One of these things is not like the others….

I kinda have my own way of doing them. I strap them with two inch ratchet straps, after VERY meticulously setting each unit a certain way on the trailer and placing each strap just so, being careful not to hit any bushings or insulators. It can be a painstaking process, but I've moved thousands of these things and never damaged one doing this and never had one move.

Some might disagree with my method, and I probably wouldn't even be allowed in the gates at the manufacturer, but in my case I have a certain amount of freedom to do things my own way, so I just figure out what works and stick with it.

 

When you see all the crap nylon banded to pallets put in a van that end up loose or on the floor while shipping there is no way i’d trust leaving them out in the open like that.
Last week at mile marker 599 on I-10 coming out of the construction there was a Melton truck that had fire hydrants standing on pallets and banded just like those transformers. They shifted and fell like dominoes.

 

If the manufacturers of the transformers are worried about damaging the tops than they need to either crate them or put them in a cage that can be strapped over head. A simple “bridge” made of wood over the top of them for a strap would be nice.

 

I am not sure; exactly how, but back in the day, Pine Bluff Transformer out of Pine Bluff, AR ran these to FL and the west coast.
First thing I thought of the 1st pic (continuous distribution front to back) was this is different. Pine Bluff loaded about 40% on drive end and 60% over trailer tandems. bare midriff... Had tabs made into the casing lagged to the pallets. No visible over top strapping. However done, they were secure. Them ole boys out of AR with the big Diamond T's rolled across AL going my way to Miami.

 

Securement and tarping is mentally challenging. We have the regs. The shipper doesn’t. Our job is to move whatever without leaving any marks on anything. But we have to know the securement regs like the back of our hands. OP is new, he didn’t know. Now, he knows.

There are loads that have to be secured according to the manufacturer that will even supersede the regs. For example, I pulled a load out of WestinghouseTX going to Alberta. it was an electric motor, 9ftx7ft. Because of the design of the motor, it had to be shipped in a way that made the load oversized. That’s against the regs, but if it had been put on the trailer to where it would be 7ft wide, the road vibration would destroy the bearings.

Speaking of destruction, I delivered a $20mil Rolls Royce aircraft engine to an airport. The other driver shows up with the other engine and he has it indirect secured, chains thrown over the top. I cringed in horror and the receiver nearly passed out. When the insurance claims get into the millions, both driver and dispatcher get fired.

 

I’m starting to wonder… a guy who crossed center line, hit a pickup head on, killing both in it, had another truck and trailer in a month maybe month and half and back on road, with no remorse, said that’s what insurance is for…

i showed pictures before, but here’s recap.
Also knocked rear of fuel tank off and lost that fuel.


Now he’s in a prostar and got 2 hoppers and wanting to buy a reefer trailer.

 

Definitely filled with mineral oil.

They're not top heavy. Transformer sits at the bottom of the tank.

Beware of going to Howard Industries in Mississippi. They're cheap and quick on everything.