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HTS Logistics

What Is an RGN Trailer?

How a removable gooseneck detaches and loads, with specs for 21 RGNs from 7 manufacturers

Quick answer

What is an RGN trailer?

An RGN (removable gooseneck) trailer is a lowboy whose neck unlocks and leaves with the tractor, so the front of the deck rests on the ground and a machine drives on over the front. On the 21 RGNs we compared, loaded decks sit 14 to 24 in high and run 23 to 28 ft long, with ratings of 35 to 80 tons concentrated over 10 to 16 ft.

Updated October 2026 by the HTS Logistics broker team (FMCSA MC# 1178470).

What does RGN mean in trucking?

RGN stands for removable gooseneck. The gooseneck is the front section that couples to the tractor's fifth wheel and joins it to the load deck; on an RGN it unlocks from that deck so the deck can be lowered to the ground for loading. Makers name the same design differently: Trail King and XL say hydraulic detachable gooseneck (HDG), Eager Beaver and Landoll say detachable lowboy, Rogers files the CN55DS under front loading detachable goosenecks, and XL calls its mechanical MFG an RGN outright.

RGN trucking, or RGN freight, means a load booked on one of these trailers, usually a machine that drives on over the front and rides on a deck 14 to 24 in off the road. Every RGN belongs to the lowboy trailer family, which also includes fixed-neck and folding-neck designs. Set against the other heavy haul trailer types, its difference is the front-loading deck: no climb over the rear axles and no beavertail.

How an RGN detaches, loads and hooks back up

Talbert's operator's manual (section 3.2) sets out the sequence for its hydraulic detachable lowboys. Condensed, detaching and loading take these steps:

  1. Park on firm, level ground and set the truck's parking brakes.
  2. Connect the trailer's hydraulic hoses if they are not already connected, and start the hydraulic system.
  3. Pull and rotate the gooseneck/deck lock safety pin, then pull the lock control to unlock the neck from the deck.
  4. Raise the deck with the power cylinders until the gooseneck stops clear the shim blocks, then retract the stop pins on both sides.
  5. Lower the deck to the ground, checking that the deck pin on each side does not bind against the frame.
  6. Disconnect the electrical and air lines between neck and deck, which sets the trailer brakes, and stow them at the base of the neck.
  7. Engage the gooseneck support arm on the truck frame. The manual warns that the support cylinder must not be used to lift the deck.
  8. Drive the truck forward with the neck, straight ahead if possible, and avoid sharp turns: the neck can fall from the truck.
  9. Shut off the hydraulics, drive the machine up the front ramps (31 in on Trail King's HDGs) and secure it with properly rated chains or straps.

The manual's loading rules: load on level ground, never side-load, keep the machine straight with the ramps and trailer, use a spotter, chock the truck and trailer tires and load only in good light. For machinery of 10,000 lb or more, 49 CFR 393.130 adds that accessory equipment such as a hydraulic shovel is fully lowered and secured, that articulation is restrained, and that at least 4 tiedowns hold the machine.

Hooking back up reverses it (section 3.2.2):

  1. Back the truck and neck straight in until the gooseneck guide engages and seats on the deck ramp; set the brakes and fully retract the support arm.
  2. Push the lock control in and insert the safety pin; if the pin does not lock, bump the truck slightly until it does.
  3. Reconnect the electrical and air lines and start the hydraulics.
  4. Raise the deck until the stop pins can engage both sides, extend them, then lower the deck until the pins carry its weight.
  5. Fold the ramps onto the deck, chain them, and do the pre-trip inspection.

Equal shim blocks between the stop pins and the neck set the deck and fifth-wheel height, and Talbert requires both sides to match. Other designs shorten the routine: Landoll's 855 detaches and carries its neck away with one hydraulic lever, and when it reconnects an alignment wedge centers the neck while the A-frame load carrier relocks the deck and lifts the trailer to transport position, set at one of 7 ride heights.

RGN trailer dimensions: 21 models compared

Main decks run 23 ft (Trail King TKHD-S) to 28 ft (Fontaine Magnitude 75 and 80, Talbert 65SA, XL 160 HDG and XL 80 HDGSM), and loaded deck heights 14 to 24 in. Every model that lists a width is 8 ft 6 in except the 9 ft TKHD-S. Tare runs from 14,540 lb (Talbert 35CC) to 37,620 lb (Fontaine Magnitude 80), and every pound of it comes out of a legal payload.

