Boom Lifts Shipping
A Genie S-40, S-50 or S-55 boom lift goes in one 40 ft high cube: 42 of the 69 boom lifts in our loading records did. The largest, such as a Genie SX-180 or Z-135, go in a 40 ft open top loaded 18 in over height.
Overview
Boom lifts fold into a long, narrow transport position, which suits a container. In our loading records 42 of the 69 boom lifts, such as the Genie S-40, S-50, S-55 and 30N, went in one 40 ft high cube with the boom stowed. Genie prints the S-40 at 7.39 m long, 2.30 m wide and 2.49 m high stowed, inside the 2.34 m by 2.58 m door.
Large telescopic booms are taller stowed. A Genie S-120, S-125 or Z-80/60 went in a 40 ft open top loaded 12 in over height, and a Genie SX-180 or Z-135 in an open top loaded 18 in over height, under a tarp. A JLG 3394RT went in a 45 ft high cube. Genie prints the SX-180 at 13 m long and 24,948 kg, and JLG the 1850SJ at 14.57 m long and 27,170 kg.
Whole, a running boom lift drives aboard a RoRo ship from Baltimore, Brunswick or Houston where a lane serves the destination, or goes on a flat rack. For containers, the platform and jib are secured, the counterweight stays on, and the machine is chocked and lashed through its tie-down points.
Rental fleets sell boom lifts in batches, and our model pages for Genie and JLG list the published dimensions and the plan for each. We confirm the plan with photos of your machines before booking.
Send the make, model and serial number, and say whether the machine has a jib. Several smaller booms can share a box, which lowers the cost per unit. Keep the data plate and annual inspection record, since buyers need them to put the lift back into service.
Typical Specifications
| Working Height | 12m - 58m+ |
|---|---|
| Transport Width | 2.3m - 2.5m |
| Transport Height | 2.5m - 3.0m (boom stowed) |
| Drive | Self-propelled (4x4 on rough terrain models) |
Recommended Shipping Methods
Worked example
Genie Z-45/25J RT articulating boom, stowed: 22 ft 8 in / 6.91 m long, 7 ft 6 in / 2.29 m wide, 6 ft 7 in / 2 m high, 15,200 lb / 6,900 kg.
The ladder below is worked out from these figures. Larger or smaller units of the same type can land on a different rung.
Cheapest first: the shipping cost ladder
We price every machine from the bottom rung up. A machine only moves up a rung when a measurement rules out the cheaper method.
Genie Z-45/25J RT articulating boom, stowed fits a container in one piece, the cheapest way to ship it.
- Rung 1
Container
Lowest cost
Best fit for Genie Z-45/25J RT articulating boom, stowed
When: Fits through a 7 ft 8 in / 2.34 m × 8 ft 6 in / 2.58 m door and under 59,500 lb / 27,000 kg, whole or after we take off the bucket, boom, cab or wheels.
- Rung 2
Flat rack
Mid cost
When: Too wide or tall for a container door, but within 14 ft 9 in / 4.5 m wide, 13 ft 1 in / 4 m tall and 86,000 lb / 39,000 kg on one rack.
- Rung 3
RoRo
Mid cost
When: Drives or tows aboard, under 19 ft 8 in / 6 m tall and 110 US tons / 100,000 kg, going to a port with regular RoRo sailings.
- Rung 4
Breakbulk
Highest cost
When: Past flat-rack and roll-trailer limits, or shipped as modules lifted aboard piece by piece.
Container Shipping
Compact electric lifts may fit standard containers.
Flat Rack Container
RecommendedFor larger units or where RoRo is unavailable.
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)
RecommendedBest for self-propelled drivable boom lifts.
Heavy Haul Trucking
RecommendedInland transport to the port.
Container, flat rack, RoRo or breakbulk?
01Container
- Work needed
- We partially disassemble when needed (bucket, boom, cab, wheels), or take larger machines further apart across several high-cubes and open-tops, then crate, block and lash every part.
- Destinations
- Widest: almost every port worldwide, plus inland delivery by rail.
