Excavators Shipping
Expert Excavator Shipping Services Worldwide
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Ship Your Excavators
Get expert advice on the best shipping solution for your equipment.
Related Equipment
Overview
Excavators are among the most commonly shipped pieces of heavy equipment worldwide. From compact mini excavators for urban construction to massive mining excavators weighing over 400 tons, each requires specialized handling and transport solutions.
Our excavator shipping services cover the full spectrum of sizes and configurations. We handle tracked and wheeled excavators, long-reach variants, and specialized attachments with equal expertise.
Whether you're a dealer moving inventory, a contractor relocating equipment, or a rental company managing fleet logistics, we provide reliable, cost-effective excavator transport solutions.
Typical Specifications
| Weight Range | 1 - 400+ metric tons |
| Common Widths | 2.0m - 8.0m (track width) |
| Typical Heights | 2.5m - 5.0m (transport position) |
| Track Lengths | 3.0m - 15.0m+ |
Recommended Shipping Methods
Container (after partial disassembly)
RecommendedMini and compact excavators ship inside a 40 ft high-cube. We remove the bucket and fold or detach the boom so the machine clears the door; the parts are crated alongside.
Flat Rack Container
RecommendedThe usual choice for excavators wider than a container door: the machine ships assembled, blocked and lashed, out-of-gauge when wider than 2.4 m.
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)
RecommendedCompetitive for running excavators too wide for a container, where a RoRo lane serves the destination. Fewer destinations than container services.
Breakbulk/Heavy Lift
Required for mining-class excavators exceeding RoRo limits.
Heavy Haul Trucking
RecommendedPermitted transport for oversized units on inland routes.
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
- Remove or fold attachments (buckets, thumbs) for transport
- Secure boom in transport position
- Retract or remove mirrors and lights
- Drain fluids to required levels for ocean transport
- Disconnect/remove batteries for ocean shipment
- Document all damage and operating hours
Excavators 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.
Excavator
CAT 206B
1 × 45 ft high cube
Caterpillar loading plansExcavator
CAT 215
1 × 40 ft high cube
Caterpillar loading plansExcavator
Komatsu PC 250 LC-6
1 × 40 ft open top
Komatsu loading plansExcavator
Komatsu PC 270 LC-6
2 × 40 ft high cube
Komatsu loading plansExcavator
Hitachi EX 370-5
1 × 40 ft open top (1 ft (0.3 m) over the side walls) + 1 × 40 ft high cube
Hitachi Construction Machinery loading plansExcavator
Hitachi EX 550
1 × 40 ft open top (1 ft (0.3 m) over the side walls) + 3 × 40 ft high cube
Hitachi Construction Machinery loading plansExcavator
Volvo EC 480EL
1 × 40 ft open top (1 ft (0.3 m) over the side walls) + 2 × 40 ft high cube
Volvo Construction Equipment loading plansExcavator
CAT 214 Wheel Excavator
1 × 45 ft high cube
Caterpillar loading plansExcavator
Komatsu PC 138US LC-8
1 × 40 ft high cube
Komatsu loading plansExcavator
Hitachi EX 100WD-1
1 × 45 ft high cube
Hitachi Construction Machinery loading plansExcavator
Volvo EC 330BLC
1 × 40 ft open top (1 ft (0.3 m) over the side walls) + 1 × 40 ft high cube
Volvo Construction Equipment loading plansExcavator
Volvo EC290B LC
2 × 40 ft high cube
Volvo Construction Equipment loading plans
Common Models We Ship
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to drain fluids before shipping an excavator?
For ocean transport, fluids typically need to be reduced to operational minimums (1/4 tank). Batteries may need to be disconnected. We'll provide specific requirements based on carrier and route.
Can excavators be shipped with attachments?
Small attachments can sometimes remain. Large buckets, hammers, and specialized attachments are typically removed and shipped separately or inside the cab/on the machine itself if secure.
What is the most economical way to ship excavators?
Mini and compact excavators are cheapest in a container. Larger excavators usually go on a flat rack, or RoRo where a regular lane serves the destination port. For inland transport, standard heavy haul is usually sufficient for machines under 80,000 lbs.
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 Excavators?
Get a customized quote for your equipment. Our experts handle excavators shipments worldwide.