Projects
At STG - The Specialist Transport Group - every movement is regarded as a project, looked after by one person, from start to finish. Your movement may be urgent, oversize or problematical in some other way - to just around the corner or across the globe, possibly to somewhere very remote. To the STG team, it is an everyday challenge.

Portcullis House

The ability to integrate road, sea, river, rail and air - in any combination - is unique. We never look to the obvious answer, we always look for a better solution. The three key words in our vocabulary are Innovation, Experience and Commitment.

Innovation - exploring new methods and routes whilst, at one and the same time, remembering the tried and tested options.

Experience - not only drawing on many years of experience, but also the immense amount of data, collated and retained over time, to the benefit of all customers.

Commitment - a personal commitment to ensure that everything possible is done to ensure that the movement is performed to budget, on time.

Remember - STG concentrate solely on the movement of difficult loads to difficult places.

Road
For those who have already visited the section titled Availability -> Trailer Types, you will know that special trailers are one of our main strengths. Over the years we have forged relationships with specialist hauliers throughout Europe in order to create one of the strongest networks available.

Back seat drivers can be helpful.

From the north of Finland to the south of Italy, from the west of Ireland to the Ukraine and beyond, any one of over seventy operators, with a combined fleet exceeding one thousand specialist trailers, is standing by, ready to help.

Coupled with an intimate knowledge of both international and local regulations, road conditions and, above all, experience - STG and their Associates provide what is one of the most formidable combinations, everyone concentrating on the task of moving difficult loads to difficult places.

Not unnaturally, movements to/from the UK remain our largest market. Having said that, if you have cargo from Italy to Poland, Sweden to Portugal, Holland to Turkey or wherever - STG has performed them all and more.

Whatever the shape, size, weight or destination, STG has the answer. There is just one aim - getting the contract performed when you want, how you want, at a competitive price. It's that simple.

Sea
There is no doubt that sea freight is the most important element in world trade. Container ships cross oceans in days, berthing at major ports, to a schedule fixed months or years in advance. However, it may be that your cargo cannot be accommodated within standard, ISO containers.

Why struggle?

If this is the case, STG can help. Our Project and Shipping Division concentrates solely on the movement of oversize cargo where, at least initially, there is no obvious answer. We are completely neutral and have no fixed, agency arrangements. As a result, the world's our oyster.

In the past we have utilised every imaginable vessel, whether it be a charter ship, part charter, coaster, specialist heavy lift vessel or whatever. To us it doesn't matter if the cargo is static or mobile, from the Far East to South America, or a short voyage into the Mediterranean or the Black Sea.

By remaining fiercely independent, it gives STG the freedom to consider every possible option - invariably to the customer's benefit.

Air
It would be very wrong, as part of the STG portfolio, to ignore air freight. Sometimes, time is of the essence. By sea, the transit time can be measured in days or weeks. By air, in just a matter of hours - critical if a plant is out of action, for want of vital components. Even more the case with emergency, disaster relief.

Guadalajara - Mexico

Just as in the sea freight market, STG maintains close links with a number of aircraft charterers. Unlike many of the other options, with aircraft, dimensions and weights are extremely critical. Having said that, STG are used to working to the closest tolerances, whatever the chosen method or route.

Projects in the past have included a complete bottling line from Bologna to Shanghai, oil exploration equipment to northern Siberia, vital aerospace components to Atlanta USA, machinery from Europe to Guadalajara, Mexico and many others.

In each case, STG have not only been responsible for selecting the aircraft but also ensuring that, pre airport, the cargo is collected on time, fully prepared, ready for the flight. Likewise, at the arrival airport, having everything standing by, ready for the final stage.

If we think air freight is an option, we'll draw up comparisons, both in time and cost, so that you can decide.

Consultancy
The questions are simple; it's the answers that are more difficult!

When is a quay not a quay?

Can it be done? Firstly, from a practical point of view - is it too heavy, wide, high or long, for the journey in mind. Sometimes, we have the answer to hand. Other times, we need to carry out a feasibility study and route survey. Secondly, do the regulations allow it - even though the exercise may be possible? The regulations vary from country to country - some are mandatory, others may be negotiable.

How long will it take? Whatever the cargo, method and route - you will want to know how long it will take. Even though a particular option may be more expensive, the fact that manufacture can start days or weeks earlier, will have an important bearing on the final decision.

What will it cost? Always the most important consideration but, almost invariably, by concentrating on the lowest possible cost, unforeseen side effects can come into play. It's our job to point them out, for better or worse.