Published specs for 21 removable gooseneck trailers, grouped by class (manufacturer pages checked October 17, 2026)
RGN Rating (basis) Deck length Deck height, loaded Width Tare Axles Length overall
Standard RGNs, 35 to 55 tons
35CC Talbert 35 tons (70,000 lb) in half the deck (12 ft) 24 ft 22 in 8 ft 6 in 14,540 lb Count not printed; 3rd axle optional Not published
TK70HDG Trail King 35 tons (70,000 lb) in 12 ft 24 ft 24 in 8 ft 6 in Not published 2 × 25,000 lb 44 ft 1 in
XL 80 HDG XL Specialized 40 tons (80,000 lb) in 12 ft 26 ft 20 in Not published Not published 2 45 ft 11 in
Workhorse 50 Fontaine 50 tons in 12 ft; 52 tons in 16 ft 25 ft 20 in 8 ft 6 in 18,720 lb 3, flip-axle ready 50 ft 1 in
Workhorse 55LCC Fontaine 55 tons in 13 ft (3 or 4 axles close coupled) 26 ft 18 in 8 ft 6 in Sources conflict 3, flip-axle ready 57 ft 5 in
855-53 Landoll 55 tons (110,000 lb) in 12 ft, frame rating 26 ft 19.5 in 8 ft 6 in 23,900 lb 3 × 25,000 lb; 4th-axle ready Not published
55SA Talbert 55 tons (110,000 lb) in half the deck (12 ft 6 in) 25 ft 20 in 8 ft 6 in 20,850 lb Count not printed; 4th axle (3+1) capable Not published
Magnitude 55H MFLD Fontaine 55 tons in 12 ft (4 axles close coupled) 26 ft 22 in 8 ft 6 in 22,190 lb 3; jeep and flipbox ready Not published
XL 110 HDG XL Specialized 55 tons (110,000 lb) in 12 ft 26 ft 22 in (basis not stated) Not published Not published 3; flip axle or booster ready 52 ft 5 in
TK110HDG Trail King 55 tons (110,000 lb) in 12 ft 25 ft 9 in 24 in 8 ft 6 in Not published 3 × 25,000 lb 52 ft 10 in
55 GSL-3 Eager Beaver 55 tons (110,000 lb) in 12 ft 25 ft 24 in 8 ft 6 in 22,500 lb 3 × 25,000 lb Not published
Low-profile RGNs, 12 to 15 in decks
XL 80 HDGSM mini deck XL Specialized 40 tons (80,000 lb) in 16 ft 28 ft 12 in (basis not stated) Not published Not published 2 48 ft
TKHD-S Trail King 55 tons (110,000 lb) overall; 90,000 lb in 10 ft 23 ft 14 in 9 ft Not published Not published 52 ft 10 in
XL 110 HDGS XL Specialized 55 tons (110,000 lb) in 12 ft 26 ft 15 in Not published Not published 3 53 ft
CN55DS CobraNeck Rogers 55 tons (110,000 lb) over 13 ft 26 ft 15 in 8 ft 6 in Not published 3 × 25,000 lb; flip 4th optional Not published
Modular and high-capacity RGNs, 60 to 80 tons
Magnitude 60HD MFLD Fontaine 60 tons in 16 ft (3+2 axles, flipbox out) 26 ft 22 in 8 ft 6 in 28,960 lb 5 (3+2) Not published
60SA Talbert 60 tons (120,000 lb) in half the deck (12 ft 6 in) 25 ft 22 in 8 ft 6 in 22,590 lb Count not printed; 4th axle (3+1) capable Not published
65SA Modular Talbert 65 tons (130,000 lb) in 14 ft on 5 axles 28 ft 24 in 8 ft 6 in 31,750 lb 3 base, up to 5 Not published
Magnitude 75 MFLD Fontaine 75 tons in 16 ft (3+2, 237 in neck); 70 tons in 12 ft 28 ft 24 in 8 ft 6 in 34,915 lb 5 (3 trailer, intermediate, rear flip) Not published
Magnitude 80 MFLD Fontaine 80 tons in 16 ft; 70 tons in 12 ft (3+3 axles) 28 ft 24 in 8 ft 6 in 37,620 lb 6 (3 trailer, EQ3, 2 flip) Not published
XL 160 HDG XL Specialized 80 tons (160,000 lb) in 10 ft 28 ft 26 in (basis not stated) Not published Not published 3 55 ft 10 in

Values are the makers' own. XL prints the 80 HDGSM's 12 in and the 110 and 160 HDG heights without saying loaded or empty. Fontaine's product page and spec sheet give different weights for the Workhorse 55LCC, so that cell is marked as a conflict instead of picking one. Fontaine's Magnitude pages and Talbert's pages print no overall length.

