Buses & Coaches Shipping
Bus & Coach Transport Services Worldwide
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Ship Your Buses & Coaches
Get expert advice on the best shipping solution for your equipment.
Related Equipment
Overview
Buses require attention to height clearances and sometimes width. School buses, transit buses, and coaches each have specific considerations.
We ship new buses from manufacturers and used equipment to markets worldwide including Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
Double-decker and articulated buses may require special routing or handling.
Typical Specifications
| Weight Range | 10 - 30+ metric tons |
| Length | 6m - 18m (articulated) |
| Height | 3m - 4.2m (double-deck) |
| Types | Transit, school, coach, shuttle |
Recommended Shipping Methods
Container
Not practical for full-size buses.
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)
RecommendedStandard method for buses.
Breakbulk
For non-RoRo routes.
Drive-away
Regional deliveries.
Container, flat rack, RoRo or breakbulk?
We quote in this order because it is usually cheapest first. Most machines that look too big for a box fit once our crew takes off the bucket, boom, cab or wheels; larger ones are taken further apart across several containers, and pieces too big or heavy for a flat rack or roll trailer go 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
- Height verification critical
- Mirrors folded/protected
- Wheelchair lifts secured
- Interior items removed
- Fuel at minimum
- Battery disconnect
Common Models We Ship
Frequently Asked Questions
What about double-decker buses?
Double-deckers require height clearance verification. Some vessels have limited deck height.
Can articulated buses ship intact?
Yes, articulated buses (bendy buses) ship via RoRo as complete units.
Do you handle electric buses?
Yes, including battery safety considerations for ocean transport.
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 Buses & Coaches?
Get a customized quote for your equipment. Our experts handle buses & coaches shipments worldwide.