Long lead times
Transformers, switchgear and large HVAC units can take many months to build. A damaged unit cannot be replaced quickly, so protection in transit is worth paying for.
HVAC & Electrical Equipment
HVAC and electrical equipment, timed to the crane
Rooftop units, chillers, transformers, switchgear and cable reels delivered to the job site or substation on the right trailer, timed to the crane and the install crew.
24/7
Dispatch
<1 hr
Quote response
Overview
Equipment that is heavy, tall and expensive to replace
Mechanical and electrical equipment is often the item a building project waits for. A rooftop unit or a transformer can take months to manufacture, so damage in transit or a missed delivery date can hold up an entire site. These loads are tall, top-heavy or very heavy, and many arrive at sites where a crane has been booked for a specific hour. We book flatbeds, step decks and specialized trailers for each piece, check height and weight limits on the route, arrange permits for oversize units, and coordinate the delivery time with the site so the crane and the truck arrive together.
- Step deck for tall rooftop units
- Transformers and switchgear
- Cable reel securement
- Crane-timed site deliveries
Challenges we solve
What makes HVAC and electrical freight hard
Tall and top-heavy
Rooftop units and chillers often exceed legal height on a standard flatbed and have a high centre of gravity. Step decks or lowboys keep them legal and stable.
Crane-timed deliveries
Many units are lifted straight from the trailer to a roof or pad. If the truck is late, the crane sits idle at an hourly rate, and road closures may need to be rebooked.
Shock-sensitive gear
Switchgear and transformers can be damaged by impacts and tilting. Buyers often fit impact recorders and tilt indicators, and the carrier needs to handle the load accordingly.
Cable reels
Reels are heavy, round and want to roll. They need chocks, cradles and proper securement, and the receiver needs the right equipment to unload them.
How we work
How we run an equipment delivery
Get the dimensions and weight
Shipping dimensions, weight, lifting points and any tilt or shock limits from the manufacturer's drawing.
Choose the trailer
Flatbed, step deck, double drop or air-ride van depending on height, weight and how sensitive the equipment is.
Permits and route
For oversize units we check the route and arrange permits and escorts for each jurisdiction.
Time it to the site
We confirm the crane booking and site access, and schedule the truck to arrive inside the lift window.
Document the condition
Photos at loading and delivery, and impact or tilt indicator readings recorded on the delivery paperwork.
Rules and regulations
Permits, securement and site rules
Oversize and overweight permits
Units over legal height, width or weight need permits from each province and state crossed, with travel-time and escort conditions.
Cargo securement
NSC Standard 10 and the US FMCSA rules set the tie-down requirements, with extra blocking for round cargo like cable reels and heavy items like transformers.
PCB-containing equipment
Older transformers and capacitors can contain PCBs, which are regulated hazardous waste in both countries. Removal and transport go through licensed handlers.
Site safety rules
Construction sites and utility substations require drivers to follow site rules, including PPE, escorts on site and set delivery hours.
Recommended services
Services for HVAC and electrical freight
Mechanical equipment
Rooftop units, chillers and air handlers
Commercial HVAC equipment is built big and shipped whole. A rooftop unit for a store or office can be taller than a standard flatbed allows, so it travels on a step deck, which lowers the deck enough to stay under height limits.
These units are top-heavy and easy to damage. Coil fins, panels and controls bend under straps placed in the wrong spot, so securement follows the manufacturer's lifting and tie-down points, with edge protection where straps touch the unit.
Most rooftop units go straight from the trailer to the roof by crane. The crane is booked for a window, sometimes with a street closure, and the truck has to be there on time. We confirm the window with the site the day before and track the truck on the way in.
Chillers and air handlers for larger buildings can be over legal width or weight. Those moves need permits and sometimes escorts, which we plan before the manufacturer's ship date.
Electrical equipment
Transformers, switchgear and cable
Electrical equipment has been in short supply, with transformers and switchgear on long lead times. That makes every unit valuable and transit damage expensive in time as well as money.
Transformers are heavy for their size and filled with oil. Smaller pad-mount units move on flatbeds; large power transformers need specialized trailers, route surveys and permits, and sometimes move partly by rail.
Switchgear is sensitive to shock and tilt. Buyers often attach impact recorders and tilt indicators, and an air-ride trailer with careful handling is the norm. Indicator readings are recorded at delivery so any problem is caught before installation.
Cable reels are a securement job. They are heavy and round, so they need chocks or cradles and chains placed to stop them rolling. Receivers need a forklift with the right attachment or a crane, which we confirm before the truck leaves.
Frequently asked questions
HVAC & Electrical Equipment: common questions
Can you deliver rooftop HVAC units to a job site?
Yes. We book a step deck or flatbed sized to the unit, confirm the site access and crane booking, and schedule the truck to arrive in the lift window.
Do you transport transformers?
Yes. Pad-mount and smaller power transformers move on flatbeds and step decks. Large power transformers need specialized heavy-haul trailers and permits, which we arrange.
How do you protect switchgear in transit?
Air-ride trailers, careful securement, and respect for the manufacturer's tilt and shock limits. Impact recorders and tilt indicators are noted at loading and delivery.
Can you ship cable reels?
Yes. Reels move on flatbeds with chocks or cradles and securement for round cargo. We confirm the receiver can unload them before dispatch.
Do you deliver to electrical and HVAC distributors?
Yes. We move truckload and LTL freight from manufacturers to distributor warehouses and branches across Canada and the US.
Can you move generators?
Yes. Standby and industrial generators move on flatbeds or step decks depending on size, with permits when they exceed legal limits.
Related industries
Other industries we ship for
Construction & Building Materials
Lumber, drywall, fixtures, steel and pre-fab modules — flatbed and project cargo to job-sites.
Oil, Gas & Renewable Energy
Oilfield services, drilling support, wind/solar components, energy project cargo.
Industrial & Energy
Project cargo, heavy lift, breakbulk, oilfield and renewable-energy components.
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