The truck + trailer rate, before anything else.
Heavy-haul truck + trailer ratings are higher than dry-van because the equipment costs more, the maintenance is heavier, and a heavy-haul driver runs slower average miles per day (route restrictions, daylight-only on most permits). For most US lanes, baseline runs $4.00–$6.50/mi for an RGN, more for stretch or multi-axle configurations.
We quote the baseline first. Permits and escorts are separate line items underneath — so you see exactly where the cost is going.
One per state. Sometimes county.
Every state the load crosses needs its own permit, and the per-state cost varies wildly. Texas single-trip can run $60–$200 depending on dimensions. New York and Pennsylvania run higher and take longer. Some states require county or municipal permits on top — especially for superload routing through urban areas.
Quoting permits to the line means we've already pulled the per-state cost from each state DOT's current schedule before we send your quote — no surprise when invoicing.
Pilot car. Police. Or both.
Escort triggers are state-specific. As a rough rule: above 12' wide or 13'6" high typically requires a pilot car; above 14' wide or for routes through dense urban corridors, police escort gets added. Police escorts have to be scheduled with the local jurisdiction days ahead.
Pilot car rates run $1.50–$2.50/mi typical; police rates are charged hourly and vary by jurisdiction. When we quote a load with escorts, we say which states need them, why, and the running cost.
Bridge math + height clearance.
For superload moves above 200,000 lb gross combined weight, state DOTs run a bridge analysis on the proposed route — every span the load crosses is checked against the axle weight distribution. Engineering fees apply, and the route survey can take 1–4 weeks for the heaviest loads.
If your load triggers a route survey, we tell you the lead time AND the survey fee upfront — both go on the quote, not added later.
US ↔ MX adds line items.
Cross-border heavy-haul adds two pricing components: US customs broker fee + Mexican agente aduanal fee. On heavy haul specifically, you also pay for either a tag-team trailer swap at the crossing OR a transload — the route survey on the Mexican side may demand the load come off the US trailer at the border.
Indexed, not estimated.
Fuel surcharge is indexed to the US EIA weekly average for on-highway diesel and the route's loaded miles. We post the formula on the quote so you can verify it against the same index. If diesel changes 20¢ between quote and pickup, the surcharge updates — no negotiated handshake.
Asked when shippers see the math.
Why is heavy-haul more than $3.50/mi like flatbed?
A flatbed rate is the truck moving a 48,000-lb maxed-out load with no permits. A heavy-haul rate is the same truck plus an RGN trailer, multi-axle setup, permits in every state crossed, pilot cars or police escorts, and a route survey to confirm clearance. Each line item is real cost, not margin — and we quote each one to the line.
Can I see a sample quote with the math?
Yes. Reach out and we'll send a recent comparable quote — anonymized — with each cost component (truck + trailer base, per-state permits, escort hours, fuel surcharge) so you can see the math behind the total.
Are TBDs ever acceptable in a quote?
Not from us. If the math requires bridge engineering that we can't confirm in the quote window, we'll say that explicitly and tell you a range with a deadline to firm up. A TBD on a heavy-haul quote usually becomes a +$3,000 invoice line later — we don't quote that way.
What's the fastest way to get a heavy-haul quote?
WhatsApp the main line at +1 (804) 806-5137: equipment type, weight, origin city/state, destination city/state, and a pickup window. We can quote 80% of heavy-haul lanes the same hour with that info. The remaining 20% are superload moves where the route survey takes 24–72 hours.
Do escorts always get added to the rate?
No — only when the load triggers escort requirements (state thresholds vary by width, height, length, and weight). If you're under the trigger, you're not paying for an escort. We tell you exactly which states require which escorts when we send the quote.