Choosing an oversize carrier in Eastern Siberia: 7 questions

Choosing an oversize carrier in Eastern Siberia is a 6–12 month decision and often shapes the cost of the whole project. We put together 7 questions worth asking any contractor before the contract is signed. The list works for both tender and direct-contract routes.

1. Owned fleet or leased

Fastest check: ask the carrier for vehicle registration papers on the key lowboys. Owned fleet means a steady dispatch cadence and predictable delivery. A leased fleet carries higher schedule risk and weaker quality control.

2. Who owns the route approvals

Special-permit filing, road-damage calculations, bridge owner consents, escort booking, traffic-police coordination — 7–21 days total. Confirm who owns that work and ask for real-project stories on your geography.

3. Insurance — what and how much

Ask for policies — cargo and carrier liability. Check the limits and coverage: some carriers only insure 'standard' risks and exclude ice roads and winter crossings. For project logistics, ask for bespoke insurance with a statistically grounded limit.

4. Equipment and crew reserve

During peak season, demand for heavy lowboys exceeds supply. Ask for the details: how many spare units, the crew rotation policy, second drivers on long runs. That reserve is what determines whether your run goes out on time.

5. Reporting and timing

Which metrics does the carrier lock in the contract: equipment dispatch time, dispatcher response, reporting format, frequency of roll-ups. Formal terms cut down on day-to-day disputes at the project close.

6. Geography and infrastructure

Does the carrier have its own base on your corridor. For the Upper Lena and Yakutia — that's Ust-Kut. For Southern Yakutia — Aldan or Neryungri. An on-site base means transfer, storage and repair locally — not three days away.

7. Track record and references

Ask for 2–3 references on projects comparable to yours. Focus on cargo type, corridor and season, not brand names. Proven winter drilling-rig moves from Yarakta matter more than a nominal run for a major brand if that's the task you have.

Our answers

• Owned fleet of lowboys, tankers and standard trailers — registered to the company.
• Special permits and traffic-police coordination on our side.
• Cargo and liability insurance — in every contract, limit scoped to the task.
• Reserve — up to 20% of the fleet on key corridors.
• Reporting and metrics — set in the contract.
• Own 4 ha base in Ust-Kut: yard, service bay, parking.
• Sector references in oil & gas, mining and northern supply — under NDA.

If you're comparing carriers for Irkutsk Oblast and Yakutia, reach out. We'll send you the technical pack, NDA references and a costed proposal for your freight.