The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Assn. presented three Hauling Job of the Year awards during its Annual Conference recently.

The annual competition rewards three hauling jobs that successfully demonstrate how SC&RA member companies tackle the complexities of hauling oversize/overweight items. Judges evaluate shipment routing, planning, physical elements, safety considerations and execution. Winners are annually chosen in three categories: Moving Job of the Year, Trucking Job Over 160,000 Pounds, and Trucking Job Under 160,000 Pounds. The moving job uses specialized equipment such as self-propelled transporters, dollies, and crawler assemblies. The trucking jobs involve regular licensed tractors and trailers, and move predominantly over public highways.
Moving Job of the Year: Burkhalter Rigging, Columbus, Miss. A power plant in Washington County, Ohio called upon Burkhalter Rigging to execute an extremely complicated move involving many components, including a 452,000-pound transformer, two gas turbine generators weighing 533,000 pounds each, and two gas turbines weighing 377,000 pounds each, among other items. The total weight of all the components added up to 4,914 tons. While moving these items would be extremely challenging, even more daunting was planning a route, via country roads and antiquated bridges, which could sustain the load.
Trucking Job Over 160,000 Pounds: Emmert International, Clackamas, Ore. A refinery in Texas contacted Emmert International to receive a 121-foot coldbox and transport it approximately 500 miles from the port of Houston to a its final destination outside Dallas. The coldbox weighed approximately 277,000 pounds and measured 110 feet long by 23 feet wide by 17 feet tall. The size of the unit prevented its transfer to Dallas via rail. Therefore, Emmert International designed an overland transport system that was low to the ground (avoiding connection with power lines, traffic signals, etc.) and encompassed a trailer configuration that complied with Department of Transportation rules, while safely accommodating the move. The final route traveled through 27 municipalities and took 14 days to complete.
Trucking Job Under 160,000 Pounds: Emmert International, Clackamas, Ore. Emmert International was also commissioned by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to move one of the few remaining patrol torpedo boats (commonly known as a “PT-boat”) from Freeport to Fredericksburg, Texas – a distance of over 400 miles -- where it would be placed at a climate-controlled museum for public display. Given the boat’s delicate wood construction, Emmert constructed a saddle design that stabilized the boat on a 10-axle trailer, and fit each saddle with a screw jacking mechanism at each end to fully support the contour of the hull. The two-day journey, which was filmed live for broadcast via the Texas Parks and Wildlife website, was completed a day early, without incident.