Speed Humps – What You Should Know Before

Calling For a Quote

When looking for a quote for speed humps, there are a few things that you’ll be asked about your project. Being able to answer these questions accurately and quickly will help you save time, and potentially avoid mistakes later down the road.

So what should you know before calling?

What is the speed range that traffic should be traveling?

There are different products available that have a very different affect on the traffic pattern. If you’re using a product that is too aggressive, or not aggressive enough, it could have a negative affect, rather than a positive. Speed humps typically are best for areas that should maintain a traffic flow of around 10 – 15 mph. If you need traffic slower than this, you may want to consider a speed bump instead.  Considering the usage will help define the best product to use, and will avoid being unhappy with the wrong product later.

How wide is your road?

Rubber speed humps are sold in 19.5” wide sections that are put together to create a speed hump that is customized for your specific location. If you do the math, you’ll see that a 12′ wide road is going to take about 7 pieces to create a speed hump of 11′ 4.5” in width. If your roadway is closer to 15′ you’re going to need 9 sections for a width of 14′ 7.5”.

Those 3 feet can make a major difference in price. If you think your road is 12′, and it ends up being 15′ wide you’ll either have a hump that’s too short for the road, or added expense you weren’t planning on. So it’s best to have an accurate measurement up front so you’re being quoted for the right measurement.

Do you want end caps?

While end caps are not required, they are a recommended addition to the hump for several reasons. These help to taper the ends to make them safer for pedestrians, and it will help protect the ends of the hump to keep them viable for years and years.

Adding end caps will also affect the number of sections you might need. Let’s take another look at that 12′ road. If you don’t use end caps, you’re looking at 7 pieces. If you add end caps, you can take away 2 of those sections & replace them with ends.

This is important for several reasons. First, adding end caps will make your speed hump safer. But it will also decrease the cost. End caps, on average are about 20% less than the interior sections, plus they’re not quite as heavy, so there’s a chance freight charges may be decreased as well. Something to consider if you must maintain a budget.

How many locations do you plan to install?

You may be planning on installing just one speed hump. And that’s fine, your price should be accurate. However, if you’re installing 3, don’t assume your price will be exactly the same for all 3. Typically, the larger the quantity of pieces purchased, the better the price. So purchasing enough material to install all 3 at once could save you quite a few bucks.

Plus, freight is usually better on larger shipments, so there’s a good chance that you’ll save on the product, and on the freight too. Again, if you’re working with a budget, this can help you stay within those limits.

Can you accept delivery from a trucking company?

Depending on the quantity that you’re going to be purchasing, this can turn into a major expense. Normally, if you’re purchasing more than 2 or 3 pieces, the shipment will be sent with a trucking company. That means they’re going to be packed on a pallet and loaded on a truck. Trucks are designed to deliver to a dock location, unless there’s something to note otherwise.

If you don’t have access to a loading dock, or if you don’t have a forklift at your disposal, this means that the trucking company will need to use a liftgate to unload the shipment for you. Most trucking companies charge additional for this service. Knowing this ahead of time can help the freight quote be more accurate so you won’t face any unexpected expenses later.

It may seem like quite a bit to consider before even getting a price. But the more details you can provide, the more accurate your quote can be. Preparation is key! Knowing what you’re facing ahead of time will help you avoid unexpected costs, and will help the process move along more smoothly. All it takes is a little time.