It can be overwhelming to know what the right shipping method is when it comes to your excavator. With all the different options, and the different cost impacts, you don’t know which is going to save you the most time and money. In this guide, we’ve walked you through the three most popular methods to ship an excavator (Ro-Ro, Flat Rack, or Container) and helped you decide which is best for you.
When it comes to excavators shipping, Ro-Ro is the ideal choice for complete, whole machines, Flat Rack works well for oversized models, and Container shipping is best for smaller or mid-sized excavators. Each method has unique cost ranges and regional availability. Read on to explore the differences and find the best solution for you.
Detailed comparison of Ro-Ro, Flat Rack, and Container. We’ll compare Ro-Ro, Flat Rack, and Container shipping methods based on cost, safety, and regional considerations.
What Are the Main Excavator Shipping Methods Available?
There are three main methods for shipping escavadeiras usadas internationally and each works best depending on the size, destination, and the most reasonable cost.
Ro-Ro Shipping
Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off): This is one of the most common methods for shipping big excavators fully assembled. The equipment can be driven on the ship and driven off at the destination port without any disassembly.
✅ Pros of Ro-Ro Shipping:
- Fast load and unload: You drive the equipment on and drive it off the ship with limited touches.
- No disassembly: It’s perfect for machines that don’t need to be taken apart, saving you time and added cost.
- Safer: Fewer touches mean less chance for something to get bent.
❌ Cons of Ro-Ro Shipping:
- Ports: Limited availability of Ro-Ro service as not all ports offer this service.
- Weather: Exposure to the elements since machines are not enclosed, although they are typically lashed down securely.
Cost of Ro-Ro Shipping by Region
| Região | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Ámérica do Sul | $3,000 – $4,200 |
| Médio Oriente | $2,500 – $3,800 |
| África | $2,800 – $4,500 |
📌 Melhor para:Large excavators like the CAT 320D, Komatsu PC200, and other mid-sized to large-sized machines that don’t need to be disassembled.
Flat Rack Shipping
Flat Rack shipping is not a bulk method. It’s best for large or oversized machines where the dimensions don’t fit into a container. Unlike containers, you can put big machines onto Flat Racks as a big open platform to secure them down and get them overseas. However, this is not a method for loading lots of 20-ton machines where you need a cheap method of freight.
✅ Pros of Flat Rack Shipping:
- Ideal for oversized equipment: Flat Racks can handle large or irregular shaped machines, like a CAT 336, or large Komatsu PC450.
- No dismantling required: Machines stay together during shipping. This can be a positive to
keep all moving parts assembled but also another negative for wear, tear, and structural integrity. - Easier loading: Flat Racks are easy to grab and load with a crane or a forklift.
❌ Cons of Flat Rack Shipping:
- Less protected from the weather. A machine on a Flat Rack won’t be protected by a cover, so it’ll be exposed to whatever weather it’s going through during transportation. If you don’t take care of it, it’ll start to rust or have other problems. More vulnerable to theft or damage. Since it’s not enclosed in a box, you have to be extra careful with machines on a Flat Rack. You need to keep an eye on them because they’re more open and available, so someone might steal something off of it or damage it in some other way.
Cost of Flat Rack Shipping by Region
| Região | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Ámérica do Sul | $3,200 – $5,500 |
| Médio Oriente | $2,800 – $4,800 |
| África | $3,000 – $5,200 |
📌 Melhor para:Oversize or odd-shaped equipment, such as CAT 336, Komatsu PC450, and other large models with attachments.
Envio de contêineres
Container shipping is one of the most cost-effective ways to ship excavators, especially smaller or midsize machines. It involves breaking down the machine and putting it inside a shipping container for secure, enclosed transport.
✅ Pros of Container Shipping:
- Acessível: Container shipping is typically the most cost-effective method.
- Protection: The machine is enclosed in a container, offering better protection from the elements.
- Global availability: Containers can be shipped to virtually any major port worldwide.
❌ Cons of Container Shipping:
- Dismantling required: The machine has to be taken apart, which increases the cost and time for labor.
- Reassembly needed: The machine has to be put back together when it arrives, which calls for skilled labor.
Common Excavators that Fit in a 40HQ Container
| Modelo de escavadeira | Fits in 40HQ Container? |
|---|---|
| Komatsu PC60 | ✅ Yes |
| CAT 306E | ✅ Yes |
| Kubota KX080 | ✅ Yes |
| CAT 320D | ❌ No |
| Hitachi ZX200 | ❌ No |
Cost of Container Shipping by Region
| Região | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Ámérica do Sul | $1,500 – $2,800 |
| Médio Oriente | $1,200 – $2,200 |
| África | $1,300 – $2,500 |
📌 Melhor para:Examples of smaller to mid-sized excavators are the Komatsu PC60, CAT 306E, and Kubota KX080.
Container Shipping: Best Option for Mid-size Used Excavators
Container shipping is, by far, the most cost-effective and widely used method to ship used excavators, especially those in the smaller size range. Containers use standard 40-foot high cube (40HQ) containers to load machines that can fit whole or after partial dismantling. It provides a high level of protection and works great for buyers looking to reduce overall freight costs.
✅ Advantages of Container Shipping
- Econômico: It’s the cheapest option for international excavator shipping.
- Widespread port access: Containers are universally accepted at all major ports, so you don’t need to worry about limited access.
- Good protection: Equipment is enclosed and protected from weather, theft, or damage.
- Bulk shipping: Two or more smaller excavators can sometimes be loaded together to save more costs.
❌ Disadvantages of Container Shipping
- Requires dismantling: Boom, arm, and sometimes cabin must be disassembled to fit inside.
- Labor needed for packing and unpacking: You’ll need skilled technicians at both departure and arrival ports.