Hydraulic, mechanical and non-ground-bearing necks

A hydraulic neck lifts and lowers the deck with cylinders, powered by a wet kit on the tractor or an engine on the trailer; XL describes its HDE neck coming apart "using the truck's wet kit or a motor". Landoll's 855 takes quick couplers rated 2,500 PSI and 20 GPM at the controls, with a tractor PTO and wet kit or a gooseneck-mounted 25 HP Kohler gas engine as options. Rogers' CN55DS runs off the tractor PTO, with a 13 HP gas power unit optional.

Non-ground-bearing (NGB) necks rest on the truck while detached instead of on the ground. XL's support arm "contacts truck frame rails only", so there is no 4 x 4 to carry for blocking, and Trail King says its HDG neck "does not require ground-bearing pads for lifting". Talbert and Fontaine build NGB necks on all of their models in the table, and Eager Beaver calls the 55 GSL-3 neck self-lifting.

Mechanical detachable necks come apart without hydraulics doing the lifting. XL says its mechanical gooseneck "offers weight savings over hydraulic", while hydraulics make detaching and reattaching "a quicker process"; its 80 MFG, a mechanical full-width double drop, still rates 70,000 lb in 16 ft on an 18 in loaded deck. A folding neck is the third way to load over the front: XL's Hydraulic Folding Gooseneck folds down at hinge points into a ramp and stays on the trailer.

Gooseneck design, gooseneck length, swing clearance and ground clearance for 21 RGNs
Model Neck design Gooseneck length Swing clearance Ground clearance
35CC Talbert Non-ground-bearing hydraulic detachable Not published 84 in 6 in
TK70HDG Trail King Hydraulic self-lifting detachable; does not require ground-bearing pads 10 ft 10 in 86 in 8 in
XL 80 HDG XL Specialized Hydraulic detachable (classic), 7-position ride height, 2 kingpin settings 10 ft 5 in Not published 6 in
Workhorse 50 Fontaine Hydraulic detachable, non-ground-bearing 11 ft 11 in 102 in 6 in
Workhorse 55LCC Fontaine Hydraulic detachable 'shaft and hook', non-ground-bearing Not published 108 in (89 in alternate kingpin) 6 in
855-53 Landoll Hydraulic detachable, single lever; dual drop-in kingpin; 7-position fifth wheel ride height 12 ft 5 in Not published 6.5 in
55SA Talbert Non-ground-bearing hydraulic detachable Not published 108 in 6 in
Magnitude 55H MFLD Fontaine Hydraulic detachable, non-ground-bearing 11 ft 11 in 102 in 6 in
XL 110 HDG XL Specialized Hydraulic detachable (classic) 12 ft 5 in Not published 6 in
TK110HDG Trail King Hydraulic self-lifting detachable; does not require ground-bearing pads 12 ft 10 in 110 in at a 14 in kingpin; 86 in at 38 in 8 in
55 GSL-3 Eager Beaver Self-lifting hydraulic detachable (wetline) 8 ft 6 in (102 in) Not published Not published
XL 80 HDGSM mini deck XL Specialized Low-profile hydraulic detachable, 5 ride heights 11 ft Not published 4 in
TKHD-S Trail King Hydraulic detachable, 14'10", 7-position adjustment 14 ft 10 in 125 in 4 in
XL 110 HDGS XL Specialized Low-profile hydraulic detachable 13 ft Not published 4.5 in
CN55DS CobraNeck Rogers Detachable (CobraNeck, hydraulic gooseneck jack) Not published Not published Not published
Magnitude 60HD MFLD Fontaine Hydraulic detachable, non-ground-bearing 12 ft 8 in 106 in (86 in alternate kingpin) 6 in
60SA Talbert Non-ground-bearing hydraulic detachable Not published 108 in 6 in
65SA Modular Talbert Non-ground-bearing hydraulic detachable Not published 120 in (neck extension up to 70 in) 6 in
Magnitude 75 MFLD Fontaine Narrow hydraulic detachable, non-ground-bearing 15 ft 1 in 126 in or 114 in 6 in
Magnitude 80 MFLD Fontaine Hydraulic detachable, non-ground-bearing, 5 in hooks 23 ft 4 in including flipbox 237 in, flipbox included 6 in
XL 160 HDG XL Specialized Hydraulic detachable (classic) 13 ft 8 in Not published 8 in

Swing clearance, the distance from the kingpin to the nearest point of the neck, runs from 84 in on the Talbert 35CC to 237 in on the Magnitude 80 with its flipbox; XL calls flip necks a popular way to fit the trailer over a jeep's front axles. Some necks take two kingpin positions: the TK110HDG has 110 in at a 14 in kingpin setting and 86 in at 38 in, and the Workhorse 55LCC 108 in or 89 in. Ride height adjusts through 7 positions on XL's classic HDG, Landoll's 855 and the TKHD-S.

