Mining equipment
Shipping mining equipment overseas
The U.S. exported $2.79 billion of off-highway dump trucks and $636 million of self-propelled drill rigs in 2024[1][2]; the large ones are wider than the 102 in road limit, so each needs a permit from every state on the way to the port[8], and the largest trucks and shovels ship in modules on heavy-lift ships whose cranes lift up to 2,205 US tons (2,000 t) together[5].
Machine sizes by class
Ranges across every model in our data that ships in one piece and whose manufacturer publishes the transport figures. Mining shovels and the largest haul trucks ship in modules and are listed in the model table instead.
| Class | Weight | Width | Height | Spec sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid haul trucks | 81 US tons / 73,800 kg | 14 ft 2 in / 4.32 m | 18 ft 11 in / 5.77 m | 1 model |
| Articulated dump trucks | 67,700 lb / 30,700 kg – 77,300 lb / 35,055 kg | 11 ft 3 in / 3.43 m – 12 ft 6 in / 3.8 m | 11 ft 10 in / 3.6 m – 12 ft 4 in / 3.76 m | 3 models |
| Drill rigs and jumbos | 46,300 lb / 21,000 kg – 67,200 lb / 30,500 kg | 6 ft 7 in / 2 m – 8 ft 2 in / 2.5 m | 9 ft 2 in / 2.8 m – 11 ft 9 in / 3.59 m | |
| Wheel and underground loaders | 30,500 lb / 13,847 kg – 53 US tons / 48,400 kg | 8 ft 4 in / 2.54 m – 10 ft 2 in / 3.1 m | 9 ft 2 in / 2.8 m – 11 ft 6 in / 3.5 m | |
| Dozers | 46,900 lb / 21,270 kg – 87,100 lb / 39,500 kg | 8 ft 2 in / 2.49 m – 9 ft 2 in / 2.79 m | 10 ft 4 in / 3.16 m – 11 ft 7 in / 3.53 m | 3 models |
How each class usually ships
| Method | Use it when | Avoid it when |
|---|---|---|
| RoRo | Articulated trucks, underground loaders and drill rigs that drive aboard, or a chassis up to 154 US tons (140 t) on a roll trailer in one RoRo fleet[6]. | The destination port has no RoRo call. |
| Flat rack | Dozers, loaders, drill rigs and truck bodies too wide for a container door, to a port without a RoRo call. | The machine rests on a short footprint and is heavier than the rack takes on that length. |
| Breakbulk | Rigid haul trucks, mining shovels and excavators that ship in modules; the heaviest ships in one fleet lift 2,205 US tons (2,000 t) with two cranes[5]. | Every module fits a flat rack or a roll trailer. |
| Heavy haul trucking | Every module over 102 in wide or 80,000 lb gross on the road to the port; each state on the route issues its own permit[8]. | Rail reaches both the yard and the port and the load clears the railroad’s limits. |
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.
Common models and how they ship
| Model | Weight | L × W × H (transport) | Best method | Preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Komatsu HD785-8Rigid dump truckSpec source | 81 US tons (73,800 kg)empty weight | 37 ft × 14 ft 2 in × 18 ft 11 in (11.28 × 4.32 × 5.77 m) | RoRoWhere a RoRo lane serves the destination | Drives on assembled where a RoRo lane serves the destination. |
| Liebherr T 264Mining truckSpec source | 194 US tons (176,000 kg)empty weight | 46 ft 7 in × 28 ft 3 in × 23 ft 6 in (14.2 × 8.62 × 7.17 m) | Breakbulk, in modules | Too large to move whole: dismantled into modules at the site and shipped breakbulk, with an engineered lift and stowage plan. |
| Hitachi EX1200-7Mining excavatorSpec source | 129 US tons (117,000 kg)operating weight | n/a × 17 ft 11 in (5.47 m) × 17 ft 10 in (5.44 m) | Breakbulk, in modules | Too large to move whole: dismantled into modules at the site and shipped breakbulk, with an engineered lift and stowage plan. |
| Liebherr R 9400Mining excavatorSpec source | 381 US tons (345,500 kg)operating weight | n/a × n/a × n/a | Breakbulk, in modules | Too large to move whole: dismantled into modules at the site and shipped breakbulk, with an engineered lift and stowage plan. |
| P&H 4100XPC AC (Komatsu)Electric rope shovelSpec source | 1,689 US tons (1,532,235 kg)operating weight | n/a × n/a × n/a | Breakbulk, in modules | Too large to move whole: dismantled into modules at the site and shipped breakbulk, with an engineered lift and stowage plan. |
| CAT 745Articulated truckSpec source | 73,000 lb (33,110 kg)empty weight | 37 ft 6 in × 12 ft 6 in × 12 ft 4 in (11.43 × 3.8 × 3.76 m) | 40 ft flat rackOut-of-gauge | Ships assembled, blocked and lashed; out-of-gauge surcharge applies (4 ft 7 in / 1.4 m over width, 5 ft 11 in / 1.81 m over height). |
| CAT D8Track-type tractor (dozer)Spec source | 87,100 lb (39,500 kg)operating weight | 25 ft 11 in × 9 ft 2 in × 11 ft 7 in (7.91 × 2.79 × 3.53 m) | RoRoWhere a RoRo lane serves the destination | Drives on assembled where a RoRo lane serves the destination. |
| Epiroc SmartROC D65Surface drill rigSpec source | 50,700 lb (23,000 kg)shipping weight | 40 ft 8 in × 8 ft 2 in × 11 ft 6 in (12.4 × 2.5 × 3.5 m) | RoRoWhere a RoRo lane serves the destination | Drives on assembled where a RoRo lane serves the destination. |
| Epiroc Boomer S2Face drill rigSpec source | 46,300 lb (21,000 kg)operating weight | 40 ft 1 in × 6 ft 7 in × 9 ft 2 in (12.22 × 2 × 2.8 m) | 40 ft high-cube containerFits after partial disassembly | We handle the disassembly: mast lowered or off and cab or ROPS removed and crated. How we containerize |
| Sandvik DT922iTunnelling jumboSpec source | 67,200 lb (30,500 kg)operating weight | 49 ft 2 in × 8 ft 2 in × 11 ft 9 in (14.99 × 2.5 × 3.59 m) | RoRoWhere a RoRo lane serves the destination | Drives on assembled where a RoRo lane serves the destination. |
