Keys to Successful Hauling
Five-axle tractors add a second pusher axle behind the drives for additional carrying capacity when needed.
The Kivi fleet of about 80 heavy haul trailers includes configurations with as many as 13 axles. The models range from 55- to 70-ton capacities and there are both East and West Coast setups. Across its fleet, the carrier fields flatbed, step deck, sliding axle, double drop and removable gooseneck( RGN) units.
Most of the Kivi Bros heavy haul trailer fleet is made up of Fontaine models.“ We also have TRAIL-EZE units and Goldhofer modular platform trailers for unique transport challenges, and we recently added Trail King trailers for some applications,” Kivi related.“ Those units have adjustable hydraulic necks so we can use them at lower deck heights.”
Equally essential, behind the wheel at Kivi Bros during heavy hauls are a special breed of drivers.“ Our drivers all receive specialized training in-house, and they gain experience working with veteran operators until everyone is confident,” Kivi said.“ The day a driver stops learning is the day things start going wrong.
“ Drivers are hard to find across the industry, and it’ s an even greater challenge in a heavy haul operation,” Kivi continued.
“ We’ re fortunate, though, to have good tenure, so we have skilled, dedicated and hardworking drivers at all times.”
The Kivi Bros. maintenance operation also plays a key role in successful heavy hauls. Included is a fabrication team that is skilled in adding wear bars, D rings, chain boxes and specialty outriggers to trailers as needed.
“ Our own staff handles as much maintenance in-house as possible,” Kivi related.“ At our home location, we also have nearby dealers if we need to outsource any work, and we receive great support from trusted partners on the road.
“ We focus heavily on making sure our maintenance team is familiar with our equipment,” Kivi continued.“ By knowing what to look for and address, we can avoid breakdowns during heavy hauls. That is critical because oversize and overweight permits are truck and time-specific, and rental replacements are rarely an option.
“ On any heavy haul, planning and coordination are essential.”
“ This proactive approach that is focused on finding and fixing issues before they cause a problem on the road is about paying extra attention to every detail,” Kivi added.
In the heavy haul business, Kivi noted, every day brings new challenges.“ It’ s never boring, but something always pops up,” he said.“ Despite the stress and pressure, though, there is great satisfaction when you get through all the hurdles, when all the things that had to go right did.
“ That success stems from avoiding complacency, always learning and adapting, and most of all teamwork,” Kivi continued.“ There could be as many as 50 people involved in operations management, driving and maintenance support for one of our heavy hauls, which means there must be an extremely high level of coordination. The reason this works is because every one of those people knows that failure is not an option.
“ As a family-owned company in our third generation of business, we have a very strong sense of pride and commitment,” Kivi added.“ We are always firmly focused on the success of both our customers and our employees, and to make that happen, we work as a team to provide the very best innovative heavy haul solutions.”
www. cranehotline. com • January 2025 CRANE HOT LINE ® 33