Excavators are the most commonly exported machine we handle, and they are also the ones most often quoted badly, because a great deal of what is written about them online assumes the machine arrives at the port fully assembled and stays that way. In practice an excavator is a machine designed to come apart, and what comes off decides what you pay. This guide works through it by size class, because that is how the decisions actually fall.
Start with the container, not the machine
Every decision about shipping an excavator comes back to one comparison, which is the machine against the inside of a box. So it is worth having the real numbers in front of you, and in particular the one that most people measure against wrongly.
- 40ft high cube: 12,032 mm long, 2,352 mm wide, 2,700 mm high inside, with a door opening of 2,340 x 2,597 mm and a payload around 28,650 kg (63,162 lb).
- 40ft standard: same length and width, 2,395 mm high inside, door 2,340 x 2,292 mm, payload around 28,800 kg (63,493 lb).
- 20ft standard: 5,900 mm long, 2,352 mm wide, 2,393 mm high, door 2,340 x 2,292 mm, payload around 30,200 kg (66,579 lb).
The door is lower than the box. A 40ft high cube measures 2,700 mm inside but the doors are only 2,597 mm. A machine 2,650 mm tall fits the container and will not go through the opening. Measure against the door, not the ceiling.
Note also that the 20ft has the highest payload of the three. For a heavy, compact component such as a dismantled base machine, a 20ft is sometimes the right box precisely because the weight limit is more generous.
Mini excavators, roughly 1 to 6 tonnes
These are the straightforward ones. A Caterpillar 303 CR has a shipping length of about 4,510 mm, a track width of 1,550 mm and a shipping height of 2,480 mm at an operating weight between roughly 3,025 and 3,545 kg. It goes into a 40ft high cube exactly as it stands, driven in, with room for a second machine behind it and weight to spare.
The one thing to watch at this size is the standard-height container. At 2,480 mm the same machine will not pass a 2,292 mm door on a 20ft or a 40ft standard, so it is a high cube or nothing unless something comes off. And the margins get tight quickly as you move up the class. A Kubota KX057-4 at 2,550 mm tall has only about 47 mm of clearance at a high cube door, which is inside the tolerance of the container build and the thickness of your ramp. We treat a machine like that as a per-container judgement rather than a guaranteed fit.
Midi and standard excavators, roughly 7 to 20 tonnes
This is where dismantling starts, and where the quality of your shipper begins to matter. A machine in this class will not drive into a container, but it goes in readily once it has been taken apart properly.
What normally comes off, in roughly this order:
- Bucket. Always first, always travels alongside.
- Stick and boom. The single largest reduction in length and height.
- Counterweight, which takes a substantial block of weight off the back of the machine and makes the remaining lift easier.
- Cab, where height still needs reducing after the boom is off.
- Track side frames, on the larger machines in this band, which is what addresses width.
Everything removed travels with the machine in the same container, blocked and braced, and is documented so that it can be put back together at the other end. This is normal work rather than a last resort, and it is how most mid-sized machinery crosses an ocean.
Large excavators, roughly 20 to 35 tonnes
There is a widespread belief that machines in this band cannot be containerized, and it is simply not true. It comes from reading assembled spec sheets, where a 20 tonne machine shows a track gauge wider than the inside of a container and the conclusion looks inevitable. It is not inevitable, because the track side frames come off.
We have shipped a Hitachi EX300, which is around the 30 tonne class, as one 40ft high cube plus one 20ft container. The base machine goes in one box and the boom, stick, bucket, counterweight and running gear go in the other. Two containers still cost considerably less than the flat rack and breakbulk alternative for a machine that size, and the machine arrives enclosed rather than exposed on an open platform for the whole voyage.
This is the question worth asking any shipper. Not "will it fit", but "can you dismantle it and what does that cost against the flat rack". A company with a yard, a crew and lifting equipment will give you both numbers. A company that only books space will tell you it has to go on a flat rack, because for them it does.
We do this work ourselves, principally at our Baltimore facility, which is why we can offer the comparison at all rather than defaulting to the expensive answer.
Been quoted a flat rack?
Send us the model and we will tell you whether it containerizes and what the two options actually cost side by side.
Get a QuoteVery large excavators, 35 tonnes and up
At the top of the range the arithmetic changes. A Caterpillar 349F L runs to around 48.6 tonnes with transport dimensions near 12.5 m by 3.34 m by 3.71 m, and a 374 is close to 73,890 kg. Machines at this weight exceed the payload of any single container regardless of how much comes off them, so the conversation moves to breakbulk or roll-on roll-off, usually with the machine substantially dismantled in any case to get it down the road legally.
This is still routine work, but it needs planning. Suitable sailings are less frequent, the loading is more involved, and the destination port has to be able to discharge the piece, which not every terminal can. We confirm the discharge capability as part of routing rather than discovering it on arrival.
When a flat rack is genuinely the right answer
None of the above means a flat rack is always wrong. It is the right choice in several real situations, and we quote it where it is.
