Wind power market trying to avoid a standstill

Over the last 20 years the wind energy market has ebbed and flowed. Tax credits and government incentives in the USA have helped the industry grow. Today, however, some of these subsidies and incentives are at risk.

Trail King will launch a new EFX Blade Hauler later this year.

While the industry is regrouping, it does not mean the market for hauling, erecting and maintaining wind turbines will recede. In fact, there is optimism in many aspects of the clean energy sector. And with more than 76,051 wind turbines generating energy in the United States today, there will be a consistent need for maintenance and repowering. Heavy haul companies will still need trailers to haul the often awkward and oversize components.

Wind trailer pioneer

In 2002, when the wind industry was starting to expand across North America, Trail King Industries was ready, launching its first blade hauling trailer that year. Many of the company’s 13-axle trailers had already been hauling wind tower components for a few years, according to Ty Hanten, vice president of sales and marketing for the Mitchell, South Dakota-based company.

Fast forward 23 years and the wind market is at a crossroads. Hanten characterized it as uncertain and volatile.

“The market has been stymied,” he said. “The uncertainty in the macro market environment is affecting all the manufacturers in this segment. But there is still some need out in the market.”

The market has been stalled due to the regulatory environment in Washington, D.C., Hanten explained. No one is sure how things will play out.

“We talked to a lot of our customers, and they are still optimistic that we will see some steady activity for the near term,” he said. “Perhaps nothing spectacular, but steady for now.”

Wind turbine components will continue to get bigger, longer and heavier.

“Customers are still looking for advantages in new products,” he said.

For now, the market is centered in the realm of wind farm maintenance and repower jobs.

“The repower market is keeping the market occupied and driving the need for new products,” Hanten said.

By the fourth quarter of 2025, Trail King plans to introduce a new EFX Blade Hauler that will feature new options in maneuverability, flexibility and steering.

“Our new Blade Hauler with the new steering option will allow companies to reevaluate the routes because they can reduce infrastructure work and get to locations easier and faster,” Hanten said. “Our customers are interested in this new product because there are several wind farms already in progress and plenty of maintenance and repower work too.”

The new Trail King TK85EFX will feature a longer stretched length to accommodate the longer blades, supporting a root stand to tip stand length of 60 meters, simplified remote operations, improved self-contained enclosure and a hybrid steering option to turn up to 60 degrees of steering angle.

Cyclical market

“Our company has been designing and providing specialized trailers and transport equipment for the wind industry since 2007,” said Marc Stanely, heavy haul product manager for Hale Trailer. “Barry Hale, Jr. identified a market need due to long lead times for these specialized trailers, leading him to proactively design and stock a range of wind-specific transport solutions, including blade, half-schnable and full-schnable trailers. We are currently the only dealership in the country to maintain an inventory of these specialized wind industry trailers.”

TII Scheuerle manufactures a range of specialized products for the wind industry, including the K25L wind tower adapter.

The market for trailers specifically designed to transport wind components is cyclical and heavily influenced by government subsidies and tax credits, according to Staley.

“These external factors create fluctuations in demand, leading to periods of both growth and contraction within the industry,” he said.

Trailers designed specifically for hauling wind components bring safety and efficiency to the market.

“These specially designed trailers provide owners with a crucial competitive advantage, enabling them to bid on and secure wind energy projects that would otherwise be inaccessible,” said Staley.

Hale Trailer sells and distributes Temisko, Trail King, XL Specialized and Faymonville brands.

TPSE, Inc. has been supporting the wind energy industry in North America for two decades, specifically, with the TII Scheuerle brand.

“It began with the TII Scheuerle SPMT,” said Michael LaScala, TPSE vice president of sales and marketing. “It’s a globally recognized product that is used throughout the world and here in North America. The SPMT’s ability to make precise moves in open or mechanically coupled combinations makes it a leading choice for moving nacelles, tower sections, monopiles, rotors and blades.”

LaScala said the Blade Adapter made by Scheuerle allows for the transport of wind blades over 100 meters on public roads. He envisions a bright future for these products in North America.

Hale Trailer stocks several brands of wind trailers, including the Temisko Blade Trailer.

Innovation and flexibility

“TII Scheuerle has been supporting the wind energy sector since the early 2000s, when the industry first began its rapid expansion,” said TII’s Irene Kromm. “Our modular InterCombi and K25 vehicles already offered the flexibility needed at that time, including interchangeable decks for a variety of components types.”

As wind turbine designs have evolved, producing larger and heavier components, TII Scheuerle has consistently developed specialized transport equipment to meet these new challenges while addressing infrastructure constraints.

“Today, we offer some of the most advanced solutions on the market, such as the Blade Lifter and RBTS, designed to handle the demands of both current and future wind turbine generations” Kromm said. “The market for wind component transportation continues to grow in both volume and technical complexity.”

“As wind turbines increase in size, blades and tower segments become longer, heavier and more sensitive, requiring highly specialized and adaptable transport equipment,” she said. “The sector demands robust, safe and versatile solutions capable of handling extreme dimensions across diverse terrains — from urban areas to remote and challenging wind farm locations. The fast pace of wind energy development requires transport systems that are flexible, efficient and future-ready.”

Each Scheuerle system is engineered to address the specific challenges of wind turbine transportation, addressing on shore and offshore wind markets.

Geared specifically to the wind industry are TII Scheuerle’s SPMT and SPMT PowerHoss, the K25, RBTS and Blade Lifter products.

