Montana Heavy Equipment Transport

What Are Montana's Major Cities And Roadways?

Montana is the 10^th biggest state in the country in terms of acreage. One of the few states that is wider than it is long, Montana is 630 miles in width and 250 miles in length. The state operates more than 150,00 miles of roadways, including nearly 1,200 miles of interstate highway. I-90, which runs east/west between Idaho and North Dakota, goes more than 550 miles in the state. I-15, the main north/south roadway in the state, travels through Helena as it connects Canada with Wyoming. I-80 runs north/south between Billings and the Wyoming border.

Montana has the 6^th smallest population of any state in the country. With more than 100,000 people, Billings is the largest city in the state. Sidney, a small town on the North Dakota border, was the fastest growing city in Montana in 2017. The 10 largest cities in Montana are:

1. Billings;
2. Missoula;
3. Great Falls;
4. Bozeman;
5. Butte;
6. Silver Bow;
7. Helena;
8. Kalispell;
9. Havre;
10. Anaconda.

What Are The Height, Weight, & Width Restrictions In Montana?

Heavy equipment shipments that exceed the maximum dimensions established by the state must obtain oversize permits to use the roads in Montana. The weight limit for single axels is 20,000 pounds, while tandem axels are restricted t0 34,000 pounds or less.

The dimensional restrictions in the state of Montana include:

Maximum weight: 80,000 Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW);

Maximum height: 14 feet;

Maximum width: 8 feet 6 inches.

What Are Montana's Length Restrictions?

Overall length restrictions in Montana are less restrictive than rules in other US states. Most US states restrict maximum length to 65 feet or less, but rural states in the West allow longer tractor trailers than do more populated states.

Trailer length maximums in Montana include:

Total length: 75 feet;

Trailer length: 53 feet;

Motor home length: 45 feet.

What Are The Oversize Transport Permits In Montana?

Oversize shipping permits in Montana can be purchased from the state Department of Transportation. The transport of oversized heavy equipment is permitted between ½-hour before sunrise and ½-hour after sunset, seven days per week, as long load doesn’t exceed 110 feet in length, 14 feet 6 inches in height or 10 feet in width. Oversize shipping permits are valid for between three and five days. Restrictions related to the Spring thaw are enforced from February through May.

Oversize shipments that exceed dimensional regulations must apply for Super Load permits. The maximum oversize dimensions that Montana allows include:

Maximum Weight: 120,00 pounds;

Maximum Length: 135 feet total;

Maximum Height: 17 feet;

Maximum Width: 18 feet.

What Are Montana's Major Auction Houses?

Ask Freedom Heavy Haul to ship your heavy equipment to or from any auction house in Montana. Ritchie Brothers, the national heavy equipment auction house, operates a store in Frenchtown.

The most prominent equipment auction houses in Montana include:

• Gardner’s Auction Services, Missoula;
• Go 2 Guys Auction, Bozeman;
• Kinsey Auctioneers, Baker;
• Musser Brothers, Billings;
• Pate Auction, Helena;
• RK Statewide Auction, Lindsay;
• RLP Auctions, Victor;
• Smith Sales, Miles City.

What Are Some Major Rental Centers In Montana?

Call Freedom Heavy Haul to transport your heavy equipment to or from any rental center in Montana. United Rentals runs one rental store in the state. Sunbelt Rentals does not have a presence in Montana. RDO Equipment operates a half dozen rental stores in the state.  Titan Machinery has a handful of rental stores in Montana.

Other independent equipment rental centers in Montana include:

• Big Sky General Rental, Butte;
• Lewistown Rental, Lewistown;
• Midway Rental, Missoula and Kalispell;
• T&E the Cat Rental Store, Helena;
• Tractor & Equipment, Billings and Great Falls;
• Western States CAT, Missoula.