Oversized Freight Shipping Services, Des Moines IA

Move oversized freight in and out of Des Moines IA with a team built for complex heavy-haul logistics. Little John Transportation Services coordinates equipment, permits, route planning, escorts, and tracking for machinery, energy components, construction equipment, and industrial cargo moving along Iowa’s key I-35 and I-80 corridors—backed by 30+ years of specialized transportation experience.

Oversized freight truck hauling machinery near Des Moines

Our Oversized Freight Shipping Services

Specialized oversized freight solutions for complex machinery, project cargo, permits, routing, and heavy-haul execution.

Heavy-Haul Cargo

Specialized transport for oversize, overweight, and superload cargo using step-decks, flatbeds, RGNs, lowboys, multi-axle trailers, escorts, tracking, and full-cycle project coordination.

Permitting Support

Permit and route support for complex freight, including jurisdiction coordination, route engineering, pilot cars, bridge considerations, and planning for legal and safe highway movement.

Flatbed Trailers

Flatbed capacity for large machinery, building products, industrial equipment, and freight requiring open-deck loading, securement expertise, and flexible regional or long-haul routing.

Truckload Freight

Full truckload solutions across flatbed, step-deck, specialized, dry van, and reefer equipment, supported by 24/7 dispatch, tracking, and vetted carrier capacity.

Expedited Freight

Time-critical oversized or specialized freight support with direct routing, team-driver service, expedited flatbeds, hot-shot trailers, and a control tower watching every leg.

Hot Shot Freight

Urgent smaller specialized loads moved with Class 3-5 trucks, gooseneck trailers, same-day dispatch, direct-haul priority, and real-time tracking for project parts.

Heavy-haul team planning oversized freight route

Our Oversized Freight Process

Review Load Details and Requirements

Share cargo dimensions, weight, drawings, commodity details, origin, destination, and schedule. Our team reviews the load profile, Iowa pickup or delivery constraints, loading method, and any plant, jobsite, or crane requirements before matching capacity.

Match Specialized Equipment and Capacity

Plan Permits, Routes, and Escorts

Coordinate Dispatch and Live Movement

Confirm Delivery and Documentation

Trusted By Enterprises

Freight Success Stories

Trusted by major manufacturers, technology leaders, energy companies, and industrial shippers across North America.

"El agente Landstar XKN en Little John's es excelente. Guillermo y Alam en XKN son muy profesionales, siempre me tratan con dignidad y respeto. Son bilingües español/inglés. Su operación de despacho está entre las mejores de Landstar. Hacen que el transporte vuelva a ser grandioso."

Gustavo Gonzalez
The Little John Difference

Why Choose Little John Transportation Services?

Complex freight needs planning, accountability, and experienced people behind every mile.

Proven Experience

Over 30 years moving heavy-haul, hazmat, cross-border, and project freight most carriers avoid.

Local Routing

Des Moines shipments benefit from specialists who understand Midwest corridors, permits, routing, and industrial cargo demands.

Deep Capacity

65,000+ approved carriers and 7,000+ specialized trailers support demanding oversized freight requirements.

Human Support

Real teams track freight, answer calls, and coordinate changes across Iowa lanes and beyond.

Meet The Freight Team

Experienced freight operators managing complex cargo with accountability.

Portrait of Christopher Dale, Co-Founder and CEO of Little John Transportation Services

Christopher Dale

Co-Founder & CEO

Christopher Dale is the Co-Founder and CEO of Little John Transportation Services, the specialized freight company he built from the ground up in the mid-1990s alongside his brother Steven. With over 30 years at the helm, Christopher has led the company through remarkable growth — from a small operator-focused business to a North American leader ranked #1 on the ACT Transport 50 for 16 consecutive years. His expertise spans heavy-haul, hazmat, and U.S.–México cross-border logistics, handling the complex freight most carriers refuse. Christopher's leadership philosophy centers on human-first communication, operational excellence, and safety-driven execution, values that have earned the company a 100% retention rate among its Top 100 customers and an average client tenure of 33 years.

Portrait of Steven Dale, Co-Founder and COO of Little John Transportation Services

Steven Dale

Co-Founder & COO

Steven Dale is the Co-Founder and COO of Little John Transportation Services, responsible for overseeing specialized operations and the company's vast carrier network. Since co-founding the business in the mid-1990s alongside Christopher Dale, Steven has been the operational backbone of an organization that now manages over 8,000 dedicated owner-operators and 65,000 vetted and audited carriers. He ensures that teams are strategically positioned across key logistics hubs — including Laredo, Monterrey, and Guadalajara — exactly where complex freight moves. Steven's hands-on approach and deep industry expertise have been instrumental in achieving 65 million+ miles covered annually and maintaining the company's industry-leading safety and compliance standards.

Portrait of Kathleen Stingley, Account Manager at Little John Transportation Services

Kathleen Stingley

Account Manager

Kathleen Stingley serves as an Account Manager at Little John Transportation Services, where she is dedicated to delivering the human-first service that defines the company's reputation across North America. In her role, Kathleen works directly with medium- to large-sized clients to coordinate specialized freight solutions — from heavy-haul and hazmat shipments to complex cross-border logistics. She serves as a reliable, knowledgeable point of contact who ensures every load is planned, tracked, and executed with precision. Kathleen embodies the company's commitment to treating clients as partners, providing responsive communication and hands-on support that has contributed to Little John's 100% Top 100 customer retention rate and decades-long client relationships.