Tailored products

Faymonville is very active in developing transport solutions tailored to the needs of the wind energy sector.

“In North America, this industry is known for its volatility and strong reliance on political frameworks,” said Thomas Blaise, who handles technical sales for Faymonville in North America. “Our product range is optimized for weight, length and functionality to ensure safe, efficient and flexible operations.”

A key solution for the wind sector is the Faymonville HighwayMax trailer.

Faymonville engineers trailer solutions that are precisely aligned with the demands of transporting oversized components such as blades, nacelles and towers. One key solution for the U.S. market, Blaise said, is Faymonville’s 9-axle HighwayMax trailer. Designed for optimized setup times and reduced tare weight, it enables higher payload capacity.

“The HighwayMax has proven itself in numerous wind energy projects across the United States,” he said. “With a legal payload exceeding 174,000 pounds [79 tonnes] at 20,000 pounds [9 tonnes] per axle and a technical payload over 249,000 pounds [113 tonnes], it offers reliable performance for North American heavy haulers aiming to expand their capabilities.”

For transporting extremely long and cumbersome cargo such as rotor blades, Faymonville offers the extendable flatdeck trailer, the TeleMax. Available with triple or quadruple extension, this trailer is ideal for wind blades and other elongated loads. Its versatility and user-friendliness make it a preferred choice, while the 24-foot (7.3 metre) non-load-bearing extension adds valuable overhang capacity beyond the main load area.

Evolving needs

XL Specialized Trailers has also been designing and manufacturing trailers for hauling wind turbine components since the early 2000s.

“Over the years, we’ve developed purpose-built solutions for every part of the turbine, from transporting blades with our XL BladeMate trailer, to tower sections with our XL TowerMate and the nacelle with our XL Lightweight 13-axle configuration,” said Shane Michelson, director of sales, XL Specialized. “As the wind industry has evolved and equipment has grown larger and more complex, we’ve continuously refined our designs to meet those changing demands. Our focus has always been on creating trailers that not only handle the size and weight of today’s wind components but also make the job easier and more efficient for the drivers on the road.”

Depending on project activity and funding, Michelson said the wind energy market tends to go through a lot of ups and downs.

“It’s always changing, but our customers are great at adjusting and ramping up when opportunities come their way,” he said. “When that happens, we’re ready to jump in and support them with the equipment they need. Our wind-energy trailers are built specifically for hauling turbine components, but they’re also flexible enough to handle other types of loads. That versatility really comes in handy during slower times in the wind industry, giving our customers more options to keep moving.”

XL’s industry-leading steerable technology has been a game-changer, the company said.

He said that XL Specialized wind trailers benefit from a range of safety features designed with both the driver and job in mind.

“These include enhanced lighting packages for better visibility on the road, as well as steerable axle options that help keep the trailer aligned with the truck, making tight turns and maneuvering much easier,” he said. “XL’s industry-leading steerable technology has been a game-changer for many of our customers, especially when navigating challenging routes.”

Payload capability is also crucial in this sector with the wind components getting heavier.

XL builds the lightest 13 Axle Nacelle hauler in the industry for maximizing payload.

Engineered for safety

Wind turbine blades are not only extremely long, but they are also extremely fragile.

“For narrow mountain roads, urban journeys or wooded sections, Goldhofer has developed extremely flexible transport systems that can cope with even the most difficult types of passages,” according to the company. “Goldhofer has long positioned itself as a trailblazer in the field of innovative and sustainable transport technologies – beginning with the FTV 300, which revolutionized the handling of wind turbine blades. Today, the FTV 930 marks the fourth generation of this highly efficient transport solution, reflecting continuous advancement and refinement.”

A key feature of the FTV is its ability to lift rotor blades up to 60 degrees, enabling safe navigation through narrow passages, urban areas and routes with overhead obstacles such as power lines and trees. The FTV’s hydraulic lifting and rotation mechanisms are controlled remotely, allowing for real-time adjustments during transport.

Since its launch at Bauma 2022, the Goldhofer PST/SL-E split has established itself in the wind market. Whether the operation involves loads with a high center of gravity or large wind turbine components, the PST/SL-E split is the ideal solution for a wide range of transport requirements.

Goldhofer’s Blades is a transport concept where the load forms the connecting element between the tractor unit and the trailer.

“The PST/SL-E split is a real game changer,” said Jean-Philippe Martin, Goldhofer’s director of international business sales. “The drive axle lines allow us to reduce the total number of axle lines required and increase transport performance at the same time. The result is lower fuel consumption and greater efficiency.”

Goldhofer’s Blades represents a transport concept where the load itself serves as the connecting element between the tractor unit and the trailer. This is realized through the use of a blade hauler in combination with a self-tracking trailing dolly, enabling the transport of wind turbine blades exceeding 100 meters in length through even the narrowest of routes.

For return journeys, the configuration can be converted into a semitrailer setup by simply coupling the trailer to the free-turning device. A key feature of this system is its hydraulically adjustable steering mechanism, which allows the load span to be modified at the push of a button, ensuring precise path tracking at all times.

Shown at the Bauma 2025 trade show, the Goldhofer RA 3-100 (4+7) stands out for transporting wind turbine tower sections with both safety and efficiency. Designed for heavy-duty performance, it boasts a maximum payload of 100 tons and a 2,000 mm stroke, designed to offer exceptional versatility in a range of transport situations.

“Our customers’ response to the revamped RA 3-100 has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Dennis Leschensky, director of sales for Europe and North Africa.