Dump Trailers Shipping
End Dump, Belly Dump & Side Dump Trailer Shipping
Overview
No dump trailer maker's figures are on this site yet, so we measure each trailer at the survey and quote from those figures, not from an estimate.
A highway end dump or belly dump is built to the 102 in (2.59 m) US legal width, wider than a container door. One longer than a 40 ft flat rack's 12.06 m deck is towed aboard a RoRo ship, and a shorter one can go on the rack, over width past 2.4 m.
Soil and aggregate left in the body, the belly gates and the tailgate seals fail biosecurity inspections at destinations such as Australia and New Zealand, so the body is washed out and inspected before it leaves.
Typical Specifications
| US legal width | 102 in (2.59 m) |
|---|---|
| 40 ft flat rack deck | 12.06 m long, 2.4 m wide in gauge |
| Container door width | 2.34 m |
| Published model dimensions | None on this site yet; measured at the survey |
Recommended Shipping Methods
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.
- Rung 1
Container
Lowest cost
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
Best fit for Dump Trailers
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.
RoRo Shipping
RecommendedTowed aboard on its own wheels with the body lowered and locked.
Flat Rack Container
RecommendedTrailers no longer than the rack's 12.06 m deck, over width past 2.4 m.
Breakbulk
Long trailers where no RoRo serves 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
- Body washed out; gate and tailgate seals cleaned of soil and aggregate
- Hoist lowered and locked, or belly gates closed and pinned
- Tarp system rolled and secured
- Lift axles raised and locked
- Tyres, brakes and lights checked for towing aboard
- VIN plate, title and any lien release ready
Common Models We Ship
- MAC
- Ranco
- Trail King
- East
- Travis
Where dump trailers shipments go wrong
Mistakes we see on dump trailers bookings, and what avoids them.
- A hoist left unlocked can creep up at sea and shift the body against its lashings, so the body is lowered, locked and lashed down.
- Aggregate packed in the belly gates and tailgate seals fails a biosecurity inspection, and cleaning at the destination port is billed to the buyer.
- Measuring a frameless end dump by its body misses the hitch and the tailgate, so we measure it from the kingpin plate to the tailgate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you ship an end dump trailer?
Towed aboard a RoRo ship with the body lowered and locked. A trailer no longer than a 40 ft flat rack's 12.06 m deck can also go on the rack.
Does the trailer need cleaning?
Yes. Soil and aggregate in the body and gate seals fail biosecurity inspections, so we wash it out before it goes to the port.
Why is there no model page for my dump trailer?
We publish only the figures a manufacturer prints, and no dump trailer maker's figures are on this site yet. We measure your trailer at the survey instead.
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 Project Cargo: about the company, checked October 22, 2026
- [2]Seaway Project Cargo country shipping 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 Dump Trailers?
Send the make, model and pickup location. We quote dump trailers by container, flat rack or RoRo from the U.S. port that suits the machine.