Portrait of Brandon Potter, Account Manager at Little John Transportation Services

Brandon Potter

Account Manager

Brandon Potter is an Account Manager at Little John Transportation Services, bringing a client-focused approach to one of North America's most trusted specialized freight carriers. Brandon works closely with clients across a wide range of industries — including energy, industrial machinery, automotive, and chemical sectors — to develop customized transportation solutions for complex, high-stakes freight. He serves as a hands-on partner from initial quote through final delivery, ensuring clear communication, compliance documentation, and seamless coordination across Little John's expansive carrier network. Brandon's commitment to responsive, people-driven service reflects the company's core values and its reputation for moving the cargo that most carriers refuse.

Portrait of Todd Wojtkowski, Account Manager at Little John Transportation Services

Todd Wojtkowski

Account Manager

Todd Wojtkowski is an Account Manager at Little John Transportation Services, playing a key role in supporting the company's mission to deliver operational excellence and human-first service to every client. Todd manages freight relationships across a broad spectrum of specialized transportation needs, including heavy-haul, hazmat, and cross-border shipments throughout the U.S., México, and Canada. He works as a direct partner to clients, ensuring loads are matched with the right equipment, dispatched by experienced teams, and tracked through to delivery. Todd's dedication to proactive communication and audit-ready documentation helps reinforce Little John's standing as the most trusted partner for specialized freight in North America.

Portrait of Robert Wood, Account Manager at Little John Transportation Services

Robert Wood

Account Manager

Robert Wood serves as an Account Manager at Little John Transportation Services, where he is committed to delivering the responsive, detail-oriented service that sets the company apart in the specialized freight industry. Robert supports clients across sectors such as oil and gas, military and defense, pharmaceutical, and retail, helping them navigate the complexities of heavy-haul, hazmat, and time-sensitive freight requirements. He takes ownership of every load from planning to final delivery, coordinating with Little John's extensive network of owner-operators and vetted carriers to ensure seamless execution. Robert's dedication to building long-term partnerships reflects the company's core value of treating every client relationship with the care and accountability of a true business partner.

Portrait of Justin James, Account Manager at Little John Transportation Services

Justin James

Account Manager

Justin James is an Account Manager at Little John Transportation Services, contributing to the company's legacy of specialized, safety-driven freight solutions across North America. Justin works hands-on with clients to manage complex shipping requirements, including oversized loads, hazardous materials, and cross-border freight between the United States and México. He serves as a reliable point of contact who ensures every shipment is handled with the precision and accountability that Little John's clients have come to expect over 30+ years in business. Justin's customer-first mindset and thorough understanding of the company's logistics capabilities help clients move their most demanding cargo with confidence and compliance.

Portrait of Ashlyn Dale, Account Manager at Little John Transportation Services

Ashlyn Dale

Account Manager

Ashlyn Dale is an Account Manager at Little John Transportation Services, upholding the family legacy of hands-on, human-first service that has defined the company since its founding in the mid-1990s. Ashlyn works directly with clients to coordinate specialized freight solutions, ensuring that every shipment — whether heavy-haul, hazmat, or cross-border — is executed with the operational discipline and personal accountability that Little John is known for. She brings a client-centered approach to every interaction, serving as a trusted partner who provides clear, timely communication and end-to-end load management. Ashlyn's commitment to excellence helps maintain the long-standing client relationships that have made Little John the #1 specialized carrier in North America.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifies as oversized freight?

Oversized freight includes cargo that exceeds standard legal size or weight limits for highway transport. Common examples include industrial machinery, construction equipment, power-generation components, wind-energy parts, refinery modules, and data infrastructure equipment. Little John Transportation Services plans these moves with specialized trailers, permitting, route engineering, escorts, tracking, and a single point of contact from quote to delivery.

How much does oversized freight shipping cost?

Do you handle permits for oversized loads?

What equipment is used for oversized freight?

How far in advance should I schedule a heavy-haul shipment?

Can I track my oversized shipment?

Is oversized freight insured during transport?

Do you ship oversized freight outside Iowa?

Need Help Planning a Complex Load?

Get clear answers before your oversized shipment moves.

Service Areas Covered

Oversized freight coordination for Des Moines IA shippers moving throughout North America.

U.S., México & Canada

Service Area

65,000+ Approved

Carrier Network

65M+ Covered

Annual Miles

Do We Cover Your Lane?

Tell us where your freight starts and where it needs to go.

Recognized Leaders

Awards and Recognition

ACT Transport 50 recognition badge

ACT Transport 50

North America specialized transport leadership recognition.

IC Cranes and Specialized Transport ranking badge

IC Global Ranking

Global ranking for cranes and specialized transport.

TT Top 100 flatbed heavy recognition badge

TT Top 100

Recognized leader in flatbed and heavy transport.

Plan Your Oversized Freight Move

Share your dimensions, weight, origin, destination, timing, and commodity details. Our team will review equipment, permits, routing, and execution needs for your oversized shipment.

Contact Us Today

For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at +1 (479) 264-6501. You can also send us a quick email at quotes@ljtsi.com.