Ohio transformers, from our Dayton yard
Transformer Transport in Ohio
Transformer transport in Ohio from our yard at 7660 W Third St in Dayton. Our Ohio moves include a 160,000 lb power transformer delivered to Obetz and a 150,000 lb transformer hauled from Pocatello, Idaho to Akron.
Capabilityasset based heavy haul, 8 to 22 axle setups, USA and Canada, pieces from 70,000 up to 300,000 lbs
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.
Why Ohio transformer moves need a plan
Heavy, tall and one piece
A power transformer puts a lot of weight into one tall piece. In Ohio, a load over 80,000 lbs gross or 13'6"H already needs an ODOT permit, and the height decides the escorts and the utility work on the route. We carry transformers low on perimeter and well trailers, add jeeps and boosters when more axles are needed, and run our own escorts and utility bucket trucks. Need to hold units before delivery? We also store power equipment in our Dayton yard: see genset storage in Dayton.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerOhio rules
Ohio rules for transformer loads
Height and width drive most Ohio transformer permits. These are the rules we plan every Ohio transformer around. The full list is on our Ohio oversize permit rules page.
Ohio
Official sources linked| Rule | What it means for your load |
|---|---|
| Legal limits | Without a permit, a load in Ohio can be up to 8'6"W and 13'6"H, at up to 80,000 lbs gross. (ODOT OS 8, Ohio Revised Code 5577.05, OSOWloads Ohio guide) |
| Height | Over 14'6"H, one lead escort with a height sensing device. Over 14'10"H, the move is coordinated with the owners of overhead signs, signals and utilities on the route. (ODOT OS 1A, OSOWloads Ohio guide) |
| Width | Over 13'W, one lead escort, or one rear escort on multiple lane highways. (ODOT OS 1A, OSOWloads Ohio guide) |
| Rush hours | Over 12'W, no movement from 6:30 to 9:00 a.m. or 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, in 22 listed counties, including Montgomery, Franklin, Hamilton and Cuyahoga. (ODOT OS 1A, OSOWloads Ohio guide) |
| Weekends | Over 12'W, loads stop at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and at 3 p.m. on Friday from April 1 through November 30, until one half hour before sunrise the next day. (ODOT OS 1A, OSOWloads Ohio guide) |
| Travel hours | Oversize loads move in daylight, from one half hour before sunrise until one half hour after sunset, unless the permit says otherwise. (ODOT OS 1A, Ohio Administrative Code 5501:2 1 04, OSOWloads Ohio guide) |
| Holidays | No movement from noon the day before until one half hour before sunrise the day after New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. (ODOT OS 1A, OSOWloads Ohio guide) |
Rules change often. We checked these on October 9, 2026 against the Ohio sources linked in each row, state source first, and each one against a second source. Rules we could not confirm twice are left off this page. Our permitting team confirms the current rules for every move.
Equipment for transformers
Matched to the transformer
Perimeter and well trailers
Our 90 ton perimeter trailer expands its inside basket to 18'6" wide for gensets and transformers, and carries up to 180,000 lbs, or about 130,000 lbs stretched to a 65 ft well.
Jeeps and boosters
Add axles to stay inside axle weight limits.
22 axle Faymonville
Loads up to 300,000 lbs, for transformers beyond the RGN range.
Utility bucket trucks
Lift overhead lines so tall loads can pass.
How we move a transformer in Ohio
Plan the weight, then the route
Transformer moves start with the load plan. The Ohio permit, route and escorts are built around it.
Load plan and weight
The load plan is engineered with industry engineering partners and trailer manufacturers. The piece weight sets the trailer, and the axle count and spread keep each axle group inside the permit and the trailer's rating.
ODOT permit and routing
Our in house permitting team files the ODOT permit and every other state on the route, and each route is reviewed turn by turn with the driver, around overpasses, signs and low wires.
Escorts and line lifts
Our own escorts and utility bucket trucks run with the load. On our Pocatello to Akron move, the Ohio State Highway Patrol helped us take wider turns to avoid overpasses and low cables.
Delivery to the site
Samsara GPS and a dash cam on every truck, with a live share link on request. On our Pocatello to Akron move, the customer's crane crew handled the offload.
Our moves
Ohio transformer moves
Two transformers we delivered in Ohio, and the dryer drum that shows the size of load our team permits, routes and escorts.
160,000 lb power transformer, Obetz, OH
Delivered in December 2024 to Obetz, on the southeast edge of Columbus, permitted and routed by our own team.
150,000 lb transformer, Pocatello, ID to Akron, OH
Early 2024, 240,000 lbs gross and 16'H loaded, with help from the Ohio State Highway Patrol on wide turns.
207,000 lb dryer drum, Louisville, KY to Richmond, VA
December 2025, 165'L x 13'6"W x 17'H at 300,000 lbs gross, with police, a high pole, escorts and bucket trucks.
Moving a transformer in Ohio?
Send the weight, dimensions and route. We will plan the move.
Request a quote →See every move on our Moves page.
More services
More heavy haul services in Ohio
Questions
Ohio transformer questions
Do you haul transformers in Ohio?
Yes. Our office and yard are at 7660 W Third St in Dayton, and our Ohio moves include a 160,000 lb power transformer delivered to Obetz and a 150,000 lb transformer hauled from Pocatello, Idaho to Akron.
How heavy a transformer can you haul?
We haul pieces from 70,000 up to 300,000 lbs on 8 to 22 axle setups. Our 22 axle Faymonville setups carry loads up to 300,000 lbs.
When does a tall transformer need a height escort in Ohio?
Over 14'6"H, one lead escort with a height sensing device. Over 14'10"H, the move is coordinated with the owners of overhead signs, signals and utilities on the route.
Can a wide transformer move at rush hour in Columbus or Cincinnati?
Not over 12'W. Franklin and Hamilton counties are on ODOT's list, so those loads may not move from 6:30 to 9:00 a.m. or 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Can we track the transformer?
Yes. Every truck runs Samsara GPS and a dash cam, and we can send a live share link.
Hauling through other states? Use our permit map and route planner
Open the route plannerKeep planning
More for your Ohio transformer move
Ohio city and nearby state pages
Ohio transformer quote
Transformer to move in Ohio?
Send the weight, dimensions, pickup and delivery. We will work out the load plan, the ODOT permit, the route and the escorts.
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.