Massive Vessel Gets Moved By 172 Wheeled Truck

You may have seen it while driving Friday, a huge truck hauling a pressure vessel. It’s was making its way from Idaho Falls to Pocatello before its final destination in Kentucky. If you are asking yourself what? Then you missed the big move.

“Its huge; it’s impressive to see. It’s impressive for us to have built. I think one thing really interesting about it is that we did over four miles of welding on it, with only two failures,” said Nathan McMasters, president of Diversified Metal Products.

It is just over 14 feet high, it weights 100 tons, and it took eight months to build, making it the largest ever built in Idaho Falls.

It was a big project. It took two shifts, 10 workers total, 20 hours a day, four to five days a week and was almost built to perfection.

“So that speaks to the skill of the guys in our shop. They did a really great job and we are really proud of them,” said McMasters.

But now the battle lies in moving the vessel.

There are 172 tires hitting the ground on this semitruck.

“It is the first time we have had a trailer of this configuration to haul something like this,” said Project Manager Ken Eberspacher, Diversified Metal Products.

Once in Pocatello, the very important testing beings: post-well heat treatment, X-raying the welded seams, doing a hydrostatic test, draining the water, sanding it and painting it.

Then it’s back on the trailer and everything has to be working just right.

“If you come across a low spot in the road or a bridge that is at a crown, you have to raise the front of the trailer and the back of the trailer in order for the vessel not to drag. At the same time, you want it as low as possible to clear any bridges that may be there,” said Eberspacher.

So will Diversified try to go bigger next time?

“I think we will just take this victory and stick with it,” said McMasters.

Eberspacher said it will be bitter sweet to see the vessel leave.

“I guess cheer it as it rolls down the road because it is a huge accomplishment,” said McMasters.

After testing, it is on a two-week journey to Chemical Agent Pilot Plant Richmond, Kentucky.

The trailer will have a pilot cars. It will be lead by a local company out of Rigby, Just Truckin’ Pilot Service.

The total weight of the trailer and vessel is 358,000 pounds and the transportation requires special permits and specific travel routes.