| Sandvik LH517iUnderground loader (LHD)Spec source | 53 US tons (48,400 kg)operating weight | 37 ft 9 in × 10 ft 2 in × 9 ft 2 in (11.5 × 3.1 × 2.8 m) | RoRoWhere a RoRo lane serves the destination | Drives on assembled where a RoRo lane serves the destination. |
Where U.S. mining machines go
U.S. exports by HS subheading in 2024, as reported by the United States to UN Comtrade. Canada leads every class; Australia, Chile and Peru follow for haul trucks.
| Product | U.S. exports, 2024 | Units | Largest markets, share of value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-highway dump trucksHS 870410 | $2.79 billion[1] | 6,529 | Canada 34% · Australia 29% · Chile 17% · Peru 6% · Mongolia 5% |
| Excavators (360° superstructure)HS 842952 | $1.15 billion[3] | 12,683 | Canada 71% · Chile 10% · Mexico 10% · Sweden 2% · India 1% |
| Self-propelled boring and drilling rigsHS 843041 | $636 million[2] | 5,879 | Canada 20% · Australia 17% · Netherlands 7% · Peru 7% · Brazil 6% |
| Track-laying tractorsHS 870130 | $1.22 billion[9] | 3,921 | Canada 35% · Australia 25% · Belgium 7% · South Africa 5% · Indonesia 3% |
| Front-end loadersHS 842951 | $1.96 billion[10] | 37,101 | Canada 58% · Australia 14% · Mexico 4% · Czechia 2% · Italy 2% |
Export rules for mining machines
A used haul truck or loader counts as a vehicle under U.S. export rules. Australia, the second-largest market for U.S. haul trucks, inspects every used machine for soil on arrival.
- Used self-propelled vehicles: 72-hour ruleU.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. regulations count self-propelled construction and agricultural machinery as vehicles. A used one must be filed in AES at least 72 hours before export, whatever its value or destination, and the ITN, the VIN or serial number and the ownership documents go to CBP at the port of export. Filing after departure is not allowed.[11][4][12]
Applies to: Used machines that drive: excavators, loaders, dozers, tractors, trucks
- Electronic Export Information (15 CFR 30)U.S. Census Bureau
Electronic Export Information is filed in AES for each Schedule B number worth more than $2,500 going to one consignee on one conveyance, and for every vehicle whatever its value. For vessel cargo it is due at least 24 hours before loading; the Internal Transaction Number (ITN) goes to the carrier with the booking.[13][12]
Applies to: Any Schedule B line over $2,500, and every vehicle
- Engines exported without U.S. certification (40 CFR 1068.230)U.S. EPA
New engines and equipment that are not certified to U.S. emission standards may be exported under 40 CFR 1068.230 if they carry a label stating they are solely for export. Selling or offering one to a buyer in the United States voids the exemption, and the machine may only be run in the U.S. to prepare and deliver it for export.[14]
Applies to: New nonroad engines and equipment built for a foreign market
- Used machinery cleanliness: AustraliaAustralian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Used machinery must arrive free of soil, seeds and plant or animal material, which can mean partly dismantling the machine to clean hollow and concealed sections. Every consignment is inspected on arrival; a machine with low contamination is re-cleaned at an approved site at the importer’s cost, and a heavily contaminated one can be ordered out of the country.[7]
Applies to: Used machinery and parts shipped to Australia
- Engines, vehicles and machinery as hazardous materials (49 CFR 173.220)PHMSA
A machine is regulated as a hazardous material when it carries fuel, a wet, sodium or lithium battery, or other hazardous materials. A tank of flammable liquid fuel such as gasoline is drained to 500 mL or less and closed; a self-propelled machine on diesel may keep its fuel if the tank has room for expansion and the cap is closed. Batteries stay installed and secured, wet batteries upright, with the terminals protected against short circuits.[15]
Applies to: Machines with fuel, batteries or other hazardous materials, by road, vessel or air
- Federal truck size and weight limits (23 CFR 658)FHWA
On the Interstate system a truck may gross 80,000 lb, with 20,000 lb on a single axle and 34,000 lb on a tandem; on the National Network the load may be 102 in wide. There is no federal height limit: states set 13.6 to 14.6 ft. A load over any of these needs an oversize or overweight permit from every state on the route.[8]
Applies to: Every road move to and from the port
- Dimensional loads by railUnion Pacific and Norfolk Southern
Each railroad sets its own limits. Union Pacific treats a load as dimensional above 11 ft wide, 17 ft above the top of rail, 220,000 lb net or four axles, or when it overhangs the car end; it needs an approved clearance proposal, a $500 fee per request and a mechanical inspection before release. Norfolk Southern asks for a clearance request above 10 ft 6 in wide, 15 ft 6 in loaded height, 200,000 lb, 60 ft of lading or under 18 ft for a concentrated load.[16][17]
Applies to: Rail shipments over the railroad’s standard width, height, weight or length
Shipping a machine in modules
A haul truck or shovel that ships in modules leaves as a chassis, a body, wheels, a cab and crates of smaller parts. The heaviest module decides the ship, the port and the road permit, so we confirm its weight and dimensions with the manufacturer or the dealer before booking.
