In some cases, a heavy carrier is designed and built to move a given load one-off or short-term. An example of this is the self-propelled antenna carrier for the ALMA radio telescope project, a 130-ton (130-ton; 140-short-ton) 28-wheel rigid vehicle designed to transport and accommodate 115 tons (113-long tons). -ton; 127 short tons) radio telescope antennas up to a height of 5,000 m (16,400 ft) on a mountain. [1] Girder bridge trailers are another specialist heavy mover, especially for transporting large power transformers. [quote required]

Typical loads carried by heavy carriers under escort on highways include giant boilers and pressure vessels used in the chemical industry, industrial plants, prefabricated sections for construction projects, giant power transformers, turbines and houses (usually made of wood).

The term "heavy transport vehicle" can also be used to refer to off-road dump trucks and ore carriers or a specially built aircraft with a capacity of up to 400 tons (390 long tons; 440 short tons) used in mining and construction. for transporting heavy materials. [2nd]

There are some shipbuilding companies in China that use SPMT to transport ship parts and build ships. Using gantry cranes, they reduced the million-dollar cost of transporting loads. It is also the first company in China to use SPMT to build ships.