truck_shipping.htm
SHIPPING OF
AMERICAN INGENUITY'S
DOME BUILDING KITS
Click on the photo to enlarge it.
American Ingenuity is loading a A kit is all strapped down
dome kit on a semi truck using ready to make its trip to
a fork lift. In the background the construction site. The
is one of the three American panels are stacked on blocks
Ingenuity Factory Domes..... of scrap E.P.S.
a 48' Dome.
Another view of a kit strapped down. Once the kit is delivered to the construction
It takes one truck to ship one of the site, the stacks are unloaded. A homeowner
larger size domes.....30' or larger. is moving a panel.
Click on the question to see its answer.
How many building kits can fit on one semi truck?
Is there insurance to cover the load in case of a problem?
How do I communicate with the driver and his dispatcher?
How does the truck driver get directions to my construction site?
How will I know what to pay the truck driver?
How is the building kit stacked on the truck?
How is the building kit unloaded?
Because I will be ordering a 22' or a 27' kit, can I split the shipping cost with another person?
How large will this truck be and how big a turn around area will it need?
What if my road is too curvy or too steep and the semi truck cannot go up the road?
What damage can occur to the building kit during shipment?
What is the approximate shipping weight of the Building Kit?
Q:
I understand the Dome Building Kits are
shipped on semi trucks. What is the shipping cost in Florida and outside
of Florida?
A:
Our manufacturing costs
here in Florida are well below the national average, which offsets any long
distance shipping expenses. We can actually manufacture a kit here in Florida
and
ship it to California cheaper than we could manufacture it there. Having our
manufacturing plant located in Florida is advantageous for shipping since more
is shipped in than out of the state, leaving many trucks headed out empty. Using
an independent trucking agency, we contract to have these trucks carry our
building kits outside Florida for a low cost of approximately $1.40 a mile.
This price can be more depending on your location. If you are in a remote
area and the trucking company cannot pick up another load, they will
charge more. Shipping within Florida is a minimum of $500. This is less than we could
do with our own trucks.
Even though we have arranged the shipping, the truck carrying your kit does not belong to American Ingenuity, and the driver does not work for us. The driver is an independent driver, contracted for the delivery. We have found these drivers to be considerate, understanding and fair people. They are accustomed to transporting valuable merchandise and delivering it in the best possible condition.
Q:
How many building kits can fit on one
semi truck?
A:
A
34', 40', 45' and 48' each require one semi truck for delivery. Three 22's
can fit on one semi truck. And two 27's can fit on one semi truck. A 60' dome
building kit requires two trucks for delivery.
Q:
Is there insurance to cover the load in
case of a problem?
A:
Yes. Each company has cargo
insurance.
Q: How do I communicate with the driver and his dispatcher?
A: We give you the name and phone number of the shipping company and the driver.
Q: How does the truck driver get directions to my construction site?
A: You fax or email directions to us describing how to get to your site from the nearest major interstates. We give those directions along with your phone numbers to the driver.
Q: How will I know what to pay the truck driver?
A: During the coordination of the Building Kit's pickup, the trucking company dispatcher calculates the number of miles from our factory to your site. We negotiate with them to get the best per mile price possible. Right now (August 2005) shipping is around $1.40 per mile. We let you know the shipping amount.
You pay the truck driver when he arrives at your site. You should have a cashiers check ready for the total amount of shipping. If you decide to pay in cash, be sure to have the driver sign a receipt.
Q: How is the building kit stacked on the truck?
A: Panels are grouped together on the semi-truck according to type:
Panels are labeled Pentagon Panels P, Hexagon Panels H, Riser Panels R. Any skylight Panels S will be located near the top of the stack.
All panels are shipped with the prefinished concrete side up.
Spacers of 3 ½ E.P.S. insulation are provided at the bottom and the middle of each stack for using a forklift. Save them for later use in the construction process for filling in gaps, or for small repairs.
Stacks of smaller, lightweight panels are secured for shipping with either wire or C-rings. Using a pair of diagonal wire cutters, cut the panels loose from one other before removing them from the truck.
Q: How is the building kit unloaded?
A: You unload the kit with an all terrain forklift that you rent. We recommend renting an all-terrain forklift with at least 3,000 pounds lift and 48" forks for a 48' dome. A fork lift makes the unloading of the truck fast and efficient, an entire stack of panels is removed at once. Other methods are less desirable as upper panels are ten to twelve feet above the ground and weigh up to 290 pounds each.
Panels could be lifted with a hoist or crane. With smaller domes, 2 panels may be lifted at once. Larger dome
panels should only be lifted one at a time, as the mesh will not support the weight of 2 large panels.
The driver is paid by the trip, not by the hour, so he will want to move on as soon as possible.
Q: Because I will be ordering a 22' or a 27' kit, can I split the shipping cost with another person?
A: Yes, Sometimes we have two clients in the same general region ordering a 22' or 27' kit. We coordinate with the truck dispatcher to have one kit unloaded in one city and the other kit unloaded elsewhere.
Q: How large will this truck be and how big a turn around area will it need?
A: The truck will be about 45' long. Consider where the semi can turn around. Semis need a large turning radius since they are approximately 10 wide and 60 long. The truck will need about 13 ½ of clearance overhead.
Plan sufficient room on both sides of the trailer for the forklift to approach it at a 90 degree angle, lift the load, back straight out until the lifted load completely clears the load on the trailer, then back & turn 90 degrees before proceeding toward the stacking area.
Q: What if my road is too curvy or too steep and the semi truck cannot go up the road?
A: You might have to off load the truck and use the fork lift or bob cat to take stacks of panels up the curvy road.
Q: What damage can occur to the building kit during shipment?
A: The panels may have a small amount of damage from loading or transport. The straps that secure the panels to the truck may make indentations in the EPS edges, which can easily be filled with expanding foam. Even it the panel gets cracked it will not have any structural significance. The crack can either be sealed after the dome is completed or in extreme cases, a layer of stucco applied. Any damage to the EPS can be repaired with the expanding foam provided with your kit. In general, a panel would have to fall off the truck for any appreciable damage to occur.
Q: What is the approximate shipping weight of the Building Kit?
A: 27-13,000 LBS, 30-15,000 LBS, 34 17,000 LBS, 40-20,000 LBS, 45- 22,000 LBS, 48= 24,000 LBS, 60- 28,000 LBS. The building kits are not really heavy loads. Due to the 7" thick Expanded Bead Polystyrene insulation the load is a bulky one.