Centurion Transport has completed a major heavy haulage operation for Liebherr-Australia, moving 11 oversized loads across more than 1,300 kilometres to deliver one of the manufacturer’s largest hydraulic mining shovels. The project showcased Centurion’s position as Australia’s leading heavy haulage provider.
Project Scope
The operation involved transporting a complete Liebherr 996 mining excavator, with 10 loads originating from Perth and one from Adelaide. The heaviest single component — the excavator’s upper carriage — weighed 185 tonnes and required customised transport configurations to move safely across public road networks.
Centurion mobilised a fleet of 12 trucks, staffed by 12 drivers and two dedicated support crew who worked as a coordinated unit across the multi-day operation. The convoy completed the journey over three days, with regular load checks conducted every five hours to ensure nothing had shifted and that every component remained secure.
Technical Coordination
Precise planning was central to the project’s success. Centurion supplied Liebherr-Australia with detailed General Arrangement (GA) drawings — including axle weights and equipment specifications — before the operation commenced. This early alignment on transport configurations allowed both teams to identify and resolve potential issues before trucks left the depot, significantly reducing the risk of delays or complications mid-route.
Line crew support from Western Power was required to manage overhead clearance along sections of the route, while specialist cranes were deployed for both loading and offloading operations at either end. Craig Gavin, Centurion’s General Manager of Heavy Haulage West, oversaw the operation.
Heavy Haulage Capability
The Liebherr project is representative of the type of work that has defined Centurion’s heavy haulage division for decades. The company operates a specialised fleet capable of carrying loads in excess of 200 tonnes, supported by escort vehicles, route planning expertise, and the permitting knowledge required to move oversized loads across multiple state jurisdictions.
For mining companies and equipment manufacturers operating in Australia’s resource regions, finding a heavy haulage provider that can manage the full logistics chain — from route engineering and permit acquisition through to multi-day convoy management and site delivery — remains a critical challenge. Centurion’s integrated approach, combining in-house planning, dedicated fleet assets, and experienced operators, positions the company as one of the few Australian logistics providers capable of handling projects at this scale without subcontracting key components.
The successful Liebherr delivery adds to a track record that includes long-standing heavy haulage contracts across the Pilbara, Kimberley, Bowen Basin, and other major resource precincts.