Skip to main content
+1 (888) 996-7619|18+ Years of Excellence|

Wheel loader · Caterpillar

CAT 980: transport dimensions, weight and how it ships overseas

The CAT 980 usually goes in 2 × 40 ft high cube, from our loading records for related models (CAT 980B, CAT 980C, CAT 980F). Shipped whole, it goes on a 40 ft flat rack (2 ft 9 in / 0.84 m over width, 6 ft 2 in / 1.88 m over height), or RoRo where a lane serves your port.

Transport length
31 ft 9 in / 9.67 m
Transport width
10 ft 8 in / 3.24 m
Transport height
12 ft 7 in / 3.83 m
Weight
66,900 lb / 30,344 kg
Quote my CAT 980Call Specialist

CAT 980 transport drawing

CAT 980 transport drawingSide elevation, end elevation and plan of the CAT 980, drawn to scale from the manufacturer's transport dimensions: 31 ft 9 in / 9.67 m long, 10 ft 8 in / 3.24 m wide, 12 ft 7 in / 3.83 m high, 66,900 lb (30,344 kg).CAT 980 · TRANSPORT DIMENSIONSTHIRD-ANGLE PROJECTION · ONE SCALE31 ft 9 in9.67 m12 ft 7 in3.83 mTOP OF MACHINESIDE ELEVATION℄40 FT HC DOOR OPENING10 ft 8 in3.24 m12 ft 7 in3.83 mEND ELEVATION (FRONT)10 ft 8 in3.24 m12 ft 6 in3.8 mWHEELBASEPLANNOTES1. Transport dimensions as published by Caterpillar; standardlift arm, bucket level on the ground.2. Width 10 ft 8 in / 3.24 m over the tyres; the bucket is 11ft 4 in / 3.45 m wide and comes off to ship.3. Dash-dot: 40 ft high-cube door opening, 7 ft 8 in / 2.34 mwide by 8 ft 6 in / 2.58 m high. Hatched: 2 ft 11 in / 0.9m over the door width, 4 ft 1 in / 1.25 m over its height.4. On a 40 ft flat rack the machine is out of gauge by 2 ft 9in / 0.84 m in width and 6 ft 2 in / 1.88 m in height;carriers confirm acceptance per booking.5. Schematic to scale; not for lifting, lashing orengineering.SCALE0510 ft024 mSEAWAY PROJECT CARGODwg SPC-TD-CAT-980CAT 980 transport drawingVIEWSide, end, planSCALETo scale, see barSOURCECaterpillar AEXQ4428-00CHECKEDOctober 2026

Scroll sideways to read the drawing, or turn your phone.

CAT 980 transport drawing
Download the CAT 980 drawing (PNG)

1920 × 1240 px. Free to use with a link to this page.

Side elevation, end elevation against a 40 ft high-cube door opening, and plan, all at one scale from Caterpillar's published transport dimensions (AEXQ4428-00, checked October 2026). Red hatching marks what stands outside the door opening. Schematic; not for lifting or engineering.

CAT 980 transport specifications

SpecificationValueBasis
Transport length31 ft 9 in / 9.67 mbucket level on the ground
Transport width10 ft 8 in / 3.24 mover the tyres · 11 ft 1 in / 3.37 m on 875/65R29 L3 tyres
Transport height12 ft 7 in / 3.83 mto the top of the cab or ROPS
Weight66,900 lb / 30,344 kgoperating weight
Bucket width11 ft 4 in / 3.45 mstandard bucket; comes off to ship
Wheelbase12 ft 6 in / 3.8 m
Tread8 ft / 2.44 mtyre centre to tyre centre
Rear axle to counterweight8 ft 9 in / 2.66 mcentre of the rear axle to the back of the counterweight
Ground clearance1 ft 6 in / 0.46 m
Machine typeWheel loader
Configuration7.1 yd³ (5.4 m³) general-purpose bucket, standard lift arm, 29.5R25 tyres. The bucket (11 ft 4 in / 3.45 m) is wider than the tyres and comes off to ship. Height to the cab; the beacon reaches 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m).

Manufacturer documents

Links and figures checked October 2026. Linked from the manufacturer; we do not host them.

Published figures for the configuration shown. Shoes, tyres, buckets, counterweights and options change them, so we confirm the dimensions on your machine before booking.

Every way to ship a CAT 980, best first

Loaded by Seaway

How we load the CAT 980

Our loading records list earlier and sister models of the CAT 980 (CAT 980B, CAT 980C, CAT 980F, CAT 980G, CAT 980G II). The usual plan is 2 × 40 ft high cube.

  • 2 × 40 ft high cubeOr: 1 × 40 ft high cube + 1 × 20 ft container
  • Before loading, as on every wheel loader we put in closed boxes: bucket off, wheels off, cab or ROPS removed and crated, counterweight off. Our loading sheet does not list the steps for this one, so the survey confirms them.
40' high cube container · Isometric viewDoor end of the 40' high cube container, left half closed, right half cut through the door opening: inside width 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m), inside height 8 ft 10 in (2.7 m), door opening 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) wide and 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m) high.FRAME ANDLIFT ARMS39 ft 6 in12.03 m40' high cube containerISOMETRIC VIEW · SEAWAY PROJECT CARGO
2 × 40 ft high cube: main machine

From our dismantling and loading records, checked July 2026. Your machine's year, attachments and options can change the boxes; we confirm before booking.

Get a quote with this planSee every model in this series

Our loading records come first. The rest is worked out from the dimensions above against container, flat rack and RoRo limits; RoRo depends on a regular sailing to your port.