Low-profile RGNs: 12 to 15 in decks

A low-profile RGN trades ground clearance for headroom. XL's 110 HDGS rides at 15 in loaded with 4 1/2 in of clearance, Rogers' CN55DS at 15 in on a four-beam drop-side deck, and Trail King's steerable TKHD-S at 14 in with 4 in, against 6 to 8 in under a standard RGN's 18 to 24 in deck. XL lists its 80 HDGSM mini deck at 12 in with 4 in of clearance, without saying loaded or empty.

At 13 ft 6 in, a 24 in deck carries a machine up to 11 ft 6 in tall, a 15 in deck up to 12 ft 3 in and a 12 in deck up to 12 ft 6 in. The low decks keep most of the rating: the 110 HDGS and the CN55DS are both 55-ton trailers, rated 110,000 lb in 12 ft and over 13 ft.

How 11 tall machines measure on 24, 15 and 12 in RGN decks, with their weight on a 22,500 lb RGN
Machine OEM transport height Standard RGN, 24 in Eager Beaver 55 GSL-3 Low-profile RGN, 15 in XL 110 HDGS, Rogers CN55DS Mini deck, 12 in XL 80 HDGSM, basis not stated OEM weight With a 22,500 lb RGN
Komatsu D155AX-8 crawler dozer 11 ft 1 in blade and ripper off, top of cab 13 ft 2 in Legal 12 ft 5 in Legal 12 ft 2 in Legal 72,100 lb 94,600 lb Over 80,000 lb before the tractor
Cat 966 wheel loader 11 ft 9 in top of ROPS 13 ft 10 in 14 ft states, 2 in or less to spare 13 ft 1 in Legal 12 ft 10 in Legal 51,124 lb 73,624 lb Under 80,000 lb before the tractor
John Deere 350 P-Tier excavator 11 ft 10 in transport posture 13 ft 10 in 14 ft states, 2 in or less to spare 13 ft 1 in Legal 12 ft 10 in Legal 80,985 lb 103,485 lb Over 80,000 lb before the tractor
Grove RT765E-2 rough terrain crane 11 ft 10 in travel configuration, boom stowed 13 ft 10 in 14 ft states, 2 in or less to spare 13 ft 1 in Legal 12 ft 10 in Legal 89,349 lb 111,849 lb Over 80,000 lb before the tractor
Komatsu PC490LC-11 excavator 11 ft 11 in transport posture, top of boom 14 ft 14 ft states, 2 in or less to spare 13 ft 3 in Legal 13 ft Legal 107,850 lb 130,350 lb Over 80,000 lb before the tractor
Cat 349 excavator 12 ft 1 in boom, stick and bucket folded 14 ft 1 in 14 ft 6 in states 13 ft 4 in Legal, 2 in or less to spare 13 ft 1 in Legal 105,200 lb 127,700 lb Over 80,000 lb before the tractor
Cat 745 articulated truck 12 ft 4 in OEM transport position 14 ft 5 in 14 ft 6 in states, 2 in or less to spare 13 ft 8 in 14 ft states 13 ft 5 in Legal, 2 in or less to spare 72,995 lb 95,495 lb Over 80,000 lb before the tractor
Komatsu WA500-8 wheel loader 12 ft 5 in top of ROPS cab 14 ft 6 in 14 ft 6 in states, 2 in or less to spare 13 ft 9 in 14 ft states 13 ft 6 in Legal, 2 in or less to spare 78,619 lb 101,119 lb Over 80,000 lb before the tractor
John Deere 9RX 640 tractor 12 ft 11 in top of exhaust extension 15 ft Height permit 14 ft 3 in 14 ft 6 in states 14 ft 14 ft states, 2 in or less to spare 56,320 lb 78,820 lb Under 80,000 lb before the tractor
Case IH Axial-Flow 8250 combine 13 ft 1 in header off, minimum transport height 15 ft 1 in Height permit 14 ft 4 in 14 ft 6 in states, 2 in or less to spare 14 ft 1 in 14 ft 6 in states 42,845 lb 65,345 lb Under 80,000 lb before the tractor
Cat D10 crawler dozer 14 ft 3 in blade, ripper and ROPS off, top of stack 16 ft 4 in Height permit 15 ft 7 in Height permit 15 ft 4 in Height permit 111,739 lb 134,239 lb Over 80,000 lb before the tractor

