Hauling Two Massive Steam Dryers Across 2,000 Miles: ATS Heavy Haul Case Study
How Innovative OSOW Freight Solutions Conquered The Impossible
One of the largest heavy-lift companies in the United States needed transportation for two enormous steam dryers: 20 feet, 6 inches wide with a combined weight of more than 250,000 pounds. The dryers needed to travel nearly 2,000 miles from Utah to Alabama, requiring precise route engineering, state approvals, and multi-state police escorts. With fast coordination and deep expertise in oversize load transportation, ATS delivered the project safely and on schedule.
The Challenge: Moving Seriously Oversize Freight
Transporting two steam dryers of this size isn’t a standard heavy haul — it’s an extremely complex oversize freight move requiring:
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Careful route engineering across seven states
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Early collaboration with state permit offices and local law enforcement
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Accurate cost forecasting despite unique dimensions
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Strict adherence to state and federal regulations
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Meticulous planning for multi-state police escorts
The Solution: Precise Heavy Haul Transportation Planning
From the moment the request came in, the ATS Specialized team collaborated with on-site equipment and operations personnel, permit and route planning specialists, state permitting offices, and law enforcement to execute a three-pronged coordination process for this exceedingly large move.
1. Full Route Survey Performed by Experts
To ensure feasibility, ATS surveyors drove the entire route in advance, identifying any areas requiring special attention. This proactive survey allowed ATS to validate clearances, confirm infrastructure suitability and guarantee safe passage from Utah to Alabama.
2. Nimble Load Planning, No Matter the Size
After the route was initially approved, it was determined the dryers needed to be transported sideways to ensure adequate load support. This changed the total width from 20 feet 6 inches to 22 feet 6 inches, which triggered a need for:
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New route requirements
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Revised permits
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Updated state approvals
Because of ATS’s detailed planning and established processes, updated routes were turned around within days of the dimensional change, minimizing any operational lag.
3. Coordinating Multi-State Police Escorts
At the new width of 22 feet 6 inches, police escorts were required in five of the seven states the load traveled through. ATS planned the move around a strict, state-coordinated schedule to ensure smooth handoffs between law enforcement escorts across state lines.
The Results: A Seamless Heavy Haul Move, Delivered Safely & On Time
For the shipper behind this exceptional move, the investment in ATS's expertise paid off, transforming an otherwise unmanageably complex project into a simplified and streamlined affair.
ATS served as a fully turnkey heavy haul solution to the business's oversized transportation needs, handling route planning, permitting, law enforcement coordination, regulatory compliance, and in-route tracking and monitoring. These comprehensive services, delivered via a single point of contact for the best possible customer experience, ultimately led to a safe, on-time delivery of the steam dryers and a highly satisfactory conclusion to the project.
Lessons Learned: Key Takeaways for Shippers
At ATS, we believe in a constant pursuit of excellence — which means a constant pursuit of knowledge. Each load we deliver adds wisdom to our deep bench of expertise, and we're proud to share our insights with shippers like you.
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Early route engineering can reduce project delays if/when details change.
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Pre-move route surveys minimize risk and improve scheduling accuracy.
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Strong relationships with state permit and law enforcement offices accelerate approvals.
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Dedicated oversize/overweight (OSOW) planning prevents compliance disruptions.
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Turnkey heavy haul support simplifies multi-state moves for shippers operating on strict deadlines.
Looking for Heavy Haul Trucking Expertise?
If oversize freight, multi-state permitting or complex route engineering is part of your upcoming project, ATS can help you move forward confidently. Tell us what you’re shipping and we’ll craft an experience-backed strategy for getting it delivered safely.
