HLPFI reviews the finalists for the 2025 Overland Transport Provider of the Year award, sponsored by Goldhofer.
This award will be presented to an equipment-owning company that has executed an outstanding overland project cargo movement – by road, rail or inland waterway – in the last 12 months.
Our 2025 shortlist includes:
CJ ICM
For the Overland Transport of the Year category, CJ ICM detailed the multimodal transportation of two 518-tonne gas turbines and two 412-tonne generators for Uzbekistan’s Syrdarya-2 combined-cycle power plant, covering over 2,000 km overland via Kazakhstan. Using six Asian ports, CJ ICM transhipped the cargo in Istanbul and then routed the units via Russia’s inland waterways. Overland, CJ ICM used girder bridge trailers, reinforced 40-plus bridges, and removed 80-plus powerlines.
Hareket
Hareket detailed the movement of four transformers and their accessories, totalling 2,072 tonnes, from China to Uzbekistan – a 6,200 km route. The project included road transport, river barge transit, and a crane-based transhipment. The operation began after a three-month preparation period and was completed in 58 days, with our judging panel praising both the length of journey and number of country borders crossed.
J M Baxi Heavy
J M Baxi Heavy delivered India’s two heaviest and longest nuclear reactors across a 1,312 km-long overland route. Weighing 1,005 tonnes each, each reactor measured 48 m x 8.5 m x 7.5 m. Transporting the cargo from the west of India to the east, J M Baxi Heavy’s extensive route planning ensured that the impact of matters such as monsoon weather and changes to railway permits were kept to a minimum.
National Transport and Overseas Services Company (NOSCO)
NOSCO was on hand to deliver Egypt’s first locally fabricated vacuum column, for the Suez Oil Processing Company (SOPC). The operation involved transporting super-heavy components using multi-axle trailers and navigating a complex route with civil and electrical modifications to evade infrastructure restraints. Despite challenges, NOSCO complied with strict safety measures and provided a timely delivery, which was within 12 days.
Pesado Transport
Despite major challenges such as pressure limits at the port of unloading, narrow urban routes, bridge load restrictions, and the removal of infrastructure, Mexico-headquartered Pesado Transport manoeuvred an 1,875-ton (1,700.9-tonne) reactor 12.4 km from the port of Salina Cruz to the Salina Cruz refinery. Opting for a 42-line Goldhofer THP/S configuration, the modular convoy had 1,008 wheels. The journey was completed in 30.5 hours.
Rolf Riedl
Rolf Riedl’s entry caught the attention of our judging panel with the disassembly of a one-of-a-kind Ukrainian rail wagon, which had never previously been taken apart. This was part of the company’s scope to deliver a 260-tonne synchronous condenser to a substation in Lithuania, supporting the country’s goal to dissociate from the Russian electricity grid and integrate with the continental European system. The team executed route adaptations, bridge reinforcements, coordinated with national authorities and managed the safe operations under war-imposed restrictions.
Sarens
For this category, Sarens focused on its contribution to the Shell Polaris carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in Alberta, Canada. Moving three vessels between October 2024 and March 2025, Sarens navigated an eight-hour road journey, which involved tight corners, active rail crossing, and numerous overhead obstacles.