Each loaded height is the OEM transport height plus the deck, with any fraction counted as a full inch. "Legal" clears 13 ft 6 in, the lowest height limit in the 48 states we track. "14 ft states" clears 14 ft but not 13 ft 6 in; 21 states, including California and Texas, take it without a height permit. "14 ft 6 in states" clears 14 ft 6 in but not 14 ft; Colorado and Nebraska take it without a height permit. "Height permit" is over 14 ft 6 in in every state we track. In a few of those states the higher figure holds only on designated routes. OEM weight is the shipping weight where the maker publishes one, otherwise the operating weight. Length, overhang and axle loads are separate checks.

A Cat 349 is 14 ft 1 in on the 24 in deck, over the 14 ft line, and legal at 13 ft 4 in on a 15 in one. A Cat 745 articulated truck needs the 12 in deck to get under 13 ft 6 in (13 ft 5 in), and a John Deere 9RX 640 is legal only where 14 ft or more is allowed, even at 12 in. The Case IH Axial-Flow 8250 with its header off and the Cat D10 stripped for shipping are over 14 ft on every deck here. On weight, 8 of the 11 pass 80,000 lb with a 22,500 lb RGN under them before the tractor is counted, so they move on overweight permits whatever the deck; the Cat 966, John Deere 9RX 640 and Case IH Axial-Flow 8250 stay under at that point, and the tractor's weight decides. What comes off each machine is covered under excavator transport, bulldozer transport and crane transport.

How much weight can an RGN haul?

Frame ratings on these RGNs run from 70,000 lb (Trail King TK70HDG, Talbert 35CC) to 160,000 lb (XL 160 HDG in 10 ft, Fontaine Magnitude 80 in 16 ft), each concentrated over 10 to 16 ft of deck. Landoll's spec footnote explains the gap to a road load: "Capacity ratings are frame capacities only," and gross axle weight ratings or state and federal regulations can restrict them.

Axles are the limit on the road. The TK110HDG rides on 3 axles rated 25,000 lb each, 75,000 lb in all, spaced 55 in apart. The federal bridge formula lets that group, 9 ft 2 in from first to last axle, carry about 43,000 lb: 500 × (9.17 × 3/2 + 12 × 3 + 36), rounded to the nearest 500 (try other spacings in the bridge formula calculator). Hauling anything near the trailer's 110,000 lb rating means an overweight permit and, usually, more axles to spread it. Three add-ons supply them:

  • Flip axle. An extra axle that folds down behind or between the trailer's axle groups. Fontaine's Workhorse 50 and 55LCC are "51/60 flip axle ready", the Magnitude 75 and 80 carry intermediate and rear flip axles, Rogers offers a removable or flip 4th axle on the CN55DS, and Fontaine lists its steel-wheel flip axle at an estimated 2,500 lb.
  • Jeep. A separate 1 to 3 axle unit between the tractor and the neck; XL calls a one-axle jeep a joe dog. Trail King's TK80J carries 80,000 lb on 2 axles and its TK100J 100,000 lb on 3. Fontaine's 2-axle 302 jeep (50 in spread) pairs with the Magnitude 55H, whose optional 23 in flipbox lengthens the neck over the jeep.
  • Booster. Axles attached behind the trailer. XL calls a rigid spreader-bar booster East Coast and a pivoting, self-equalizing one West Coast, numbers them 22, 42 and 60 for 1, 2 and 3 axles, and says boosters "do not add to the capacity of the trailer". Trail King says a booster adds axle spread for legal hauling during restrictions and weight on permit loads.

Axles cost tare. Fontaine's modular Magnitudes show it: the 3-axle 55H weighs 22,190 lb, the 5-axle 60HD 28,960 lb, the 5-axle 75 34,915 lb and the 6-axle 80 37,620 lb, so going from 3 to 6 axles adds 15,430 lb of trailer. Talbert's 65SA climbs from 130,000 lb in 14 ft on 5 axles to 140,000 lb in 15 ft as a 4-axle close couple. Past 120,000 lb XL moves to multi-axle sets rated 130,000 to 200,000 lb with jeeps and boosters; those, and the modular platforms beyond them, are in specialized heavy haul trailers.

