Top 5 Most Difficult Oversized Cargo
Oversized cargo is cargo which dimensions exceed the standards established during transportation. For this reason, the transportation of such goods is a complex task, which can only be solved by an integrated approach of specialists.
In this article we will talk about the top 5 most difficult to transport oversized cargo.
5. Residential houses and historical buildings
Transportation in this category is required for many reasons. It can be a natural disaster, moving to a new place, or preserving an architectural monument. Transportation of finished structures is carried out as a whole or disassembled by trawl. For some countries, take, for example, the United States, the transportation of houses is a common thing, for which its own mechanism has already been worked out, and this is a rather profitable business. Transportation of historical buildings is also not uncommon. One recent case is the relocation of the lighthouse Rubjerg Knude (1899) in Denmark, which was threatened with collapse due to soil erosion.
4. Equipment for the oil and gas industry
When transporting oil and gas equipment, it is necessary to take into account not only the oversized cargo and heavy weight. Often this kind of equipment contains fragile parts such as electronic devices, sensors, monitors, and other built-in mechanisms. Improper transportation can cause damage to these parts, which will eventually lead to the failure of the entire equipment. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly control both the transport vehicle itself and the roadbed along the route, cargo securing, and even the professional qualities of the driver himself. In the international experience of deliveries of oil and gas equipment, a successful example is the transportation of reactors for the Achinsk refinery by the carrier Spetstyazhavtotrans in 2013. The parties to the order were nominated for the Guinness Book of Records: the Book's editor-in-chief set a record for the heaviest cargo (1,306 tons) transported by road over the longest distance on land (203 km).
3. Heavy industrial equipment for refineries and steel mills
Heavy industrial equipment is a special case in logistics, since neither the weight, sometimes reaching hundreds of tons, nor the size and constitution meet the standards. These loads cannot be handled by an ordinary trailer truck. In such "oversized" cases, specialists use multi-support platforms - small multi-wheel modules on solid tires. By docking with each other, these elements can form a special trailer of any width and length (in theory). Of course, with such a load, transport will not be able to go fast: in some sections of the route, the speed does not exceed walking speed. To prevent overheating, such designs provide for the presence of a powerful cooling system in the transmission.
2. Transportation of rockets
The most complex maintenance equipment of huge dimensions was necessary for the Scalpel rockets: the weight of the special container in which it was transported (25 tons) was added to the dead weight of the rocket (104 tons) to maintain the desired microclimate. In addition to everything else, it was necessary to comply with difficult safety conditions, because the rocket was transported in a refueled state in a special isothermal car made to fit its dimensions.
1. Super tractors
The first place in our rating is occupied by unique transportation, which took place in the summer of 1996. A certain commercial company purchased a 40-meter pleasure boat weighing 88 tons, from which they planned to make a floating restaurant on Naroch. But here's the bad luck: the boat is on the Berezina, and it does not connect with Lake Naroch in any way. Future restaurateurs managed to agree on the implementation of the transportation of this boat by tractor-transporters MAZ-7907, although initially they were supposed to transport intercontinental missiles. The speed of the conveyor was approximately 5-10 km/h. The journey of 200 km covered almost five days. We added this transportation to the top list due to the uniqueness of the idea: at that time there was no such equipment anywhere in the world, and the creativity of engineers and non-standard thinking together led to such an unusual solution.
As Alliance Logistics, we have extensive experience in the transportation of oversized cargo and provide reliable services in this field.
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Shippers all over the world use multimodal transportation, and for many reasons, this system has many advantages.
What is multimodal transportation? This is a special type of freight transport, which involves the use of more than one mode of transport to deliver goods from the supplier to the buyer.
It is important to note that multimodal transportation involves changing only the method of shipment, without any changes in the handling of goods. For example, if goods are shipped in a specific container, the shipping method will change, but the container will remain the same.
Advantages of multimodal transportation
Multimodal transportation has a number of advantages that make this system one of the most commonly used in global logistics, namely:
- Reduced transport costs
- Better logistics management, combining the advantages of each mode of transport
- Using the same container reduces the time of loading, unloading, and handling of general cargo
- Fewer checks and inspections after sealing cargo units and containers
- Better item tracking
- Reduced risk of product loss due to theft or damage
- Reducing the cost of monitoring goods
- Reducing the time of cargo transportation
Multimodal transport services optimize air, sea, road, and rail transport from start to finish, and in an ever-evolving logistics environment, the network of partners is expanding. As Alliance Logistics, we specialize in multi-modal transport with the most cost-effective logistics solutions you may need, ensuring you achieve maximum efficiency while reducing costs and protecting the environment.
