Abstract: The present invention provides a tractor-trailer vehicle for use in transporting ladles of molten metal. The trailer includes a generally U-shaped main frame, each side carrying a wheel assembly and a carrier beam pivotally interconnected at one end to the side. A transverse U-shaped overhead beam pivotally interconnects at each end to the carrier beams intermediate their ends, and has parallel ladle trunnion-engaging hooks pendantly disposed therefrom. Actuators interconnected between the main frame and the other end of the carrier beams provide a lever action rotating the carrier and overhead beams about the carrier beam-main frame pivot connection. The actuators are gimbaled to prevent load-induced binding. Upon such beam rotation, the overhead beam and hooks move substantially vertically to lift and lower the ladle from and to its supporting surface, respectively.