Moving Big

In the specialised world of oversized haulage, Ares Group is positioning itself at the forefront of a shift away from brute-force logistics toward precision-led engineering.

Working across mining, renewable energy and major infrastructure, the company is increasingly defined not just by what it moves, but by how it thinks.

At its core, Ares Group delivers end-to-end project logistics – combining route surveys, engineering design, and heavy-haul transport into a single integrated service. But in a sector where loads are growing larger, routes more constrained, and project timelines tighter, that integration has become critical.

‘Moving big’ is no longer the challenge it once was. Moving big, safely and predictably, is where the industry is heading.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the transport of oversized plant and equipment for the mining and energy sectors. From transformers and processing modules to large-scale infrastructure components, these loads often push the limits of both physical transport and regulatory frameworks. Traditional approaches – relying heavily on standard trailers and reactive problem-solving – are increasingly being replaced by proactive engineering-led solutions.

For Ares Group, the process starts long before a truck turns a wheel.

Planning, ARES Group CEO, Davorin Jelaca, says, is where most transport failures originate.

“Misjudged load behaviour, poorly understood site conditions or unclear offloading requirements can trigger costly delays and safety risks once a project is underway,” he says.

As a result, Ares has adopted a ‘plan first, move later’ philosophy, placing engineering analysis at the centre of every job.

This begins with understanding the load itself – not just its weight, but how it behaves in motion. Stability, centre of gravity and dynamic forces all influence how a piece of equipment should be transported.

“From there, our engineers design a tailored platform system, ensuring the trailer configuration, lifting interfaces and site constraints are all aligned before execution begins,” Davorin says. “The platform isn’t just a trailer, it’s the heart of the transport.”

That philosophy reflects a broader shift in the heavy haulage sector, where bespoke solutions are increasingly replacing one-size-fits-all equipment. Modular platforms, custom support frames and specialised axle groupings are now routinely engineered to suit individual loads, particularly in industries like mining where equipment is both massive and highly variable in design.

A recent project in Western Australia – the Collie Battery Project – highlights how this approach translates into real-world outcomes.

Working alongside Wilson Transformers on the Collie Battery project, Ares Group was tasked with transporting critical infrastructure to support what will become one of the country’s most significant energy storage developments. The project, centred in Collie, is designed to deliver up to 2,000 MWh of storage capacity, strengthening grid reliability as the state transitions toward renewable energy.

For Ares, the challenge extended far beyond simply moving transformers from point A to point B.

“Each stage of the operation was meticulously planned and risk-assessed, including the development of a comprehensive traffic management strategy covering transport routes across four states. Given the size and sensitivity of the equipment, even minor miscalculations could have led to delays or damage,” Davorin says.

Central to the solution was the design of custom offload platforms tailored to both the transformers and the specific conditions at the Collie site. These platforms were engineered to integrate seamlessly with the transport system, ensuring a controlled transition from road to final position.

The offloading process itself relied on precision techniques, including controlled jack-and-skate operations. This method allows heavy equipment to be carefully manoeuvred into place with minimal stress on both the load and the supporting structure – an approach particularly suited to high-value, high-risk components like transformers.

The result was a tightly executed operation, with equipment delivered as planned, minimal on-site adjustments and reduced overall project risk. In an industry where unforeseen complications are often the norm, that level of predictability is increasingly valuable.

Beyond the technical achievement, the project also underscores a broader trend in Australia’s heavy transport sector. As infrastructure and energy projects grow in scale and complexity, the expectation is shifting toward fully integrated logistics solutions – where engineering, planning and execution are aligned from the outset.

For companies like Ares Group, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity. The margin for error is shrinking, but so too is the tolerance for inefficiency.

Ultimately, the evolution of oversized haulage is less about moving bigger loads and more about moving smarter. By embedding engineering into every stage of the process, operators can reduce risk, improve safety and deliver greater certainty for project partners.

As Australia’s mining and energy sectors continue to expand into new frontiers, that combination of ingenuity and precision is set to become the industry standard.