When No One Else Could Figure It Out
Some jobs come with clear instructions. Others come with a whole lot of “we don’t know how to make this work.” That was the case when a nationwide generator sales company reached out to us. They had five trailer-mounted generators sitting on State Street in Salem, and they needed every one of them shipped across the country. Simple? Not even close. The catch? All five beige boxes had to fit on a single 53-foot flatbed trailer. That meant more than just towing, because now we were talking custom planning, heavy lifting, and good old problem-solving for this Salem generator loading job.
They’d already tried calling around. No one else had a solution. When they called us, they were out of options and out of time.
Transporting Five Generators from Salem to Woodburn
The first step of this Salem generator loading job was to move the equipment from Salem to our Woodburn yard. Each generator weighed around 5,000 to 6,000 pounds, and each one was bolted to its own trailer. Brian, Oscar, and Tony took charge of transport using two of our tow trucks. We made multiple trips from State Street in Salem to our location on Newburg Highway in Woodburn.
It might sound simple: hook up and haul. But these weren’t lightweight or delicate loads. These were bulky, industrial generators that required secure handling and careful maneuvering. We weren’t just relocating cargo, we were managing weight, balance, and safety with every move.
The Crane Work: Where Things Got Real
Once the generators were at the yard, the real challenge started. We had to get all five unbolted from their trailers and lifted onto a single semi-trailer. That’s where Tenny and John stepped in. They built a plan for the crane work that allowed us to shift thousands of pounds without damage.
Using our 15-ton crane (Truck 209), we lifted each generator from its trailer and set it directly onto the semi’s flatbed. This was a key part of meeting interstate transport weight requirements. Leaving the generators on their original trailers would’ve made the load too tall, too long, or too heavy. Our crane-assisted generator loading method allowed us to stack the gear correctly and minimize risk during transport.
Trailer Stacking: Not Meant to Be Done But We Did It Anyway
Then came part two: what to do with the empty trailers. They couldn’t be left behind, and they weren’t designed to be stacked. Still, they had to go. So we got creative.
We removed the wheels and used a mix of wooden blocks and rubber tires to create separation and cushion between each stacked trailer. It took a sharp eye and steady hands to get the alignment just right. But that’s what we do. We looked at the challenge, figured it out, and executed safely. The final configuration was solid and secure, ready for the next step in its journey.
One of the key elements of this entire project, aside from raw muscle, was our team’s ability to think critically to get this Salem generator loading job done for our customer. That’s what set this Salem generator loading job apart. No one had done it. No one wanted to try. But we didn’t hesitate.
Here’s What Made It Work:
- Dual truck transport from Salem to Woodburn for efficiency.
- A 15-ton crane for generator lifting.
- Strategic stacking using blocks and tires to protect trailers.
- Clear roles: Brian, Oscar, and Tony handled the driving; Tenny and John led the crane work and overall plan.
Salem Generator Loading: Baker & Baker Towing Does More Than Just Haul
This wasn’t our first complex job, and it won’t be our last. From Woodburn heavy equipment loading to crane-assisted generator loading projects like this one, we’re used to handling work that falls outside the typical playbook.
We’ve also tackled flatbed generator hauling in Woodburn and continue to be the go-to team for generator relocation service in Salem. But it’s jobs like this one, where no one else had the answer, that remind us why we do what we do.
The next time you hear “it can’t be done,” think again. At Baker & Baker Towing, we show up with a plan, and we get it done right. Salem generator loading might sound like a simple task, but for us, it’s a reminder of how every tow can turn into something much more.
