always verify the weight of your equipment and ensure your plant body or rigid chassis can handle it.

Do: Use Proper Loading Angles and Surfaces

The “beaver tail” design offers a gradual loading angle, especially when paired with double flip ramps or a double break beavertail. Make sure your truck is parked on level ground before loading, and that ramps are secure, aligned, and locked into place.

For low-clearance machines like rollers or pavers, the gentler angle of a plant body ramp prevents undercarriage damage during ascent.

Don’t: Rush the Process

Loading heavy equipment isn’t a race. Rushing the process can result in misaligned loads, unstable positioning, or worse – tipping incidents. Always take your time, follow a step-by-step routine, and communicate clearly if working as a team.

Make sure all involved understand the loading plan before starting.

Do: Distribute Weight Evenly

Proper weight distribution is crucial, especially when carrying multiple pieces of plant equipment. Uneven weight distribution can strain your suspension and affect handling or braking performance.

A well-balanced load is safer and more stable, especially when navigating turns or uneven roads.

Don’t: Skip Securing the Load

Once your machinery is loaded, it’s not going anywhere – if you’ve secured it properly. Use the appropriate number and grade of chains, tensioners, or ratchet straps to anchor your equipment. All lashing points should be tested and rated for the equipment you’re transporting.

An unsecured load is a risk to you and every other road user.

DVSA HGV Guidance

You can also read the Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) securing loads guidance when loading plant equipment, this is issued by the Driving Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Operator Training

Even if your beavertail truck is built for durability and your plant body is top-spec, poor operator habits can undo it all. Invest in training your team on best practices for loading, securing, and unloading equipment safely.

Operators should be familiar with how different machines behave when being loaded—for instance, tracked machines often require a slower, more controlled approach than wheeled vehicles.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re using a 14-ton rigid chassis or a 32-ton heavy-duty beavertail truck, safe loading practices aren’t optional – they’re essential. Protect your equipment, your operators, and your investment by sticking to these tried-and-true do’s and don’ts.

If you’re regularly transporting heavy plant equipment, choosing the right plant body truck with features like double flip ramps, grouser bars, and durable timber decking can make all the difference in safety and efficiency.

Looking for a reliable beavertail? Get in touch with our team – we’ll help you choose the best fit for your fleet and your worksite demands.