Port Houston, Texas
Heavy Haul at the Port of Houston
Breakbulk, project and heavy lift cargo out of the Turning Basin, Care and Woodhouse terminals, trucked under Texas permits with escorts from our own team.
This page is general information only, not legal advice and not a permit. Rules change often and each state's permit and official rules are the final word. Always confirm limits, escorts, routes and travel times with the state permit office before moving a load. Reliable Transport LLC is not responsible for decisions made using this information.
Port heavy haul
From the ship's crane to the jobsite
Port Houston calls its Turning Basin the largest breakbulk and project cargo complex in North America. When a vessel brings in machinery, steel or modules there, we are the carrier on the dock. In June 2024 the ship's crane set five wide loads onto our trailers for a run to Arizona, with the permits and route built in house.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route planner24'W loads
2024- Origin
- Port of Houston, Houston Ship Channel
- Destination
- Arizona
- Loads
- 5 loads 19'W to 24'W, plus 2 at 134'L
- Escorts
- Police escorts and utility trucks
Featured port move
Five wide loads off one ship
The ship's crane set the loads onto our trailers at the Port of Houston. Five ran 19'W to 24'W and two more ran 134'L, all bound for Arizona.
Our team handled the permits and routing in house, then moved the convoy with police escorts and utility trucks to lift lines along the way.
Inside the port
Terminals, gates and permit rules for oversize cargo
Facility facts come from Port Houston. Permit rules come from TxDMV and are confirmed by a second source.
Turning Basin terminals
The multi purpose terminals at the Turning Basin, head of navigation since 1914, handle breakbulk, project cargo, heavy lift, RoRo and steel. They have on dock rail and reach Interstate 10, Interstate 610 and Interstate 45.
Gate 8 for high and wide cargo
Gate 8 on Clinton Drive is only for high and wide cargo and has a 30' wide lane. Port Police open it with stevedore approval, so the driver calls them before departure.
Care and Woodhouse terminals
Care Terminal handles breakbulk, project and heavy lift cargo with access to Interstate 10 and Beltway 8. Woodhouse Terminal works project, heavy lift, RoRo and steel cargo.
Leaving the port on a permit
A load 17'6"H or taller needs its permit emailed to the TxDOT Houston District signal shop 48 hrs ahead, and Houston city streets need a City of Houston permit too. On Interstate highways the permit width cap is 16'W.
Sources: Port Houston multi purpose and project cargo; Port Houston gate information; Port Houston multi purpose property directory; TxDMV Houston District restrictions; TxDMV known jurisdictions requiring notification; City of Houston oversize load permit; TxDMV size and weight limits; heavyhaul.net Texas permits.
More Houston moves
Other heavy loads we moved out of Houston
110,000 lb switchgear building
A 65'L x 17'W x 15'H building at 250,000 lbs gross, Houston, TX to Los Angeles, CA, with state troopers and bucket trucks.
The convoy on the road west
The port loads rolled toward Arizona with escorts front and rear.
Cargo landing at Port Houston?
Send the vessel date, dimensions and weight. We line up the trailer, permits and escorts.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
Questions
Port of Houston heavy haul questions
Which Port of Houston gate do oversize loads use?
Gate 8 on Clinton Drive at the Turning Basin is only for high and wide cargo and has a 30' wide lane. Port Police open it with stevedore approval, so the driver must call before leaving.
Do you supply the crane at the port?
No. On our Port of Houston move the ship's crane set the loads onto our trailers. We bring the trailers, permits, routing, escorts and utility trucks.
Which Port Houston terminals handle project cargo?
Port Houston lists breakbulk, project and heavy lift cargo at the Turning Basin, Care Terminal and Woodhouse Terminal. Barbours Cut and Bayport are container terminals.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerKeep planning
More for your port move
Nearby Texas pages
Port of Houston
Ready to move it?
Send the load dimensions, weight, pickup and delivery points. Our in house team prices the permits, route and escorts and gets back to you fast.
This page is general information only, not legal advice and not a permit. Rules change often and each state's permit and official rules are the final word. Always confirm limits, escorts, routes and travel times with the state permit office before moving a load. Reliable Transport LLC is not responsible for decisions made using this information.