Each module is tagged and listed on the packing list with its weight and size, which is what the carrier, the destination customs and the reassembly crew at the mine all work from. Australia’s cleanliness rules apply to every module, including the crated parts[7].
Questions about shipping mining equipment
How does a 100-tonne haul truck ship?
Usually with the dump body removed. The chassis rides a roll trailer on a RoRo ship or goes as breakbulk; the body, wheels and smaller parts go on flat racks or as breakbulk alongside. Larger trucks ship in modules and are reassembled at the mine.
Does a used haul truck need the 72-hour AES filing?
Yes, if it drives. U.S. rules count trucks and self-propelled construction equipment as vehicles, so a used one is filed in AES at least 72 hours before export, and the ITN, serial number and ownership documents go to CBP at the port.
Can a mining machine travel by rail to the port?
Often, if it clears the railroad’s limits. Union Pacific treats a load over 11 ft wide or 220,000 lb net as dimensional, which needs an approved clearance before it moves; Norfolk Southern asks for a clearance above 10 ft 6 in wide.
Which countries buy the most U.S. mining trucks?
In 2024 Canada, Australia and Chile were the largest markets for U.S. off-highway dump trucks by value, followed by Peru and Mongolia.
Our Services for Mining
- Breakbulk Shipping
For modules beyond flat rack and roll trailer limits
- Heavy Haul Trucking
Multi-axle trailers and state permits for each module
- Disassembly and Crating
Tagging, crating and packing lists for machines that ship in modules
- Rigging and Lifting
Lifts at the dealer, the port and the mine
Equipment We Ship for Mining
Brands We Specialize In
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]World Bank WITS (UN Comtrade), U.S. exports of HS 870410, 2024, checked October 18, 2026
- [2]World Bank WITS (UN Comtrade), U.S. exports of HS 843041, 2024, checked October 18, 2026
- [3]World Bank WITS (UN Comtrade), U.S. exports of HS 842952, 2024, checked October 18, 2026
- [4]U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Exporting used self-propelled vehicles, checked October 18, 2026
- [5]SAL Heavy Lift, Fleet list (April 2026), checked October 18, 2026
- [6]Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Cargo handling equipment, checked October 18, 2026
- [7]Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Cleanliness requirements for imported machinery, checked October 18, 2026
- [8]FHWA, Commercial Vehicle Size and Weight Program (23 CFR 658), checked October 18, 2026
- [9]World Bank WITS (UN Comtrade), U.S. exports of HS 870130, 2024, checked October 18, 2026
- [10]World Bank WITS (UN Comtrade), U.S. exports of HS 842951, 2024, checked October 18, 2026
- [11]eCFR, 19 CFR 192.1 Definitions (used self-propelled vehicles), checked October 18, 2026
- [12]U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Regulations FAQs, checked October 18, 2026
- [13]eCFR, 15 CFR 30.37 Miscellaneous exemptions (Foreign Trade Regulations), checked October 18, 2026
- [14]eCFR, 40 CFR 1068.230 Exempting engines/equipment for export, checked October 18, 2026
- [15]eCFR, 49 CFR 173.220 Internal combustion engines, vehicles and machinery (hazardous materials), checked October 18, 2026
- [16]Union Pacific, Seven Steps for Shipping a Dimensional Load, checked October 18, 2026
- [17]Norfolk Southern, Dimensional, Oversized, and Equipment Shipping by Rail, checked October 18, 2026
Send us the machine and the destination
Give us the model or the measured dimensions and weight. We come back with the method, the sailing and a price, and the figures behind them.