Capability · Heavy Haul & OOG
Heavy haul, out-of-gauge, and dimensional cargo.
Cargo that doesn’t fit a standard container is where most of our project work begins. We plan the vessel, the rigging, the trailer, the route, and the lift. We coordinate them as one scope.
Definitions, for clarity
Heavy lift, OOG, and dimensional cargo. Defined.
WeightHeavy lift
Cargo that exceeds the safe working capacity of standard handling equipment: typically single pieces above roughly 30 tons, but the threshold is set by the equipment available at each port and the trailer rated for the inland move. Heavy lift requires purpose-rated cranes, vessel gear, and rigging. It also requires a plan that’s reviewed before mobilization.
DimensionsOut-of-gauge (OOG) / dimensional cargo
Cargo that exceeds standard container internal dimensions in one or more axes (height, width, or length), even if the weight fits. OOG cargo moves on flat racks, open-top containers, project flats, or breakbulk. Never inside a standard 40′ box. Dimensional cargo also drives last-mile route surveys: bridges, overheads, and turn radii become constraints.
In practice, heavy and OOG often overlap. Most of what we coordinate has both characteristics. The project plan addresses both.
What we coordinate
Cargo types we move under heavy-haul and OOG scope.
Pressure vessels & columns
Process columns, separators, knock-out drums, scrubbers. From small to refinery-scale columns moving in single pieces or sections.
Compressor packages & turbines
Skid-mounted compressor units, gas-turbine packages, generators.
Modular units & skids
Pre-assembled industrial modules: process skids, electrical houses, control rooms. From module yards to construction sites.
Reactors & heat exchangers
Large reactors, shell-and-tube exchangers, fired heaters. Often time-critical against a turnaround.
Structural steel & pipe racks
Pre-fabricated steel and pipe-rack assemblies. Long pieces requiring escorts and route surveys.
Transformers & electrical equipment
Large dry-type or oil-filled transformers, switchgear assemblies. Sensitive to handling and tilt.
Pumps & rotating equipment
Large industrial pumps and rotating equipment assemblies.
Mining, drilling, and heavy industrial equipment
Crushers, mills, drilling components. When project flow brings them through the Gulf or Canadian corridor.
Yachts, oversized vehicles, and specialty cargo
When the scope calls for it.
Planning
Before commit, we plan.
Heavy and OOG moves fail when they’re planned reactively. Below is the planning sequence LGX runs through before mobilizing a heavy-haul or OOG project. Adapted to the cargo and the route.
- Cargo spec capture
Drawings, weights (gross, tare, lifting points), dimensions, center of gravity, lifting and lashing points, fragility, hazard classification, packing instructions from the OEM.
- Origin survey
Site or yard survey: loading method, crane requirements, ground bearing, packing scope.
- Vessel and stowage selection
FCL on flat rack or open-top; project flats; breakbulk on liner; heavy-lift charter when the cargo demands it. Selection is documented with rationale, not made silently.
- Sea-fastening and rigging plan
Lashing plan, sea-fastening drawings, dunnage and bracing scope, sea-trial considerations.
- Inland route survey
Last-mile route audit at destination: bridges, overheads, weight-bearing assessments, turn radii, escort requirements, state and provincial permits.
- Trailer selection
Lowboy, step-deck, RGN, multi-axle, extendable. Specified per cargo and route.
- Lift planning at destination
Crane size, reach, capacity, ground bearing, rigging. Coordinated with crane coordination and on-site coordination.
- Risk register
Weather, permit risk, port congestion, customs timing, partner-asset availability.
- Document set
Bills of lading, cargo manifests, dimension/weight certificates, lifting plans, permit documentation, customs paperwork.
- Mobilization sign-off
Plan reviewed, scope confirmed, partner capacity engaged, customer informed before mobilization. Not after.
Equipment and partner capacity
In-house plus partner. Sized to the project.
Heavy and OOG work depends on a mix of in-house coordination and partner-deployed assets. LGX is upfront about which assets are partner-deployed on any given scope. The scope of work names the partner role explicitly so there are no surprises during execution.
Asset and partner roles typically deployed
- Vessel capacityLiner FCL space, breakbulk vessels, heavy-lift charter.Partner-deployed
- Heavy-haul trailersLowboy and step-deck, RGN, multi-axle and extendable, Schnabel where the piece calls for it.Partner-deployed
- CranesMobile, crawler, tower, rough-terrain, at origin and destination.Partner-deployed
- Rigging gearSlings and shackles, spreader bars and lift beams.Partner-deployed
- Permits & escortsState and provincial permits, pilot cars, police escorts.Partner-deployed
- Customs entryPartner customs broker.Partner
- Project planning, scope coordination, milestone management, on-site supervision, scope wrap-upLGX in-house
Where this capability concentrates
Industries and lanes where heavy haul sits in our regular rotation.
Heavy-haul and OOG cargo concentrates around energy capital projects, industrial fabrication outbound, and the manufacturing complex that surrounds them. Our regular import lanes feed the same flow: China-origin pressure vessels, compressor packages, modular skids, and structural assemblies into the U.S. Gulf Coast and into Canadian industrial corridors.
Have a heavy or OOG piece in scope?
Send drawings, weights, dimensions, origin, destination, and the milestone date. We’ll come back with a planning approach. Not a single line-item rate.
Project team, direct: 832 699 4540.