From Jurassic to JFK: How QCS Moved an Allosaurus Across the Atlantic
At Quick Cargo Service, we’re used to handling a wide range of cargo — from pharmaceuticals and vehicles to live animals and delicate instruments. But every so often, a shipment comes along that truly captures the imagination. One such moment arrived recently, when we were entrusted with transporting something not just valuable, but prehistoric:
a fossilized Allosaurus, over 150 million years old, heading from Germany to the New York City area.
A Fossil Like No Other
This wasn’t just another museum piece — it was a fully fossilized skeleton of an Allosaurus, a large carnivorous dinosaur that once roamed what is now North America and Europe.The client? One of our VIP customers in Germany, a dedicated archaeologist and curator of a local dinosaur museum, who has spent a lifetime studying and preserving these ancient giants. When it came time to send this rare specimen to an exhibition in the United States, he turned to Quick Cargo Service for the job.
Logistics Across Time
Transporting a fossil is no ordinary task. The shipment was not only fragile and scientifically significant, but also highly valuable — with a declared worth of €500,000. QCS coordinated the move with full attention to regulatory compliance, security, and preservation. Our scope included:
✅ Export permits and documentation from German authorities
✅ Consignee coordination and import support on arrival in the U.S.
✅ High-value handling and secured storage during all transit points
✅ Comprehensive insurance coverage for peace of mind
Every phase of the journey — from museum crate to transatlantic air cargo to final delivery — was planned with surgical precision. And yes, even prehistoric cargo travels with a modern airway bill.
Why This Shipment Mattered
In logistics, we often talk about “special cargo.” But moving an Allosaurus redefines what that means. This shipment wasn’t just about tonnage or timing — it was about handling a piece of natural history with the respect and professionalism it deserves. Moments like this remind us why our work matters. Logistics is more than movement — it’s stewardship. We move products, we move innovations… and sometimes, we move the very bones of Earth’s distant past.
Gratitude Where It’s Due
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Burcu Tugtepe, Branch Manager at QCS Nuremberg, and her exceptional team, whose dedication and expertise made this complex move possible. From the Jurassic era to JFK — this was truly a once-in-a-lifetime journey. And we’re proud to have been part of it.
