Safe Georgia Heavy Equipment Transport

Major Routes, Regulations, and Ports for Heavy Equipment Transport in Georgia

Major roads, ports, size limits, and permit rules for moving heavy loads in Georgia.

• I-75 North/South

I-75 highway runs from the Florida state line near Valdosta all the way north through Macon and into Atlanta. It carries more heavy loads than any other road in Georgia. Farms in South Georgia use it to move big equipment to dealers and job sites. Construction companies use it to get machines from one project to the next.

Getting into Atlanta on this road takes planning. The area where I-285 and I-20 cross can be hard to navigate with a wide or tall load. Drivers coming up from Florida should stop near Valdosta or Tifton to check their permit before going north. Some bridges near Atlanta need extra review before a heavy load can cross them.

• I-16 East/West — The Heavy Haul Highway

I-16 I-16 goes 167 miles from Macon straight to Savannah. Drivers and permit coordinators pick this road for big loads because it is straight, has wide shoulders, and does not have many exits to worry about. If a load is going to or from the Port of Savannah, this is the road it takes.

Wind turbine blades, massive power transformers, military trucks from Fort Stewart, and port crane parts all move on I-16 on a regular basis. There are weigh stations near Macon and Savannah. A few older bridges near the Savannah end need a structural review before very heavy loads can cross them.

• I-85 Northeast/Southwest

I-85 I-85 connects Atlanta to Alabama on one end and South Carolina on the other. There are a lot of factories and manufacturing plants along this road, especially around LaGrange and the northeast Georgia area. The Kia plant in West Point sends and receives large equipment loads on this road every week.

Going through Atlanta on I-85 with a big load can only be done at night. GDOT does not give permits for wide or tall loads to move through the city during the day. Drivers coming in from Alabama or South Carolina must get a Georgia permit before crossing the state line. Permits from other states do not work in Georgia.

• I-20 East/West

I-20 I-20 goes east from Atlanta to Augusta and the South Carolina line. Augusta has grown a lot as an industrial city, and this road is how heavy equipment gets there. The Plant Vogtle nuclear facility near Augusta brought some of the heaviest and most complicated permitted loads Georgia has ever seen down this road.

Just like I-85, oversize loads can only move through Atlanta on I-20 at night. East of Atlanta, the rules are a little more relaxed, but road construction near Augusta and the state line has caused detours that can make routing more difficult at certain times of the year.

• US-341 and GA-520 — Brunswick Approach

To get to the Port of Brunswick from inland Georgia, trucks leave the interstate and travel on US-341 and GA-520. US-341 runs south from Macon through Eastman, Hazlehurst, and Baxley. GA-520 connects to I-95 and takes trucks the last stretch to Colonel’s Island Terminal.

These are regular two-lane roads, not interstates. Power lines hang lower here, speed limits are slower, and the turns are tighter. Any really large load on these roads needs a route survey first. Drivers running those surveys regularly encounter utility line conflicts and have to work with power and phone companies to clear the path before moving day.

Georgia Ports

• Port of Savannah

Garden City Terminal is the biggest single container port in all of North America. Ships bring in and send out massive amounts of cargo here every day. The terminal sits on the Savannah River about 18 miles from the ocean. For heavy equipment, the port handles ro-ro ships (where machines drive on and off the vessel), breakbulk cargo, and very large freight that comes in crates or on flatbeds.

Any truck bringing an oversize load into the port must call ahead. The Georgia Ports Authority has its own gate process for permitted vehicles. The roads inside the terminal have tight spots, and an oversize truck that shows up without notice will be turned away. The port has cranes that can lift loads weighing hundreds of tons, which is why big power equipment and energy machinery come through Savannah.

• Port of Brunswick

Brunswick is one of the top car-handling ports on the East Coast. Colonel’s Island Terminal moves cars, trucks, and rolling equipment on and off ships in huge numbers. Mayor’s Point Terminal handles breakbulk cargo like steel, timber, and project freight. Both terminals see heavy equipment moving through on a regular basis.

Brunswick sits on a tidal river, so the depth of the water changes with the tides. That affects when ships can come in, which in turn affects how busy the roads get. GA-520 and US-17 back up badly during big vehicle unloads. Trucks taking superloads to Mayor’s Point may also run into restrictions because some of the bridges on that approach are older.

Secure Trailers for Large Machinery

Specialized trailers are one of the reasons why our service is so dependable. We match every load with the right trailer to keep the Georgia heavy equipment transport safe from pickup to drop-off. Our fleet offers different options, each built for a specific purpose.

An RGN trailer works best for large loads that need a removable gooseneck for easy drive-on loading. A lowboy trailer is ideal for heavy and tall equipment that cannot fit on a standard trailer. Our flatbed trailer handles standard heavy machinery with ease. For loads that require ground-level access, a landoll trailer is the right choice. Finally, a double-drop trailer is used for exceptionally tall machines that need extra vertical clearance.

Loading and unloading assistance is always included if required. Moreover, our drivers stay on site to ensure the equipment is properly secured before and after the move.