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6 Ways to Reduce Costs in Logistics
Transportation is an essential component of the supply chain, and every industry participant strives to receive the most modern transport services at reduced prices. Transport logistics costs are skyrocketing these days for a variety of reasons. Inadequate planning, lack of transparency, and poor decision-making can lead to higher prices, missed deliveries, unhappy customers, and loss of business.
Listed below are 6 proper ways to decrease your logistics costs.
1. Consolidation of supplies
The company's delivery rates are determined depending on weight, distance, and other factors. Consolidation of shipments is one of the strategies suppliers use to make fewer trips and profit from lower rates on bulk orders.
2. Decentralized warehouse services
Another way to reduce transport costs is to use multiple decentralized warehouses. Having goods in decentralized warehouses ensures that they are already in proximity to the customer, allowing greater flexibility and shorter delivery times. Professional inventory management and communication are essential to plan optimal transport routes and save costs by knowing exactly how much and what types of goods are in stock.
3. Automatic container loading system
When handling bulky and heavy goods, loading and unloading containers is a critical part of the workflow. Using an automatic container loading system is a great way to reduce transport and labor costs, avoid product damage, and increase productivity by being able to load or unload all goods at once.
4. Use of technology
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown unequivocally that documenting processes on paper is no longer relevant. There are enterprises for which the digitalization of processes may seem like a significant change in material terms. However, in this case, the benefits outweigh the costs. Digital records give logistics managers a better understanding of the entire supply chain. Computerized record-keeping allows companies to find and correct shortcomings that are costing them money.
5. Reduce the size of your vehicle fleet
Finding effective solutions for fleet cost management can be quite a challenge. It is possible to cover more territory in less time by effectively distributing orders between available vehicles. When fewer trips are required to accommodate more deliveries, it is possible to decommission vehicle assets, further reducing costs.
6. Regular vehicle maintenance
Preventive maintenance can help you avoid breakdowns and keep your vehicle in top condition. With the right regular vehicle maintenance program, you can keep track of how far you've driven, how many times you've stopped, and how much fuel you've used. Good service helps keep vehicles running, resulting in lower fuel consumption and energy wastage, reducing transport costs.
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Door-to-Door Service: Efficient and Reliable Way to Transport Your Cargo
The development of infrastructure and logistics requires companies to improve the solutions offered to customers constantly. First, the principles of ensuring efficiency and safety are taken as a basis. Door-to-door service is ideal for these purposes. The essence of the service is that the carrier company assumes all responsibility for the preparation, shipment, and transportation of the cargo, which allows you to save time and control each stage of the process.
Advantages of door-to-door service
1. At all stages of transportation - from the moment the cargo is received to its delivery to the destination, it saves the time and effort of the customer, who entrusts the control to the carrier. It also saves the customer from unnecessary formalities.
2. Maximum protection of cargo against the risk of damage is ensured.
3. After loading, the goods are sent to any part of the world without intermediate storage and handling.
4. It is recommended when sending bulk cargo.
Disadvantages of door-to-door service
1. Sometimes, depending on the type of cargo, the use of this service is not possible. Door-to-door delivery is not applicable, for example, to liquid and bulk cargo in large volumes, and dangerous goods (additional verification is required).
2. Higher cost compared to other modes of transportation.
3. Without stable sales, this scheme is unprofitable for the client.
Service Features
The carrier company prepares all the necessary accompanying documents within the door-to-door service, carries out direct transportation, forwarding, customs clearance, and unloading operations upon arrival at the destination, and assumes all duties and responsibilities related to cargo delivery. During cargo transportation, the company provides a comprehensive approach, involving several types of transport, as well as intermediaries with whom it negotiates directly.
Cost Calculation
To determine the final cost of door-to-door service, it is important to consider several important points:
- cargo volume/weight;
- the length of the transportation distance;
- time required for delivery;
- transport costs;
- cargo insurance.