If your exercise is more complex, involving supply chain logistics, we have a close association with one of the major players in this field - Bisham Consulting. If it is a case of relocating a production line, they would be pleased to advise on "getting your product to market".

For a relatively modest investment, the consultancy arm of STG would be pleased to study all the options and provide the answers, a modest investment can reap dividends, both in the short and longer term.

River
If the roads are the veins of a continent, then the rivers are the arteries. Just as road and rail have their place, so does river traffic. The ports of Rotterdam (Rhine), Hamburg (Elbe) and Constanta (Danube) are well known. However, they link a vast network of more minor, inland ports - stretching from Gelsenkirchen in the Ruhr, to Opole in Poland.

The Mamba & The Argonaut

Just as both road and rail have their limitations, rivers are just the same, perhaps even more so. Water depths vary; flooding overnight can result in the clearance on bridges disappearing. In mid winter, a freezing canal can be unservicable for sometimes days.

At STG, we have organised barge movements from Hamburg to Kosice, in eastern Slovakia - from Bratislava to Portile de Fier in Rumania, even just a few miles along the Thames, from Dartford to Westminster - anywhere that has a suitable water connection.

The fact is that river barges may provide the best solution, where others might fail. It is our role to consider every option, before recommending the one that most satisfies all criteria, whether it be regulatory, practical, speed or economy.

Rail
Over short distances, rail is unlikely to be the answer. However, when tackling vast distances, across continents, rail comes into its own. It could be across Russia, into furthest Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan. From Chicago on the Great Lakes, to the port of Houston. Railways throughout the world offer tremendous scope. With a resurgence of interest in rail, in selected projects, it can prove to be the best option.

Rail can be the answer

Needless to say, there are limitations. The width and height of the cargo becomes critical, more so than by road. With weight, it is less the case. Many countries, where the road infrastructure is poor, may insist on rail movement.

In most cases, the lead and preparation times are longer. Specialist rail equipment may have to be sourced and booked, weeks or months in advance. Many rail organisations are state owned, resulting in an entirely different culture, immune to normal commercial pressures.

Despite these difficulties, in particular situations, rail can offer tremendous cost savings, disregarding the well known, environmental benefits.

We would be pleased to explore the rail option, it might just prove to be the best solution.

Machinery Re-location
Sometimes transport is only part of a much bigger picture. If it is a factory move, machinery may have to be dismantled and packed. This always raises two important questions.

Stennis Space Center

Firstly, is it practical to move as large, single pieces? Given our knowledge of the oversize market, we will have the answer. Alternatively, it may be better to fully dismantle the equipment and ship using standard trailers or containers. Having said that, just remember that you have to reassemble everything at the other end - it all costs time and money!

Secondly, given the chosen method and route, in relation to the nature of the cargo, what packing, if any, is necessary? Invariably, over packing is a waste of money. On the other hand, shipping unpacked may present an unacceptable risk. In both cases, a little thought can save a lot of money.

In the past, STG have been involved in some of the largest machinery movements in Europe. A cereal manufacturing plant from Denmark to Spain, a production line from Poland to the UK, a bottling line from Italy to Greece, crisp manufacturing machinery from the UK to middle Russia - each one, a challenge in its own right.

In one of the most difficult, STG were not only responsible for dismantling, packing, shipping and reassembly on site, but also arranging the refurbishment of critical components, part way through the journey. All of this had to be achieved within a very tight schedule, keeping down time to an absolute minimum.

Therefore, if you would prefer a "turnkey" contract, our working alongside partners of many years, just ask - we would be pleased to help.

Self Drive
The concept is straight forward. The execution slightly more complicated. If you have cargo that is self propelled, the most economic solution may be to drive the unit by road. It could be a mobile crane, bus or coach, possibly a fire engine or ambulance. We have delivered all of these and many more.

Military Equipment

However, there are some ground rules. Firstly, the unit must comply with the road regulations, through each transit country. Secondly, it must be in good and serviceable condition. Thirdly, it must be correctly registered and insured. If the cargo meets these three criteria, then self drive may be the answer.

We will provide a fully experienced driver, one with many years driving experience. He will select the optimum route, keeping the road distance to an absolute minimum. Where ocean going or local ferries can help, these will be used. Every day, he will be tasked with checking and servicing the unit, before starting off.

In the past, we have driven mobile cranes from the UK to the Black Sea, London Routemaster busses to Croatia, even construction equipment as far as Turkey, Syria and Jordan.

It's a thought - self drive may turn out to be the most practical and economic solution.