The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association has named the winners of the Hauling Job of the Year Awards, including Barnhart, Energy Transportation and Tradelossa Heavy Haul & Rigging.


Barnhart

Memphis, Tenn.-based Barnhart was recognized in the moving category, which involved specialized equipment, including self-propelled transported dollies and crawler assemblies. Compared to the company's largest moving job of 700-ton modules, this job involved transporting two Electrostatic Precipitator modules weighing 2,800 tons for an oil refinery project in Calif.

The refinery opted to assemble the units in a different area half a mile away and move them back to the refinery. This is where Barnhart came in. The company encountered several challenges to contend with, including high centers of gravity, large sail area, ground conditions, sharp turns, seismic activity and the state's regulatory environment.

Barnhart moved the modules at a height of 27 feet, with four strandjacks held up by a modular lift tower to hoist two girders weighing 120,000 pounds each, positioned under the unit.

While Barnhart was delivering the final unit, the team released 50 percent of the weight and held that position while the refinery finished initial connections. As the company held this position, a 5.4 earthquake occurred in the Los Angeles basin, but there was no damage to the equipment or the unit.

The first move took Barnhart nine days, while the second took seven. After 2,000 hours of planning, 1,500 hours of engineering and 3,500 hours of actual moving, there was no property damage, accidents or injuries.

Energy Transportation

Energy Transportation, based in Casper, Wyo., earned the award in the Hauling over 160,000 Pounds category, which entails regular licensed tractors and trailers. The company hauled three dehydrators, each weighing 450,000 pounds, from a rail site in Wyoming to the Meeker Gas Plant in Colorado, a trip of about 300 miles over extreme terrain.

A 440-ton 16000 Manitowoc crawler crane loaded the dehydrators into 12 lines of Scheuerle platform axles. Using a 700-ton grantry system, the company lifted the load onto the trailer. It was pulled by a 2003 Peterbilt Prime mover and pushed by two 2008 Peterbilt tractors.

The company did run into some problems along the way, from having to unchain the dollies when making turns to closing down roads and highways at certain points. The crew also experienced a 12 percent grade during the last three miles.

When the Energy Transportation reached Colorado, the company had to lift the components 18 feet in the air. The whole process took about 6,000 man-hours. No injuries or accidents occurred.

Tradelossa

Tradelossa in Mexico took home the title in the under 160,000 pounds category for hauling four vessels for Praxair. The company moved the vessels about 125 miles from Puerto Limon in Costa Rica to Coyol, Alajuela. Each weighed between 58,000 and 100,000 pounds and measured up to 90 feet long.

The crew managed to handle the obstacles that driving in Costa Rica presented, including rough terrain, unpaved and narrow roads, working permits requirements and environmental regulations. The company also had to transport its own equipment to use in the job from Mexico to Costa Rica, a trip of about 1,200 miles.

Unloaded onto the trailer using a 30-ton crane, the first two pieces started moving on a configuration of 4 axles/33-foot beam extension/4 axles. It took four days for the crew to return. The third piece was transported next on a configuration of 4 axles/2 girder bridge with 43-foot beam setting/4 axles. The last vessel was moved in five days, using a configuration of 4 axles/2 girder bridge with a 92-foot beam setting/4 axles. The company finished the task on time and within budget, experiencing no safety incidents or damage to the vessels.