Load Shifts & Cargo Transfers in Gary, IN

Load shifts and cargo transfers in Gary come up when a trailer is damaged, overweight, leaning or broken down with freight that still has to be delivered. Sometimes the cargo has moved inside the trailer and made the unit unsafe to tow. Other times the trailer is too damaged to roll and the freight must be moved to a different one. Call (219) 529-2610 and tell dispatch what is inside.

Why a load shift is more than an inconvenience

When cargo moves in a trailer, the center of gravity changes. A trailer can lean, a door can bulge, and a rolling truck can become hard to control. Towing such a unit without correcting the load can put the operator, the road and the cargo at risk. We look at the load first, then decide whether to restack, strap and tow or to transfer to another trailer.

Steel and bulk freight

Gary Works, U.S. Steel's mill on the lakefront, began operations in 1908 and still lies at the north end of Broadway. Steel product, bulk materials and flatbed freight are part of the local mix, and the Port of Indiana is reached from Interstate 94 on State Road 249. Heavy, dense freight shifts differently from light freight. A pallet of foam can move and be re-stacked by hand. Coils, plate and pipe need rigging and equipment.

Parcels and mixed freight

Gary/Chicago International Airport, northwest of the city center, has UPS Airlines flights to Louisville that began in November 2020. Parcel and mixed freight trucks serve that kind of traffic. Pallets of boxes can be moved by forklift, pallet jack or by hand, depending on the site. If your cargo is time-sensitive, tell dispatch the delivery window so the transfer can be planned around it.

Call (219) 529-2610

Where transfers happen

A transfer can happen at the scene if there is a safe place, or at a yard, terminal or lot after the unit is towed. A busy interstate shoulder is rarely safe for loading work. The Toll Road has a truck-only parking area at milepost 37.5 with no facilities, but it is far from Gary and not a transfer site on its own. For most calls in the Gary area, we recommend moving the unit to a secure yard before the cargo is moved.

What you need to provide

A replacement trailer, if the freight is going on. Either the shipper, the carrier or the broker usually arranges it. A bill of lading and the cargo's weight. Names and contact information for the receiver or shipper if a delay is likely. Seal numbers, if the trailer is sealed, and an agreement to break the seal. We can handle the equipment and labor. We do not take on the freight itself.

Hazmat and sensitive loads

If the cargo is hazmat, say so on the first call. Different rules apply to moving it, and the load may need to stay in place until the right responders arrive. Food and temperature-controlled freight is time-sensitive, so tell dispatch if the reefer is running.