Quick thinking and careful planning were essential to get the high-density cargo from Canada to the United States.
Transporting a 10-tonne piece of machinery for urgent repairs
A freight forwarder tasked us with expediting a damaged piece of oil and gas machinery from Canada to undergo urgent repairs in the United States. Measuring in at five square feet and weighing almost 10 tonnes, the cargo was incredibly dense, so we faced several logistical challenges to successfully transport it at short notice.
Our Solution
Route: Edmonton, Alberta > Chicago, Illinois
Aircraft: Antonov An-12
Our experts knew an Antonov An-12 was the best freighter for such high-density cargo, quickly sourcing an available aircraft that could operate a last-minute charter. To make the charter as cost-effective as possible, we recommended trucking the machinery from Fort McMurray to Edmonton before flying it on to Chicago.
The tight time-frame meant we only had 24 hours to plan how to load the machinery onto the aircraft. To give us a better idea of its exact shape and size, our trucking team sent photos of the piece when collecting it from Fort McMurray, helping us determine that it needed to be placed on a 20-foot pallet and rolled into the aircraft using a main deck loader.
With 20-foot pallets not commonly available, it was all hands on deck to find one for our cargo in Edmonton. Our efforts paid off, as we learned a suitable pallet had been left behind by an airline and needed to be returned to Chicago, where our flight was landing. After a few more calls, we’d also sourced a crane to transfer the machinery from the flatbed onto the pallet, putting us back on track to complete the mission.
The cargo was loaded smoothly in Edmonton, however we faced more challenges unloading it in Chicago when it emerged the handling agent’s crane wasn’t strong enough to offload the pallet directly onto the flatbed as planned. Despite the issue arising late on a Sunday night, our team pulled together once again, sourcing another crane within an hour and saving the entire operation. Thanks to our dedication and quick thinking, the cargo was delivered promptly to be repaired.
The Finer Details
24/7 Service: We worked around the clock to overcome obstacles as soon as they arose, ensuring the charter ran smoothly.