Which RGN for which load

Start from the machine's measured height and weight. Below about 10 ft 8 in a 34 in step deck may do the job (see step deck trailers); above it, choose the RGN by deck height, then by rating:

Which RGN or lowboy to ask for, by machine height and weight, at a 13 ft 6 in limit
Load (13 ft 6 in limit)Ask forWhy
Up to 11 ft 6 in tall, up to 55 tons A standard 3-axle RGN with a 24 in deck: Trail King TK110HDG, Eager Beaver 55 GSL-3 24 in leaves 11 ft 6 in under 13 ft 6 in; both rate 110,000 lb in 12 ft
11 ft 6 in to 12 ft An 18 to 22 in deck: Fontaine Workhorse 55LCC (18 in), Landoll 855-53 (19.5 in), Talbert 55SA or XL 80 HDG (20 in) 18 in leaves 12 ft; 19.5 in leaves 11 ft 10.5 in
12 ft to 12 ft 3 in A low-profile RGN at 14 to 15 in: Trail King TKHD-S, XL 110 HDGS, Rogers CN55DS 15 in leaves 12 ft 3 in and 14 in 12 ft 4 in, on 4 to 4 1/2 in of ground clearance
12 ft 3 in to 12 ft 6 in XL's 80 HDGSM mini deck (12 in) or a 12 in double drop such as Fontaine's Renegade N12 Lower ratings: 80,000 lb in 16 ft on the HDGSM, 30 tons in 16 ft on the N12
Over 12 ft 6 in A height permit, or a trailer outside the RGN class No deck in our data is lower than 12 in
Over 55 tons concentrated A modular RGN: Fontaine Magnitude 60HD, 75 or 80, or Talbert 65SA 60 to 80 tons in 16 ft on 5 or 6 axles; 130,000 lb in 14 ft on 5
Over 120,000 lb A high-capacity multi-axle set with a jeep and booster XL rates its sets at 130,000 to 200,000 lb
10 ft 10 in or less, and able to climb rear ramps A fixed-gooseneck lowboy: Eager Beaver 25 GLB 32 in deck with a beavertail and ramps; no neck to detach

Each height row shifts up 6 in where 14 ft is legal (19 states, including California and Texas) and 12 in where 14 ft 6 in is legal (Colorado and Nebraska). For wells as low as 12 in, see double drop trailers.

Permits on an RGN move

On an RGN the trailer can trigger a permit before the machine does. Trail King's TKHD-S is 9 ft wide as standard, 6 in over the 102 in federal width (23 CFR 658.15), and so are Fontaine's optional 9 ft decks; Eager Beaver offers the 55 GSL-3 at 108 or 120 in. A wide deck makes sense when the machine already needs a width permit. Flip axles and boosters add length too: Trail King gives the TKHD-S as 52 ft 10 in without its flip axle.

Height and weight follow the machine. The low-profile decks above exist to keep tall loads under 13 ft 6 in, the limit in 27 of our 48 tracked states; at 14 ft or more New York also requires a front escort carrying a height pole. Past 80,000 lb gross the move runs on an overweight permit for a nondivisible load, and the flip axle, jeep or booster is how the carrier spreads that weight across more axles. For the state-by-state detail, see oversize permits by state; for escort widths and heights, pilot car requirements; for the federal numbers, legal load limits.

Booking RGN trucking through HTS

Our team has heavy-haul experience since 2011, and HTS Logistics has been a licensed property broker since 2021 (MC 1178470). We do not own trailers: for each load we find a carrier whose RGN fits the machine, then handle the permits and escorts. For an RGN quote, send:

  1. The machine: its model, serial number and the attachments that ship on it or separately.
  2. Its height, width and weight as it will ship, measured with a tape and taken from a certified scale or the serial plate.
  3. Both sites: whether there is firm, level ground to drop the deck and room for the tractor to pull the neck straight ahead.

Permit fees are often the small line on these moves (New York's single-trip permit is $40); our heavy equipment transport cost guide shows where the rest goes. Use the quote form below, or book RGN trucking from the heavy haul page. Carriers that run RGNs can haul RGN loads with HTS.

RGN trailer questions

What is RGN freight?