- When reassembly capability at the destination is limited. If there is nobody at the far end who can reliably put the machine back together, shipping it whole on a flat rack even at higher freight can be the better commercial decision.
- When the timeline is short. Dismantling takes time at the origin and reassembly takes time at the destination.
- When the machine is too heavy for a container regardless of what comes off.
- When the dismantling cost genuinely exceeds the freight saving, which happens on some machines and we will tell you when yours is one.
A 40ft flat rack high cube has a deck 11,652 mm long and 2,224 mm wide sitting 648 mm off the base, with a payload between roughly 44,050 and 49,100 kg depending on the specific unit. That is a lot of capacity, and for the right machine it is the correct tool.
Preparation, cleaning and paperwork
Three things catch exporters out regularly, and none of them are difficult if they are handled before the machine moves rather than after.
Cleaning
Many countries require earth-moving and agricultural machinery to arrive free of soil, plant material and residue, because of pest and disease controls. Machines have been held at destination and cleaned at the owner's cost, which is slow and expensive. Steam cleaning before loading is inexpensive insurance and we arrange it as a matter of course on the lanes where it matters.
Fluids and batteries
Fuel, hydraulic fluid and batteries are all subject to rules that differ depending on whether the machine travels in a container, as breakbulk or on a roll-on roll-off vessel, and carriers set their own conditions on top of the regulations. We handle the preparation to whatever the booked carrier and route require, which is one less thing for you to research.
The export filing
We submit the US export filing through the Automated Export System. What we need from you is the bill of sale or auction invoice and proof of ownership, plus the machine details including the serial number. Accurate serial numbers matter more than people expect, because they appear on the filing and on the bill of lading and a mismatch creates problems at both ends. Our guide to AES filing and export documents covers this in full.
Before you bid
If the machine is not bought yet, this is the cheapest moment to ask questions, and the answers can change what you bid.
- Confirm the destination will admit it. Several countries set age limits on used machinery, and those limits are often different from the ones applied to cars. A machine that is cheap because it is old can turn out to be one your country will not clear.
- Get the transport dimensions and weight, not just the operating weight. The listing frequently gives one and not the other.
- Check whether it runs. A machine that drives loads onto a trailer under its own power, which is the cheapest loading there is.
- Ask about the attachments. Buckets and spare parts travel with the machine far more cheaply than they ship separately later.
We are happy to answer all of that before you bid, at no cost. It is a better use of everyone's time than pricing a machine that cannot be imported where it is going.
Excavator shipping questions
Will my excavator fit in a 40ft container?
Mini excavators of roughly 3 tonnes fit a 40ft high cube as they stand and will often take a second machine alongside. From about 7 tonnes upward it fits once dismantled, with the bucket, stick, boom and counterweight removed and, on larger machines, the track side frames as well. Give us the model and we will check it against the actual container dimensions rather than estimate.
What is the biggest excavator you can put in a container?
Larger than most people assume. We have shipped a Hitachi EX300, around the 30 tonne class, as one 40ft high cube plus one 20ft container, with the base machine in one box and the boom, stick, bucket, counterweight and running gear in the other. Above roughly 35 tonnes the weight exceeds what any container will carry and the machine moves breakbulk or roll-on roll-off.
Why did someone tell me a 20 tonne excavator cannot go in a container?
Because they read the assembled spec sheet, where the track gauge is wider than the inside of a container, and concluded it was impossible. It is not, because the track side frames come off. The real reason you get that answer is usually that the company has no yard and no crew, so dismantling is not something they can offer.
What is the real height limit of a 40ft high cube?
The door opening, about 2,597 mm or 8ft 6.25in, not the internal height of 2,700 mm. A machine 2,650 mm tall fits inside the box and will not pass through the doors. This is the most common measuring mistake in machinery export.
My mini excavator is 2,550 mm tall. Does it fit?
Marginally, and we would not promise it sight unseen. That leaves under 50 mm at the door, which is within the tolerance of the container build and about the thickness of a loading ramp. We treat machines in that band as a per-container decision and check the actual box before committing.
What comes off an excavator to fit it in a container?
Usually in this order: the bucket, then the stick and boom, then the counterweight, then the cab if height still needs reducing, and on larger machines the track side frames to deal with width. Everything removed travels in the same container, blocked and braced, and is documented so it can be reassembled.
Is dismantling normal or is it a sign something has gone wrong?
Entirely normal. Excavators are designed to come apart, because that is how they are moved on land as well as at sea. Most mid-sized machinery crosses an ocean in pieces. It is routine work, not an improvisation.
Does dismantling damage the machine?
Not when it is done properly. Pins, hoses and electrical connections are disconnected in the right order, capped and protected, and the parts are blocked so nothing shifts in a seaway. Done badly it certainly can cause damage, which is an argument for who does the work rather than against doing it.
Who puts the machine back together at the other end?
