When Do You Need a Dedicated Mat Hauler? Understanding the Right Equipment for Your Jobsite 

Ground protection mats are essential on many pipeline construction and other remote jobsites, where crews need to create stable access across soft, uneven, or environmentally sensitive terrain. But getting those mats into position can present its own logistical challenge. 

For years, tracked units have been a common choice for mat hauling because their low ground pressure lets them travel across challenging terrain. However, their relatively low travel speeds can make long-distance mat transport time-consuming, particularly when crews are making repeated trips throughout the workday. 

That's where a dedicated wheeled mat hauler offers a different approach. 

The Bergmann C815s Mat Hauler pairs low ground pressure with a 26,455-lb payload and a 25-mph top speed, giving crews a purpose-built option for moving heavy mats efficiently across pipeline sites and other demanding jobsites. 

But when does a dedicated mat hauler actually make sense for your operation? 

When Mat Hauling Becomes a Jobsite Bottleneck 

Not every project needs specialized mat hauling equipment. For a short-term job with limited mat movement, a loader, excavator, or other machine already on site may be enough. 

The equation changes when mat hauling becomes a recurring part of the job. Pipeline construction often requires crews to move large quantities of heavy mats over significant distances as work progresses. Mats get installed ahead of construction, repositioned as crews advance, and recovered once an area is complete. 

When a machine is making these trips throughout the workday, transport speed, loading efficiency, and maneuverability start to have a direct effect on productivity. That's when it's worth asking whether the equipment moving the mats has become the bottleneck itself. 

5 Signs You May Need a Dedicated Mat Hauler

1. You're Moving Mats Long Distances

Tracked units offer excellent flotation and low ground pressure, but their lower travel speeds can stretch out long-distance transport cycles considerably. The C815s reaches speeds of up to 25 mph, compared with 10 mph for the Bergmann C912s tracked dumper. 

For projects with long haul routes, a faster purpose-built hauler can reduce transport time and increase the number of hauling cycles possible during a shift.

2. You're Hauling Heavy Loads

The C815s carries up to 26,455 lbs per trip, letting crews move substantial mat loads in a single cycle. More material per trip means fewer trips overall, a difference that can add up on large pipeline projects where thousands of mats may need to be moved.

3. You're Working on Soft or Sensitive Ground

Matting is often used specifically because the underlying terrain presents access or ground-protection challenges, which makes ground pressure a real consideration for the equipment hauling the mats, too. 

The C815s has a loaded ground pressure of 12.5 PSI, helping balance payload capacity with the traction and mobility needed for demanding jobsites. 

The right equipment ultimately depends on site-specific soil conditions and project requirements, but ground pressure should be part of that evaluation.

4. Mat Loading and Unloading Is Slowing the Crew Down

Transport speed isn't the only efficiency factor. Loading and unloading can take significant time, especially with equipment not designed around the shape and weight of ground protection mats.  

The C815s uses a flatbed built specifically for mat transport, so mats can be loaded directly onto the deck rather than requiring folding or restacking to fit a conventional bed. 

When mats are loaded and unloaded repeatedly throughout a project, simplifying that movement can help keep the work moving.

5. Operator Visibility, Comfort, and Maneuverability Matter

Pipeline rights-of-way are busy, confined work environments with multiple crews, machines, and materials operating close together. 

The C815s is built with this in mind. Its 360-degree camera system provides visibility around the machine, while a rotating operator station lets the operator maintain visibility when working in either direction without turning the entire chassis around. This can reduce the need for backing maneuvers in tight corridors.  

The Bergmann Comfort Cab and air-ride seat are designed to keep operators comfortable through long, repetitive shifts. On projects where mat hauling is a full-day task, these features can support a more controlled and productive operation. 

Wheeled vs. Tracked Mat Hauling 

Tracked equipment remains a valuable option where flotation and extremely low ground pressure are the primary concerns. However, tracked units can have limitations when a project also requires faster travel speeds or higher payloads over longer distances.  

A dedicated wheeled mat hauler offers a different balance of capabilities: 

The choice isn't about replacing one machine type with another. It's about matching the hauling equipment to the project's specific requirements.  

Where flotation and extremely low ground pressure are the primary considerations, a tracked unit may be appropriate. Where crews need to balance terrain performance with higher payloads, faster travel, and repeated long-distance transport, a wheeled mat hauler offers another option to consider. 

Built for Heavy Mat Transport: The Bergmann C815s 

The C815s was designed around the demands of heavy mat transport rather than adapted from a general hauling application. 

Its 26,455-lb payload, 25-mph top speed, and 12.5 PSI loaded ground pressure give pipeline crews the ability to move substantial mat loads while maintaining the mobility needed for challenging jobsites.  

The C815s is powered by a water-cooled, 4.5L Cummins four-cylinder diesel engine producing 159 hp. Its articulated configuration provides maneuverability across uneven terrain, while its dedicated flatbed simplifies mat loading and transport.  

Maintenance is designed around jobsite accessibility, too. Service points are accessible from ground level, allowing routine maintenance and inspections without requiring technicians to climb onto the machine. 

Consider the Total Mat-Hauling Cycle 

It's easy to evaluate mat hauling equipment on payload or travel speed alone. The bigger picture is the full cycle — load, transport, position, return, and repeat. 

Every stage affects productivity. A machine that carries more but travels slower may not provide the same efficiency as a faster machine with a different payload. Likewise, a fast machine that requires additional handling during loading can lose some of that advantage elsewhere in the cycle. 

The right choice depends on the specific demands of the project, including haul distance, terrain, mat weight, number of cycles, and available crew and equipment. 

Is a Dedicated Mat Hauler Right for Your Jobsite? 

A dedicated mat hauler can make sense when mat transport becomes a significant, repeated part of the job rather than an occasional task.  

If your project involves pipeline construction, heavy mat transport, long haul distances, soft terrain, or frequent mat repositioning, it's worth examining how much time and equipment your current process requires.  

A few questions to start with: 

• How many mats are you moving each day? 
• How far do they need to travel? 
• How much does each load weigh? 
• What terrain are you crossing? 
• How much time does loading and unloading take? 
• Are your existing machines being pulled away from their primary work to haul mats? 

The answers can help you determine whether general-purpose equipment is still keeping pace with the project or whether purpose-built mat hauling equipment could improve the operation. 

The Bergmann C815s Mat Hauler is designed to help crews move heavy mats efficiently while balancing payload, speed, low ground pressure, maneuverability, and operator-focused features. 

Learn more about the C815s Mat Hauler or schedule a demo.