Freight booked on a removable gooseneck trailer, usually one machine that drives on over the front: an excavator, dozer, loader or similar. RGN decks ride 14 to 24 in loaded, so the freight tends to be equipment too tall for a step deck's 34 to 40 in lower deck or too heavy for its 60,000 lb concentrated rating. Anything heavier than 80,000 lb gross needs an overweight permit.

What is an RGN truck?

The tractor that pulls an RGN. A hydraulic neck needs hydraulic power, so the truck carries a wet kit (a PTO-driven pump) unless the trailer has its own engine, such as the 25 HP gas package Landoll offers on the 855 or Rogers' optional 13 HP unit. While detached, a non-ground-bearing neck rests on the truck's frame rails as the truck pulls it clear.

How long is a standard RGN trailer?

Overall length on the RGNs that publish it runs from 44 ft 1 in (Trail King TK70HDG, 24 ft deck) to 57 ft 5 in (Fontaine Workhorse 55LCC, 26 ft deck). The 55-ton, 3-axle models that list a length are 52 ft 5 in to 53 ft: XL's 110 HDG at 52 ft 5 in, Trail King's TK110HDG at 52 ft 10 in and XL's low-profile 110 HDGS at 53 ft. A flip axle or booster adds to that.

Are lowboy and RGN trailers the same?

An RGN is one kind of lowboy, so the terms overlap without being equal. Lowboy covers every trailer with its deck dropped between the neck and the rear axles, including fixed-neck models such as Eager Beaver's 25 GLB, which loads over rear ramps at 32 in. RGN means the neck comes off for front loading, on decks of 14 to 24 in. All three are compared in our RGN vs lowboy vs step deck table.

How much does an RGN trailer weigh?

Published empty weights run from 14,540 lb (Talbert 35CC, 35 tons) to 37,620 lb (Fontaine Magnitude 80 with 6 axles). The 55-ton models that publish one weigh 20,850 to 23,900 lb: Talbert 55SA 20,850 lb, Fontaine Magnitude 55H 22,190 lb, Eager Beaver 55 GSL-3 22,500 lb and Landoll 855-53 23,900 lb. Trail King, XL and Rogers do not list empty weights for these models.

Can an RGN gooseneck be detached on uneven ground?

It depends on the design. Talbert's manual starts its detach procedure by parking on firm, level ground, while Fontaine says its non-ground-bearing Workhorse 50 can "connect or disconnect on uneven ground". Either way the tractor drives forward with the neck, straight ahead if possible, so the site needs room in front of the trailer for a neck that is 10 ft 5 in to 23 ft 4 in long on the models we compared.

Sources

Facts on this page were checked in October 2026 against the sources below. Rules and rates change; we confirm current requirements on every move.

