The Most Interesting Loads Ever Hauled by Trucks

Around the United States, the trucking industry handles a many different freights and obstacles. Here are 10 pictures depicting the diversity (and challenges) of the industry. Next time you pass a tractor-trailer, look to them for their versatility instead of as a traffic impediment.

1. Space shuttles

In 2012, the Space Shuttle Endeavour found its way to its resting place at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, CA. Due to trees and other obstacles, the last 12 miles of this trip took 17 hours.

2. Wind turbines

Increasingly, wind is harnessed to produce power for big (and small) cities across the U.S. These turbine blades can span almost 250 feet, which makes transporting them no small feat.

3. Moving house

In places like Louisiana and Texas, small houses are being sold and moved from cities to more rural areas. Moves are time consuming and dangerous thanks in no small part to powerlines, trees and street lights.

4. Megaloads

Megaloads are a sight to behold….as long as they’re not on the roads you frequently travel. Often unable to pass over bridges due to their weight, routes have to be planned out perfectly. Permitting is also expensive.

5. Water purifiers

Just like loads that tractor-trailers carry each day, megaloads come in varying shapes and sizes. This water purifier traveled through Northern Idaho’s winding and narrow roads in 2013.

6. Dangerous roads

7. Low bridges

Truckers come up against many obstacles in their paths every day. With typically non-uniform bridge heights, sights like this are more common than one might think.

8. Jet powered trucks

This jet powered truck is called Shockwave. Retrofit with twin jet engines, this semi can reach speeds upwards of 375 mph.

9. Fighter jets

Here, again, you can see the versatility of the industry. From streaming across the sky to meandering down the highway, this decommissioned F-16 Falcon was transported by truck to its final resting place in Arizona.

10. Ship portage

Even boats need to be transported by land once in a while. Below is an ocean-bound ship, traveling through a small town on a very narrow roadway.

Have you seen (or transported) something massive? Tell us about it!