#Best methodFitPreparation
1Our usual plan: 2 × 40 ft high cubeBest fitFrom our loading recordsbucket off, wheels off, cab or ROPS removed and crated, and counterweight off (typical)
240 ft flat rackOut-of-gaugeShips assembled, blocked and lashed; out-of-gauge surcharge applies (2 ft 9 in / 0.84 m over width, 6 ft 2 in / 1.88 m over height).
3RoRoWhere a RoRo lane serves the destinationDrives on assembled where a RoRo lane serves the destination.
4BreakbulkFits as isLifted aboard by crane as breakbulk; used when no flat rack or RoRo option suits the port.

See how we containerize heavy equipment

Will it fit? Published configurations

Caterpillar publishes the transport dimensions for more than one configuration; pick yours and the verdict updates.

Transport envelope
31 ft 9 in × 10 ft 8 in × 12 ft 7 in (9.67 × 3.24 × 3.83 m)66,900 lb (30,344 kg)
Best fit
40 ft flat rackOut-of-gauge · 2 ft 9 in / 0.84 m over width, 6 ft 2 in / 1.88 m over height
40 ft high-cube door
2 ft 11 in / 0.9 m over the door width, 4 ft 1 in / 1.25 m over its heightAfter disassembly, across containers
Quote this configuration

Only configurations the manufacturer publishes; the survey at pickup confirms the figures before booking.

CAT 980 generations and how each has shipped

GenerationYears (approx.)How Seaway has loaded it
980B—2 × 40 ft high cube1 machine on record: CAT 980B
980C—2 × 40 ft high cube1 machine on record: CAT 980C
980F—2 × 40 ft high cube1 machine on record: CAT 980F
980G—2 × 40 ft high cube + 1 × 20 ft container1 machine on record: CAT 980G
980G II—2 × 40 ft high cube + 1 × 20 ft container1 machine on record: CAT 980G II
980H—2 × 40 ft high cube1 machine on record: CAT 980H
980K—2 × 40 ft high cube + 1 × 20 ft container1 machine on record: CAT 980K
980M—2 × 40 ft high cube1 machine on record: CAT 980M
980current—No record yet; measured at pickup and quoted both ways

Production years are approximate; the serial plate settles the generation, and transport dimensions differ a little between them.

Comparable wheel loaders from other brands

MachineL × W × H (transport)WeightShips
CAT 98031 ft 9 in × 10 ft 8 in × 12 ft 7 in (9.67 × 3.24 × 3.83 m)66,900 lb / 30,344 kg2 × 40 ft high cube
Volvo L220H30 ft 8 in × 10 ft 4 in × 12 ft 3 in (9.35 × 3.15 × 3.73 m)68,800 lb / 31,190 kg2 × 40 ft high cube
Kawasaki 95Z732 ft × 10 ft 7 in × 12 ft 3 in (9.75 × 3.22 × 3.73 m)73,800 lb / 33,470 kg2 × 40 ft high cube
Volvo L180H29 ft 6 in × 9 ft 9 in × 11 ft 9 in (9 × 2.96 × 3.58 m)59,700 lb / 27,060 kg2 × 40 ft high cube
Komatsu WA500-832 ft 8 in × 10 ft 6 in × 12 ft 5 in (9.95 × 3.19 × 3.79 m)78,600 lb / 35,661 kg2 × 40 ft high cube + 1 × 20 ft container

Same machine type within 20% of the weight. Each links to its own page with its published dimensions and verdict.

Where machines like the CAT 980 go

  • NigeriaTransit 21-30 days

    Import duty 5%HS 8429.51 · 2023

    Form M must be opened through a Nigerian bank before the machine ships.

    Quote to Nigeria
  • Saudi ArabiaTransit 18-25 days

    Import duty 6%HS 8429.51 · 2023

    Shipments need SABER conformity certificates arranged before arrival.

    Quote to Saudi Arabia
  • AustraliaTransit 28-35 days

    Import duty 0–5%HS 8429.51 · 2023

    Strict biosecurity cleaning; dirty undercarriages are re-cleaned at the importer's cost.

    Quote to Australia
  • ChileTransit 21-28 days

    Import duty 6%HS 8429.51 · 2023

    Quote to Chile

Duty rates (most-favoured-nation, averaged across the HS lines of the machine class): UNCTAD TRAINS via World Bank WITS: MFN applied tariff

Preparing a CAT 980 for export

  • Tier 4 Final and Stage V engines need ultra-low-sulfur diesel (15 ppm or less) and DEF. Where only high-sulfur diesel is sold, the after-treatment clogs, so check fuel quality or source a lower-tier export machine.
  • Telematics (such as Cat Product Link, Komtrax or JDLink) may stop working abroad; the dealer can transfer or end the subscription before export.

CAT 980 shipping questions

Does a CAT 980 fit in a shipping container?

Not in one piece: at 66,900 lb (30,344 kg) it is heavier than one container carries. Taken apart, it goes in 2 × 40 ft high cube, the plan from our loading records.

How much does a CAT 980 weigh for shipping?

Caterpillar lists the CAT 980 at 66,900 lb (30,344 kg) (operating weight); the bill of lading uses your machine's own weight.

What are the shipping dimensions of a CAT 980?

31 ft 9 in × 10 ft 8 in × 12 ft 7 in (9.67 × 3.24 × 3.83 m) (length × width × height) in transport position, from Caterpillar's published specifications for the CAT 980.

What has to come off a CAT 980 to ship it?

For 2 × 40 ft high cube, typically: bucket off, wheels off, cab or ROPS removed and crated, and counterweight off. That is what comes off every wheel loader we put in closed boxes; the survey confirms it for your machine. Our crew does the work, crates and labels the loose parts and documents everything for reassembly.

Can a CAT 980 ship RoRo?

Yes, where a RoRo lane serves your destination port. It drives on under its own power. RoRo from the U.S. reaches fewer countries than containers and flat racks, so we check your port first.