- Typical cost
- Usually the lowest, with no out-of-gauge surcharges.
- Protection
- Sealed steel box; loose parts and attachments travel locked inside.
- Best for
- Most machines: compact ones as they are, others after partial disassembly, and large ones split across several containers.
02Flat rack
- Work needed
- Ships assembled, blocked and lashed. Surcharges apply when wider than 2.4 m or taller than about 1.95 m.
- Destinations
- Most container ports, on the same vessels as containers.
- Typical cost
- Moderate; rises with every centimetre out of gauge.
- Protection
- Open to the weather; we protect cabs, electronics and hydraulics.
- Best for
- Excavators, dozers and loaders too wide for a container door.
03RoRo
- Work needed
- Drives on assembled; non-runners go on a roll trailer.
- Destinations
- Fewer destinations: regular lanes to Europe, West Africa, the Middle East, Oceania and parts of Latin America.
- Typical cost
- Often competitive for large self-propelled machines where a lane exists.
- Protection
- Below deck, but loose items and attachments cannot ride inside the cab.
- Best for
- Running machines going to a port with regular RoRo sailings.
04Breakbulk
- Work needed
- Lifted aboard piece by piece by ship’s or shore cranes, on its own skids or cradle, then stowed and lashed in the hold or on deck.
- Destinations
- Ports with breakbulk berths and heavy-lift cranes; sailings are booked voyage by voyage.
- Typical cost
- Usually the highest for a single small machine; often the only option for the largest pieces.
- Protection
- In the hold or lashed on deck; we crate, wrap and protect exposed parts.
- Best for
- Pieces too large or heavy for a flat rack or roll trailer: transformers, process modules, mining trucks, crane sections.
Handling & Preparation Requirements
- Fully stow and secure the boom and platform
- Secure turntable rotation lock
- Reduce fluids and disconnect batteries for ocean shipment
- Protect control panels and glass
- Document hours and condition
Boom Lifts we have loaded in containers
A spread of machines from our dismantling and loading records, with the boxes each one went in. Open a brand to see every model and its plan.
Aerial lift
JLG 45JX
1 × 40 ft high cube
JLG loading plansAerial lift
JLG 120HX
1 × 40 ft open top, 1 ft / 0.3 m over the side walls
JLG loading plansAerial lift
JLG 45SJX
1 × 40 ft high cube
JLG loading plansAerial lift
Genie 30N
1 × 40 ft high cube
Genie loading plansAerial lift
Genie S-120
1 × 40 ft open top, 1 ft / 0.3 m over the side walls
Genie loading plansAerial lift
Genie S-125 4WD
1 × 40 ft open top, 1 ft / 0.3 m over the side walls
Genie loading plansAerial lift
Grove A80J
1 × 40 ft open top, 1 ft / 0.3 m over the side walls
Grove loading plansAerial lift
Grove A125J
1 × 40 ft open top, 1 ft 6 in / 0.46 m over the side walls
Grove loading plansAerial lift
Grove AMX86XT
1 × 40 ft open top, 1 ft / 0.3 m over the side walls
Grove loading plansAerial lift
Snorkel TB45
1 × 40 ft high cube
Snorkel loading plansAerial lift
Snorkel TB60
1 × 40 ft high cube
Snorkel loading plansAerial lift
Snorkel TB66J
1 × 40 ft high cube
Snorkel loading plans
Transport dimensions by model
Published dimensions, a scale drawing and every way to ship each one.
