Overview
No tank trailer maker's figures are on this site yet, so we measure each tank at the survey and quote from those figures, not from an estimate.
A road tank trailer 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 on its own wheels, or ships breakbulk where no RoRo sails.
Cleaning decides whether a tank can sail. Under the IMDG Code an empty tank that has not been cleaned still ships as dangerous goods, so a tank that carried fuel or chemicals is washed and purged, with a cleaning certificate, before we book it as empty.
Typical Specifications
| US legal width | 102 in (2.59 m) |
|---|---|
| Container door width | 2.34 m |
| 40 ft flat rack deck length | 12.06 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 Tank 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 once the tank is cleaned and certified.
Flat Rack Container
RecommendedTanks no longer than the rack's 12.06 m deck, over width past 2.4 m.
Breakbulk
Long tanks 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
- Tank washed and purged, with a cleaning certificate
- Valves closed and capped, manholes sealed
- Hoses and fittings removed, crated and listed
- Hazmat placards removed once the tank is certified clean
- Tyres, brakes and lights checked for towing aboard
- VIN plate, title and any lien release ready
Common Models We Ship
- Heil
- Polar
- Brenner
- Walker
- Tremcar
Manufacturers We Ship
Brands that build tank trailers, with model dimensions and the shipping method each one fits.
Where tank trailers shipments go wrong
Mistakes we see on tank trailers bookings, and what avoids them.
- Booking an uncleaned tank as empty: under the IMDG Code it still ships as dangerous goods, and the terminal holds it until it is declared or cleaned.
- Hoses, fittings and spill boxes left loose on the trailer go missing or get crushed on deck, so they are crated and listed.
- Hazmat placards left on a tank certified clean confuse the terminal's dangerous-goods check, so they come off once the cleaning certificate is issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a tank trailer have to be cleaned before export?
Yes, if it carried anything hazardous. Under the IMDG Code an uncleaned empty tank still ships as dangerous goods, so it is washed and purged and a cleaning certificate goes with the booking.
Why is there no model page for my tank?
We publish only the figures a manufacturer prints, and no tank maker's figures are on this site yet. We measure your tank at the survey instead.
Can a tank trailer go on a flat rack?
Only if it is no longer than a 40 ft rack's 12.06 m deck. Longer tanks are towed aboard a RoRo ship, or ship breakbulk.
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 Tank Trailers?
Send the make, model and pickup location. We quote tank trailers by container, flat rack or RoRo from the U.S. port that suits the machine.