Load carrying system and method

A dolly for transporting a load on a ground surface, the dolly comprising:

• a frame;
• a plurality of rolling elements mounted on the frame for rotation about respective rotational axes, the plurality of rolling elements defining a contact footprint of the dolly on the ground surface;
• a swivel platform defining a load contacting surface, the swivel platform extending at an elevation above the frame, the swivel platform mounted on the frame for rotation about a platform axis, the platform axis located within the contact footprint;
• an actuator unit configured to displace the dolly on the ground surface, the actuator unit including a first motor and a second motor, the first motor drivingly engaged to at least a first one of the plurality of rolling elements, the second motor drivingly engaged to at least a second one of the plurality of rolling elements, the first one of the plurality of rolling elements and the second one of the plurality of rolling elements disposed on opposite sides of the swivel platform;
• an on-board controller unit operatively connected to the actuator unit, the on-board controller unit operable to actuate the actuator unit;
• and
• wherein the frame includes a rigidifying structure extending in a transverse plane intersecting with the swivel platform, the first motor and the second motor disposed on opposite sides of the rigidifying structure.