- JLG 1850SJBoom lift47 ft 10 in × 8 ft 2 in × 9 ft 11 in (14.57 × 2.49 × 3.03 m)59,900 lb (27,170 kg)
- Genie SX-180Boom lift42 ft 8 in × 8 ft 2 in × 10 ft (13 × 2.49 × 3.05 m)55,000 lb (24,948 kg)
- JLG 1500SJBoom lift43 ft × 8 ft 2 in × 10 ft (13.11 × 2.49 × 3.04 m)48,000 lb (21,772 kg)
- Genie ZX-135/70Boom lift42 ft 5 in × 8 ft 2 in × 10 ft 2 in (12.93 × 2.49 × 3.09 m)46,500 lb (21,092 kg)
- Genie Z-135/70Boom lift42 ft 5 in × 8 ft 1 in × 10 ft 1 in (12.93 × 2.46 × 3.07 m)44,900 lb (20,366 kg)
- JLG 1350SJPBoom lift38 ft 11 in × 8 ft 2 in × 10 ft (11.86 × 2.49 × 3.04 m)44,800 lb (20,300 kg)
- Genie S-125Boom lift39 ft 11 in × 8 ft 1 in × 10 ft 1 in (12.17 × 2.46 × 3.07 m)44,600 lb (20,248 kg)
- Genie S-120Boom lift42 ft 8 in × 8 ft 1 in × 10 ft 1 in (13 × 2.46 × 3.07 m)44,300 lb (20,112 kg)
- JLG 1250AJPBoom lift37 ft 7 in × 8 ft 2 in × 9 ft 11 in (11.45 × 2.49 × 3.02 m)44,000 lb (19,958 kg)
- JLG 120SXJBoom lift35 ft 11 in × 8 ft 2 in × 10 ft (10.95 × 2.49 × 3.05 m)43,500 lb (19,732 kg)
- Snorkel TB126JBoom lift44 ft 9 in × 8 ft 6 in × 10 ft 5 in (13.64 × 2.59 × 3.17 m)41,800 lb (18,960 kg)
- JLG 1200SJPBoom lift34 ft 11 in × 8 ft 2 in × 10 ft (10.64 × 2.49 × 3.04 m)41,100 lb (18,650 kg)
Auction yards that sell boom lifts
Yards whose published equipment categories include boom lifts. Each yard page lists its nearest export ports and how we collect from it.
Common Models We Ship
- JLG 450AJ, 600S, 1850SJ
- Genie Z-45, S-65, SX-180
- Haulotte HA / HT series
- Snorkel / Niftylift booms
Manufacturers We Ship
Brands that build boom lifts, the ones in our loading records first, with model dimensions and the shipping method each one fits.
Where boom lifts shipments go wrong
Mistakes we see on boom lifts bookings, and what avoids them.
- A Genie Z-45/25J RT is about 2.29 m wide, leaving only centimetres in a 2.34 m container door, so tyre bulge and step brackets are measured before container shipping is committed.
- Foam-filled tyres on rough-terrain boom lifts add hundreds of kilos per wheel, so the declared weight comes from the machine serial plate rather than a brochure figure quoted for air-filled tyres.
- Lashing a boom lift over the boom or platform instead of the chassis tie-down lugs bends the boom and breaks the platform rotator, so lashings go only to the marked chassis points.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are boom lifts shipped?
Self-propelled boom lifts usually ship by RoRo; larger units use flat rack.
Do you ship rental fleets?
Yes, we frequently export mixed access fleets - booms, scissors, telehandlers - to one destination.
Are batteries an issue for electric lifts?
Electric/hybrid lifts require battery handling per carrier rules, which we coordinate.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the documents below, each checked on the date shown. Carriers and authorities revise them, so we confirm the current figure when we book.
- [1]Seaway Export loading records: machines dismantled and loaded at U.S. yards, checked July 2026
- [2]JLG 1850SJ: manufacturer specification, checked October 2026
- [3]Snorkel TB126J: manufacturer specification, checked October 2026
- [4]Seaway Project Cargo brand and model guides, checked October 22, 2026
Plan your shipment
Import Duty & Tax Estimator
Estimate duty and VAT on the CIF value for 70+ destinations.
Dimensional Weight Calculator
Work out chargeable weight before you book.
Container Space Calculator
See how your cargo fits in 20ft, 40ft, and HC containers.
Route Finder
Load port, sailings, duty and rules for a machine and destination.
Ready to Ship Your Boom Lifts?
Send the make, model and pickup location. We quote boom lifts by container, flat rack or RoRo from the U.S. port that suits the machine.