Written by the FleetEasy Team
One-call fleet solutions in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest
When a semi-truck hauling a loaded utility trailer encountered serious trouble on Highway 18 eastbound between Issaquah and Hobart, the situation required more than a standard heavy-duty tow. The trailer’s sidewall was completely damaged, making it unsafe and impossible to continue its route. The trailer loaded with sacks of pellets stuck on a busy highway, so a carefully planned heavy-duty trailer recovery was essential.
With decades of experience in heavy-duty recovery and cargo recovery, Pro-Enviro and Pro-Tow by FleetEasy arrived at the scene ready to help. We put together a coordinated response to help this customer out of a jam and get that cargo back on the road.
Assessing the Damage and Stabilizing the Trailer
Upon arrival, the recovery team saw that the damaged sidewall had left the trailer structurally unstable. Moving it without proper support would have been unsafe and caused more damage to the trailer and cargo. First things first, we had to stabilize that trailer.
Using a crane wrecker, the team carefully lifted the trailer to relieve pressure on the damaged side. Inflatable airbags were then positioned beneath the trailer and inflated to provide even support. Once supported, we detached the tractor and removed it.
Rigging and Heavy-Duty Trailer Recovery
Once separated from the tractor, the next challenge was to safely remove the disabled trailer from the highway.
First, the team rigged the trailer to a heavy-duty tow truck. We used a converter dolly (AKA trailer dolly) to properly support the trailer during transport. With the dolly in place and the load balanced, we could start the cargo recovery and secure those sacks of pellets.
Cargo Recovery and Load Transfer by Pro-Enviro
Pro-Enviro by FleetEasy managed the unloading and recovery of the pellet cargo. The team carefully removed the cargo from the damaged trailer, by hand and with a bobcat, and reloaded it onto a flatbed trailer. We needed to be efficient and effective so our customer could get their freight back on the road and reduce costly downtime. Once the cargo was saved, the trailer was successfully removed from the scene and transported to Pro-Tow’s secured yard, where it could be safely stored.
By handling both the recovery and the cargo transfer, FleetEasy was able to streamline the response and limit delays.
One-Call Solution for Heavy-Duty Recovery
If your fleet vehicle or equipment has been in an accident or needs help, having one trusted partner to handle the entire situation makes things… easier. FleetEasy offers complete fleet services in the Pacific Northwest, including heavy duty recovery, equipment and trailer recovery, emergency towing, on-site and in-shop fleet repairs and cargo services.
These integrated services ensure everyone is on the same page and working from the same recovery plan. It allows us to reduce delays, improve service and make a bad situation less stressful and easier to deal with for our customers.
Heavy-Duty Recovery You Can Rely On
FleetEasy’s Pro-Tow and Pro-Enviro teams are experienced in managing complex recovery scenarios involving commercial vehicles, damaged trailers, and valuable cargo. When heavy-duty incidents happen, having the right team on scene makes all the difference.