Pressure Vessel Hauling Services
R&RM LLC has been moving heavy industrial equipment since 2011, including some of the most challenging oversize loads in the country: pressure vessels and process tanks. These units present unique transport demands — extreme weight, large diameter, fragile external nozzles, and strict handling requirements from the fabricator or facility. Our team coordinates every detail from the moment the vessel leaves the shop floor to final placement at the destination site.
Pressure vessels and industrial tanks range from compact separator drums weighing 15,000 lbs to massive fractionating columns exceeding 300,000 lbs and stretching over 100 feet in length. No matter the size, we handle oversize load permitting, route surveys, and specialized trailer selection so your vessel arrives on time and undamaged.
Types of Pressure Vessels We Transport
Process Vessels & Reactors
Chemical reactors, distillation columns, absorbers, and process separators are common throughout petrochemical refining, gas processing, and specialty chemical production. These units often have external nozzles, flanges, insulation jacketing, and internal catalyst beds that require careful blocking and bracing during transit. We work closely with the vessel manufacturer or rigging crew to develop a transport plan that protects every connection point.
- Hydrocracker and hydrotreater reactors
- Distillation and fractionating columns
- Absorption and stripping towers
- Chemical reactor vessels
- Pressure accumulators and pulsation dampeners
Heat Exchangers
Shell-and-tube, plate-frame, and air-cooled heat exchangers are found in power plants, refineries, food processing facilities, and HVAC systems. Large shell-and-tube exchangers can weigh 80,000 lbs or more and may exceed legal width when transported without removal of external piping stubs. We coordinate all required disassembly, blocking, and restraint per ASME transport guidelines.
- Shell-and-tube heat exchangers
- Kettle-type reboilers
- Air-cooled fin-fan units
- Plate-and-frame heat exchangers
- U-tube and floating head bundles
Separators & Scrubbers
Horizontal and vertical gas/liquid separators, slug catchers, and scrubber vessels are staples of natural gas gathering, transmission, and processing operations. These units arrive at compressor stations, processing plants, and wellhead facilities across every producing basin in the country. We move them to Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Louisiana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and all producing states nationwide.
- Horizontal two-phase and three-phase separators
- Vertical knock-out drums
- Gas scrubbers and inlet separators
- Slug catchers for gas gathering systems
- Mist eliminators and coalescing filters
Storage Tanks & Vessels
Horizontal and vertical storage tanks for petroleum products, chemicals, water, and gases are transported to industrial facilities, fuel terminals, farms, and municipalities across the country. Tanks with diameters over 12 feet trigger oversize width permits in every state. Many also require pilot car escorts based on height when mounted on a flatbed or step-deck trailer.
- Horizontal petroleum storage tanks
- Vertical chemical storage tanks
- Agricultural anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks
- Propane and LPG storage vessels
- Deaerators and feedwater heaters
Pressure Vessels for Power Generation
Power plant pressure vessels include boiler drums, steam drums, feedwater heaters, and heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) components. These units can be enormous — a utility boiler drum may weigh 200,000 lbs and stretch 70 feet. We have the trailer capacity, permit experience, and route-planning expertise to move these specialty loads to power plant construction and refurbishment sites across all 48 states.
Trailer Types for Pressure Vessel Transport
Flatbed Trailers
Standard 48-foot and 53-foot flatbeds handle smaller pressure vessels up to about 48,000 lbs payload and within legal width. Saddles and blocking are custom-fabricated to support the vessel shell without point-loading at nozzles or shell seams.
Step Deck (Drop Deck) Trailers
Step deck trailers lower the deck height on the rear section, reducing the vessel's overall transport height by up to 18 inches compared to a standard flatbed. This is particularly useful for tall vertical vessels or thick-wall units where overall height would otherwise require an oversize height permit.
RGN (Removable Gooseneck) Trailers
An RGN trailer provides the lowest possible deck height — typically 18 to 20 inches at the well — making it ideal for very large diameter vessels that cannot be transported upright on higher decks. The removable gooseneck also allows a vessel to be rolled or slid onto the trailer deck from grade level using a forklift or crane.
Multi-Axle & Hydraulic Platform Trailers
Extreme-weight pressure vessels exceeding 150,000 lbs require multi-axle trailers with additional axle groups to distribute weight within state and federal bridge formula limits. For the heaviest loads — large reactor vessels, boiler drums, transformer tanks — we coordinate hydraulic platform trailers and perimeter frames that can carry loads up to 500,000 lbs or more.
Permitting for Pressure Vessel Transport
Nearly every pressure vessel transport requires at least one oversize permit or overweight permit. Vessels wider than 8 feet 6 inches trigger oversize width permits in every state. Those exceeding 14 feet in width typically require daylight-only travel and state police escorts in many jurisdictions. Our team handles all permit applications through each state DOT simultaneously, coordinating approved routes and timing windows.
For extreme-weight vessels, we work through each state's Superload process, which may require structural engineering analysis, bridge surveys, and advanced notice periods ranging from 5 to 30 business days. We manage this process from start to finish so your project stays on schedule. Learn more about our full permit coordination services.
Industries We Serve
- Petrochemical & Refining: Reactors, columns, exchangers, and separators to Gulf Coast and inland refineries
- Oil & Gas: Separators, compressor vessels, and slug catchers to wellfields and gathering systems
- Power Generation: Boiler drums, HRSG components, and feedwater heaters to power plant sites
- Water & Wastewater: Pressure filters, storage tanks, and treatment vessels to municipal facilities
- Food & Beverage: Stainless process tanks and mixing vessels to food processing plants
- Pharmaceutical: Sterile pressure vessels and reactor tanks requiring contamination-free transport
- Agriculture: Anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks and fertilizer storage vessels to farm co-ops
Why Choose R&RM LLC for Pressure Vessel Transport
Since 2011, we've built a reputation for careful, compliant handling of industrial equipment. Pressure vessels are among the most demanding loads we carry — any damage to a nozzle, flange, or shell can mean costly field repairs or rejection at the receiving facility. We take that responsibility seriously.
- Experienced drivers trained in oversize and overweight operations
- Full permit coordination in all 48 continental states through the appropriate state DOT agencies
- Route surveys for width, height, and bridge clearances before dispatch
- Pilot car arrangement when required by state regulations
- Load securement expertise for vessel shells, nozzles, and appurtenances
See our power transformer transport case study for a real-world example of a high-value, extreme-weight industrial equipment move.
Get a Quote for Your Pressure Vessel
To receive an accurate transport quote, provide the vessel outer diameter, overall length, estimated weight, origin city and state, and destination city and state. We'll respond with routing options, permit requirements, trailer selection, and pricing.