On August 31st, 2020, A severely damaged trailer was blocking traffic on a busy interstate highway. The Washington State Police called Team Pro-Enviro and Team Pro-Tow for help. The scene needed load recovery as soon as possible – and during rush hour traffic!
As you can see from the image gallery, it looks like the trailer had folded in on itself and broken in two. The entire load had to be removed from the wreckage. We did so using our heavy-duty crane equipment. First, the cargo was removed from the trailer and moved using a Bobcat to our flatbed trailer for transport. Full load recovery happened piece by piece until we finished the job, and traffic could flow freely again.
After a safe load recovery, we moved the cargo to our safe and secure property. Here, the customer was able to pick it up and reload it for delivery once again.
How Can a Trailer Collapse Like That?
Issues with a trailer usually occur due to improper weight distribution. Too much weight loaded in the wrong area, or a trailer carrying more than its weight limit, in general, could buckle.
It is also possible that an old, worn-out trailer can cause issues. Sometimes, though it takes several years, an older trailer’s structural integrity can start to diminish. The metal on the bottom of the trailer could rust out or become too thin to carry a super heavy load.
Your trailers should be inspected regularly, especially before receiving a massive load. Look for rust or corrosion, general wear and tear, and anything that could impact structural integrity. Have the trailer fixed or replaced before attempting to load it with heavy cargo if it has noticeable warning signs.
Load Recovery is a Core Service
While Pro-Enviro is the spill response and spill recovery division of our company, load recovery is one of our core services. Sometimes when there is an accident, the spill isn’t vehicle fuel or oil but spilled cargo. Whether a load is shifting off a flatbed trailer, has shifted in the box trailer, causing dangerous sway or tipping, or the contents has spilled all over the road, Team Pro Enviro is there to help.
We have the equipment and trained operators to recover the spilled cargo. That includes carefully moving the load onto one of our flatbed trailers and taking it to our secured yard. Here, your company can send another truck and trailer, and we will help you reload the cargo for safe transport. Learn more about our motor vehicle cargo and load services.