  1. Talbert Manufacturing, Trailers Operator's Manual (detach, loading and hookup procedure, section 3.2)
  2. Talbert 35CC product page
  3. Trail King Hydraulic Detachable Gooseneck (TKHDG-C) product page (Trail King TK70HDG, Trail King TK110HDG)
  4. Trail King TKHDG-C brochure ©2020, p.4 (Trail King TK70HDG, Trail King TK110HDG)
  5. XL Specialized XL Hydraulic Detachable Gooseneck page (XL 80 HDG, XL 110 HDG, XL 160 HDG)
  6. Fontaine Specialized product spec page: Workhorse 50
  7. Fontaine Specialized Workhorse 50 Spec Sheet LT-114 R20 ©2022
  8. Fontaine Specialized product spec page: Workhorse 55LCC
  9. Fontaine Specialized Workhorse 55LCC Spec Sheet LT-116 R24 ©2022
  10. Landoll 855 Detachable product page (Landoll 855-53)
  11. Talbert 55SA product page
  12. Fontaine Specialized product spec page: Magnitude 55H MFLD
  13. Trail King TKHDG product page (Trail King TK110HDG)
  14. Eager Beaver 55 GSL-3 spec sheet PDF
  15. XL Specialized Low-Profile HDG page (XL 80 HDGSM mini deck, XL 110 HDGS)
  16. Trail King TKHD-S one-pager (2026)
  17. Trail King HD-S product page (Trail King TKHD-S)
  18. ROGERS CN55DS model detail page (Rogers CN55DS CobraNeck)
  19. Fontaine Specialized product spec page: Magnitude 60HD MFLD
  20. Talbert 60SA product page
  21. Talbert 65SA Modular product page
  22. Fontaine Specialized product spec page: Magnitude 75 MFLD
  23. Fontaine Specialized product spec page: Magnitude 80 MFLD
  24. XL Specialized Hydraulic Detachable Extendable page (XL 80 HDE)
  25. XL Specialized Mechanical Full-width Gooseneck page (XL 80 MFG)
  26. XL Specialized Hydraulic Folding Gooseneck page (XL Hydraulic Folding Gooseneck)
  27. Fontaine Specialized accessory page: Magnitude 302 Jeep
  28. Trail King Jeeps product page (Trail King TK80J and TK100J jeeps)
  29. Fontaine Specialized product spec page: Renegade N12
  30. Eager Beaver 25 GLB spec sheet PDF
  31. Trail King Aluminum-Steel Combo Step Deck product page (Trail King TK80ACS-34)
  32. Trail King TKACS brochure p.4 (Trail King TK80ACS-34)
  33. XL Specialized Step Deck page (XL 80 SD)
  34. XL Specialized High-Capacity Detachable Gooseneck page (boosters, jeeps, mechanical and hydraulic necks)
  35. Trail King Booster Axles product page (booster axle spread)
  36. 49 CFR 393.130 (securing machinery of 10,000 lb or more)
  37. 23 CFR 658.15 Width (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-15) (102 in width on the National Network)
  38. 23 CFR 658.17 Weight (80,000 lb gross, 20,000 lb single axle, 34,000 lb tandem)
  39. 23 CFR 658.5 Definitions (nondivisible load definition)
  40. FHWA, Federal Size Regulations for Commercial Motor Vehicles (no federal height limit)
  41. NY Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 385 (NY Senate Open Legislation) (13 ft 6 in height limit)
  42. California Vehicle Code 35250 (14 ft height limit)
  43. TxDMV Texas Size/Weight Limits (14 ft legal height)
  44. CDOT Rules & Regulations (legal limits) (14 ft 6 in legal height)
  45. NDOT Legal Sizes and Weights for Vehicles in Nebraska (14 ft 6 in legal height)
  46. NYS Certified Escort Manual 2025 (height pole at 14 ft)
  47. NYSDOT Permit Types and Fees ($40 single-trip permit)
  48. Komatsu D155AX-8: Komatsu D155AX-8 brochure AESS869-0326-V5, ©2026 Komatsu America Corp. 02/25 (EV-1), pp. 14-15 (OEM transport dimensions)
  49. Caterpillar 966: 966 (14C) Wheel Loader Technical Specifications, AEXQ4419-00 (11-2025) (OEM transport dimensions)
  50. John Deere 350 P-Tier: John Deere 350 P-Tier Excavator brochure/specs ME350PAU (25-01) (OEM transport dimensions)
  51. Grove RT765E-2: Grove RT765E-2 Product Guide, ANSI B30.5 Imperial 85%, ©2020, Part No. 10-009-2M-0721PDF (OEM transport dimensions)
  52. Komatsu PC490LC-11: Komatsu PC490LC-11/PC490LCi-11 full brochure, EN-PC490LC-LCi-11-FB01-0524-V2 ©2022 (OEM transport dimensions)
  53. Caterpillar 349: 349 Hydraulic Excavator Technical Specifications (Aus-NZ, S Korea, N Am) AEXQ2492-01 (09-2020), Build 07C (OEM transport dimensions)
  54. Caterpillar 745: 745 Articulated Truck Technical Specifications, AEXQ3096-03 (06-2025) (OEM transport dimensions)
  55. Komatsu WA500-8: Komatsu WA500-8 brochure AESS891-0326-V6 (Komatsu America, ©2026) (OEM transport dimensions)
  56. John Deere 9RX 640: John Deere 9 Series brochure YY2314127 rev1 (EN, EU), 9RX specification page (OEM transport dimensions)
  57. Case IH Axial-Flow 8250: Case IH Axial-Flow 260 Series brochure CIH25071701 (caseih.com download) (OEM transport dimensions)
  58. Caterpillar D10: D10 Dozer Technical Specifications AEXQ3209-03 (09-2026) (OEM transport dimensions)

Moving a machine on an RGN?

Send the machine, its shipping height, width and weight, and both addresses, including whether there is level ground to drop the deck. We pick the deck and axle setup, price the permits and book a carrier that runs it.

  • FMCSA-licensed property broker, MC# 1178470
  • Permits, escorts and route surveys arranged for each move
  • Carriers checked for authority, insurance and safety record
  • Commercial shippers, dealers, contractors and auction buyers

Prefer to talk? Call (631) 683-8275.

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