Crawler Cranes Shipping
Crawler Crane Shipping & Heavy Lift Transport
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Ship Your Crawler Cranes
Get expert advice on the best shipping solution for your equipment.
Related Equipment
Overview
Crawler cranes are among the most complex equipment to transport. A single large crawler crane can require 20-50 separate truckloads for the base, boom sections, counterweights, and accessories.
Our crawler crane logistics team specializes in the complete process: disassembly planning, component identification, load sequencing, and coordinated delivery to ensure efficient reassembly at destination.
We work with all major crawler crane manufacturers and have experience with cranes from 50-ton capacity up to the world's largest 3,000+ ton machines.
Typical Specifications
| Capacity Range | 50 - 3,000+ tons |
| Base Unit Weight | 40 - 500+ tons |
| Boom Sections | 10m - 12m lengths typical |
| Counterweight Blocks | 10 - 50+ tons each |
Recommended Shipping Methods
Breakbulk/Heavy Lift
RecommendedPrimary method for crane components, especially carbodies.
Flat Rack Container
RecommendedBoom sections and smaller components.
Heavy Haul Trucking
RecommendedMulti-axle trailers for base units and heavy components.
RoRo
Limited use for complete smaller cranes only.
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
- Complete disassembly by certified technicians
- Component labeling and inventory
- Boom section bundling and securing
- Counterweight individual handling
- Hydraulic system preparation
- Electrical disconnect and preservation
Crawler Cranes 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.
Crawler crane
Link-Belt LS-218H
2 × 40 ft open top + 2 × 40 ft flat rack + 6 × 40 ft high cube
Link-Belt loading plansCrawler crane
Link-Belt LS-428
1 × 40 ft open top + 4 × 40 ft high cube
Link-Belt loading plansCrawler crane
Bucyrus-Erie 22B
2 × 40 ft high cube
Bucyrus-Erie loading plansCrawler crane
Bucyrus-Erie 30B Super
1 × 40 ft open top + 2 × 40 ft high cube
Bucyrus-Erie loading plansCrawler crane
American 595C
3 × 40 ft high cube
American Hoist & Derrick loading plansCrawler crane
American 9220
2 × 40 ft open top + 4 × 40 ft high cube
American Hoist & Derrick loading plansCrawler crane
Lima 65SC Modified
1 × 40 ft open top + 3 × 40 ft high cube
Lima loading plansCrawler crane
Lima 700-HC
4 × 40 ft high cube
Lima loading plansCrawler crane
P&H 5300 R
2 × 40 ft open top + 5 × 40 ft flat rack + 10 × 40 ft high cube
P&H loading plansCrawler crane
Link-Belt LS408
1 × 40 ft open top + 2 × 40 ft high cube
Link-Belt loading plansCrawler crane
Bucyrus-Erie 25B HD
2 × 40 ft high cube
Bucyrus-Erie loading plansCrawler crane
American 599
3 × 40 ft high cube
American Hoist & Derrick loading plans
Common Models We Ship
Frequently Asked Questions
How many loads does a crawler crane require?
It varies greatly. A 200-ton crane might need 8-12 loads, while a 1,000+ ton crane can require 30-50 or more separate shipments.
Do you handle crane disassembly?
We coordinate with certified crane technicians or the crane owner's team. Disassembly typically takes 3-7 days depending on crane size.
Can crawler cranes ship fully assembled?
Only very small crawler cranes (under 100 tons capacity) can sometimes ship assembled. Larger cranes always require disassembly.
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 Crawler Cranes?
Get a customized quote for your equipment. Our experts handle crawler cranes shipments worldwide.