- Additional time: Dismantling and reassembly add extra time to the shipping process.
🏗️ Excavator Models That Fit in a 40HQ Container
| Marca | Modelo | Fits in 40HQ? | Disassembly Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Komatsu | PC60 | ✅ Yes | Partial (boom & bucket) |
| GATO | 306E | ✅ Yes | Partial |
| Kubota | KX080-3 | ✅ Yes | Partial |
| Hyundai | R60-9 | ✅ Yes | Minimal |
| Hitachi | ZX60 | ✅ Yes | Minimal |
| GATO | 320d | ❌ No | Too large |
| Komatsu | PC200 | ❌ No | Too large |
🌍 Estimated Container Shipping Costs by Region
| Destination Region | Portas comuns | Faixa de custo (USD) | Transit Time (Avg.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ámérica do Sul | Valparaíso, Callao, Santos | $1,500 – $2,800 | 25 – 35 days |
| Médio Oriente | Jebel Ali, Dammam, Sohar | $1,200 – $2,200 | 20 – 28 days |
| África | Lagos, Tema, Mombasa | $1,300 – $2,500 | 30 – 40 days |
How to Choose the Right Excavators Shipping Method?
Selecting the right shipping method can affect your overall cost, how quickly you get it, and how blown apart it is when it arrives. Let’s talk about some of the core factors to consider when you look to ship something internationally, so you can check all the boxes in your brain.
🔍 Excavator Size and Weight Matters Most
Size: Can you fit it into a container? If not, you must ship it open air. For example, a 20-ton and larger machine will almost certainly be too big for a container. However, you can usually fit anything smaller than a 20-ton in a container. For example, a normal mini- or mid-sized excavator typically fits inside a 40HQ container.
| Tamanho da máquina | Modelos de exemplo | Suggested Method | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–8 tons (mini) | Kubota KX080, CAT 306E | Container | Fits easily with minimal work |
| 10–20 tons (mid) | Komatsu PC120, CAT 312 | Container or Flat Rack | May require partial dismantling |
| 20–35 tons (large) | CAT 320D, Komatsu PC200 | Ro-Ro or Flat Rack | Too large for container |
| 35+ tons (heavy) | CAT 336, Hitachi ZX350 | Rack plano | Oversized, heavy equipment |
💰 Considerações orçamentárias
The most common reason buyers should consider container shipping is if they have budget constraints. The primary benefit of container shipping over white-glove shipping is the lower base freight rates. The key to remember is to make sure you calculate the TOTAL cost, including the labor to disassemble and reassemble items (which can add up to something if the assemblers are part of a professional move service) and any port fees you might incur.
| Método de envio | Avg. Base Cost (to South America) | Extra Fees to Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Container | $1,500 – $2,800 | Labor for dismantling/reassembly |
| Rack plano | $3,200 – $5,500 | Port handling fees, lashing |
| en-us | $3,000 – $4,200 | Limited to specific ports |
🛳️ Destination Port Facilities
Not all ports are capable of handling every type of shipping. Not all ports are set up to do Ro-Ro and Flat Rack shipments. Flat Rack and Ro-Ro shipments require a terminal with a specific type of equipment. However, container shipping is the most flexible type of port in the world – anywhere there’s a port, you can ship a container.
| Região | Port Name | Ro-Ro Available | Flat Rack Available | Container Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chile | Valparaíso | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Nigéria | Lagos | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Saudi Arabia | Jeddah | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Tanzania | Dar es Salaam | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Bolivia | Inland Only | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (via transload) |
⏱️ Urgency and Time Constraints
How quickly do you need your $400,000 excavator? If you need it really fast and you don’t want the delays associated with disassembly, reassembly, and other methods, the fastest and easiest way to ship a unit like that is Ro-Ro.
| Time Priority | Recommended Shipping | Razão |
|---|---|---|
| Need ASAP | en-us | No dismantling or extra labor time |
| Flexible Schedule | Container | Can wait for packing & lower cost |
| Normal lead time | Flat Rack or Ro-Ro | Offers balance between cost and timing |
🛠️ Machine Condition & Buyer Capabilities
There are some pretty good reasons not to use container shipping: You don’t have technicians on the other end to reassemble the excavator. The machine has to be ready-to-go pretty quickly upon arrival. In those cases, you may want to consider the other methods I’ll cover in just a minute.
| Condition/Capability | Suggested Method | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer has no technician | Ro-Ro or Flat Rack | No reassembly needed |
| Machine must work on arrival | en-us | Fully operational upon delivery |
| Buyer can reassemble | Container | Lowest cost if skills/tools are available |
| Machine fragile/sensitive | Container | Fully protected inside steel container |
Conclusion: Which Shipping Option is Best for You?
To summarize, each shipping method has its own strengths and weaknesses:
- en-us is the best option for fully assembled, large excavators if the port supports it.
- Rack plano is ideal for oversized machines and offers flexibility, though you must account for weather exposure.
- Envio de contêineres is the most affordable and best for smaller excavators but requires disassembly and reassembly.
If you’re unsure which option works best for you, feel free to contact us for personalized recommendations!
HIXEN’s Excavators Shipping Services
At Máquinas HIXEN, we don’t just sell you a high-quality used excavator, we package together the entire shipping service to get your equipment safely, on time, and with the best deal possible. We assist with:
- Customizable shipping methods: Ro-Ro, Flat Rack, or Container to fit your needs.
- Professional dismantling and packing: If you need it, we’ll break it down and pack it securely.
- Worldwide shipping: We have experience shipping to South America, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond.
- Comprehensive documentation: From shipping documents to customs clearance, we handle all the paperwork.
📨Contate-nos today for a free shipping quote or to discuss the best transportation method for your excavator.
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