You or your agent at destination. We document what was removed and how it is packed so that reassembly is straightforward, but the work at the far end sits with you. If reassembly capability is limited where the machine is going, tell us, because that is a genuine reason to consider a flat rack even at higher freight.
Does dismantling save enough to be worth it?
On most mid-sized machines, comfortably yes, because the gap between a container rate and a flat rack rate is wide. It often removes the need for oversize permits on the road leg as well, saving a second time. There are machines where it does not pay and we will say so.
When is a flat rack actually the right choice?
When reassembly capability at the destination is limited, when the timeline is too short for dismantling at both ends, when the machine is simply too heavy for a container whatever comes off, or when the dismantling cost genuinely exceeds the freight saving. All four happen, and we quote a flat rack where one of them applies.
How much will a 40ft flat rack carry?
The deck is about 11,652 mm long and 2,224 mm wide, sitting 648 mm above the base, with a payload between roughly 44,050 and 49,100 kg depending on the specific unit and its gross rating. Flat racks vary by build, so for a machine near the limit we confirm against the actual equipment.
Can an excavator go on a roll-on roll-off vessel?
It can where the machine drives, the dimensions suit the vessel decks, and a suitable service runs to your port. Roll-on roll-off avoids the dismantling entirely, which is its attraction. Whether it beats a container depends on the lane and the machine, so it is worth pricing both rather than assuming.
Is an open top container useful for an excavator?
Sometimes, when the footprint fits but the height does not and the machine can be lowered in from above rather than driven through the doors. Worth knowing that a 40ft open top has the lowest payload of any 40ft unit, around 26,630 kg, so it is a loading method rather than a capacity upgrade.
How much does it cost to ship an excavator overseas?
It is driven by the machine rather than the distance. The decisive factors are whether it containerizes after dismantling or needs a flat rack, how far it has to travel by road to the port, and whether that road move needs oversize permits. Send us the make, model, year and location and we will come back with a real figure in 24 to 48 hours.
Can two excavators share a container?
Mini excavators, yes, routinely, and with weight to spare in a 40ft high cube. Larger machines generally fill a box on their own once their parts are in with them. If you are buying several lots at one auction, tell us before you bid and we will look at how they consolidate.
Can I ship buckets, breakers and spare parts with the machine?
Yes, and it is much cheaper than sending them separately later. They travel in the same container or secured on the same flat rack. Everything has to appear on the export filing, so send us the full inventory rather than adding items on loading day.
Why are other excavator quotes cheaper than yours?
Commonly because they assume a container the machine will not fit without work that is not in the price, or because they leave out the dismantling, the securing or the oversize permits. Ask what shipping method the quote assumes and what happens to the price if the machine does not fit. That question separates a real quote from a placeholder very quickly.
Does my excavator need to be cleaned before shipping?
On many lanes, yes. Countries commonly require earth-moving machinery to arrive free of soil and plant residue because of pest and disease controls, and machines have been held and cleaned at the owner's cost on arrival. Steam cleaning before loading is cheap insurance and we arrange it where the destination calls for it.
What happens about the fuel and the battery?
Fuel, hydraulic fluid and batteries are subject to rules that differ between container, breakbulk and roll-on roll-off movements, and carriers add their own booking conditions on top. We prepare the machine to whatever the booked carrier and route require, so it is not something you need to research yourself.
Are there age limits on importing a used excavator?
In several countries, yes, and they are frequently different from the limits applied to cars. Some countries that restrict used car imports are considerably more open to machinery, because it serves industry rather than adding to the vehicle fleet. Check the destination rule before you bid, and ask us, because we track it on the lanes we run.
What paperwork do you need from me?
The bill of sale or auction invoice, proof of ownership, and the machine details including the serial number. We handle the US export filing through the Automated Export System. Destination duty, permits and clearance are handled by your customs agent in your own country and we supply the documents they need.
Can you collect the machine from the auction yard?
Yes, anywhere in the USA. Worth knowing that most auction yards will not load a self-propelled machine that can reasonably be driven, and they require a bill of lading for anything going to a foreign country. As the ocean carrier we issue that document, so it is in hand rather than something to chase on collection day.
Are you a broker or the carrier?
We are the carrier. Cassandra Logistics is a federally licensed Ocean Transportation Intermediary under FMC license OTI No. 025125NF, legally Royal Port Container Lines, Inc. DBA Cassandra Logistics. The license is public and verifiable with the Federal Maritime Commission, and on cargo worth this much it is worth checking whoever you deal with.
Import rules change. The customs information on this page comes from official government sources and was accurate when published, but duties, age limits, inspection regimes and eligibility requirements are set by the destination country and can change without notice. Cassandra Logistics is a licensed ocean carrier, not a customs authority or a legal adviser. We are not responsible for changes to foreign import law, or for decisions made by customs at destination. Always confirm current requirements with a licensed customs agent in the destination country before you buy a machine.