Texas-sized transport: inside OXBO’s biggest haul yet

OXBO Mega Transport Solutions was contracted to move a 525,000-pound amine contactor from the vessel fabricator in Houston, Texas to a new natural gas processing facility near Mentone, TX. After being awarded the job, the OXBO project management team immediately started working with engineers and transport management staff to develop the most practical transporter to safely and efficiently haul the weight and dimensions of this vessel across the state of Texas, while still considering the needed dual-lane axle loading weight restrictions imposed by the Texas DOT.

The transport configuration was a 16-axle line Goldhofer THP/CA with one primary pull tractor, a secondary pull tractor and one push tractor.

The chosen configuration was a 16-axle-line Goldhofer THP/CA with one primary pull tractor, a secondary pull tractor and one push tractor. The overall loaded transport configuration was 272 feet long, 18-feet wide and 18 feet 10 inches tall. The gross weight of the transport was 940,000 pounds with 166 tires in the combination.

Route selection issues

Once the appropriate transport system was selected, OXBO project managers and permit specialists worked with TXDMV to find the most suitable route. OXBO and TXDMV worked through 13 different route options. During the route survey phase, OXBO encountered a railroad crossing near Abilene with overhead signal arms that were too low to allow the load to pass under and too close together to allow the transported amine contactor to zig-zag the obstacle.

OXBO attempted to route around the railroad crossing but other routes were denied by the state. To solve the problem, OXBO contracted with a private rail services provider to unbolt and remove the railroad signal arms in a “just-in-time” fashion so that the arms were removed for the shortest possible timeframe while the 940,000 pound transport configuration was maneuvered over the railroad tracks safely, and the signal arms then replaced. The final route passed all structural evaluations for bridges crossed on the state highway system and was clear of vertical and horizontal obstructions, both temporary and permanent.

The processing plant receiving the vessel also requested that OXBO perform an engineering analysis on an onsite bridge to verify the stability for this load to cross. OXBO’s team of engineers reviewed the bridge structure and allowable ground bearing pressures and determined that the transporter was safe to cross the onsite bridge without damaging it.

OXBO’s team arrived at the manufacturing facility to load and secure the amine contactor. After properly securing the cargo based on engineer and FCMSA-approved securement standards, OXBO departed the facility.

Pre-planned parking spots

The transport team traveled the 875-mile route across Texas, averaging 150 miles per day, and each day achieving the goal of making the pre-planned parking spots.

Several re-routes required working with various TXDOT Districts to come up with solutions on turns, roadways and bridges.

Assisting with transport was a roadside matting crew consisting of a semi-truck and trailer with 25 plastic road mats and another semi-truck and trailer to haul a forklift, blocks and wedges. The matting crew built temporary driving surfaces in locations that didn’t have enough room for the trailer to turn while staying on the paved portion of the roadway. The matting crew built these temporary driving surfaces in seven different locations along the route.

Comprehensive convoy

OXBO’s matting team included two semi-trucks, one pulling the laminated mats and the other pulling the forklift. This team went ahead of the load and matted seven corners that needed to be prepared for the massive transporter to maneuver around. A third prime mover was added to the transport to help with some tough pulls in the West Texas region.

Also accompanying the transport included a front escort vehicle with a high pole, four police officer escorts and three private bucket truck escort crews. This job was a huge undertaking, said OXBO’s Keith Settle, but it was performed flawlessly.

“The job required over 1,100 man hours, including over 200 hours in planning and 80 hours of bridge engineering.”

The transport was completed with zero injuries and no damage to the cargo or transport equipment.