How heavy machinery ships
Heavy machinery ships in a standard or high-cube container, on a flat-rack, in an open-top container, or as breakbulk or Ro-Ro cargo. The machine's size and weight decide which one, more than where it ships from. Before you book, plan four things: weight and dimensions, safe lifting, export packing (including corrosion protection), and whether the route can take the cargo. Construction, mining, manufacturing and energy equipment often moves as oversized or breakbulk cargo, so lifting, crating and securing methods have to be compliant.
Machinery this guide covers
Construction & earthmoving
Excavators, loaders, cranes, pavers, compactors
Industrial manufacturing machines
CNC machines, cutting machines, injection molding units
Mining equipment
Drilling machines, crushing units, industrial vehicles
Energy & power equipment
Transformers, turbines, compressors, power modules
Shipping heavy machinery and equipment?
Get a quoteThree physical risks and how to control them
Heavy equipment logistics centers on three risks: how the machine is lifted, whether it corrodes, and whether it shifts in transit.
A bad lift or load plan can damage the machine and injure the crew.
- Certified lifting points and a written lifting plan
- Agree in advance whether it lifts by forklift or crane
- Weight and center-of-gravity marked on the unit
- Reinforced skids or base frames
- In a multi-ton machine, even a slight imbalance can tilt it or cause a drop.
Salt air, dust and humidity at sea can corrode industrial equipment quickly.
- Export-grade rust-preventive oil or VCI (vapor corrosion inhibitor) wrap
- Desiccants and sealed covers
- Plastic sheeting under a tarpaulin for outdoor stowage
- Load only into clean, dry containers
- Start protecting the machine before packing, especially after factory testing.
Unsecured machinery shifts easily, putting both the cargo and the vessel at risk.
- Industrial-grade dunnage and timber bracing
- Steel chains or ratchet straps where needed
- Floor reinforcement pads
- Anti-slip mats under skids
- Securing rules differ for containers, flat-racks and breakbulk vessels.
Documents you provide as the shipper
| Document | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice & packing list | Declares value, HS codes and equipment identification |
| Equipment manual and lifting instructions | Lets handlers lift and load the unit safely |
| Safety data for any oils or fluids left inside | Required if the machine contains fluids |
| Disassembly and packing list (if dismantled) | Shows customs and the receiver what is in each piece and how it reassembles |
| Certificate of origin (when requested) | Supports duty and import-rule decisions |
Documents your forwarder prepares
| Document | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Bill of Lading / Air Waybill | Contract of carriage; carries stowage notes |
| Export declaration | Required by regulation |
| Stowage plan & securing photos (when required) | Proof of securing for flat-rack and breakbulk cargo; supports insurance claims |
Which equipment fits your machine
| Mode | Suitable For |
|---|---|
| Container (standard or high-cube) | Mid-size units and machine tools |
| Flat-rack | Oversized machinery and industrial vehicles |
| Open-top container | Tall equipment that has to be loaded from above |
| Breakbulk / Ro-Ro | Very large or rolling machinery |
Shipping heavy machinery and equipment?
Get a quoteHS codes for common machinery (examples)
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 8429 | Earth-moving machinery |
| 8438 | Food-processing machinery |
| 8462 / 8466 | Metalworking and CNC machinery |
| 8501 / 8502 | Power equipment and generators |
These codes are indicative starting points, not a classification. Find the exact 10-digit line for your product in the HTS Code Finder. Getting the classification right is the importer of record’s legal responsibility.
Estimate US import duty on these codes with our free tariff simulator. Heading definitions (World Customs Organization): https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/nomenclature.aspx
Heavy machinery shipping FAQs
Internal combustion equipment usually needs its fuel removed before export. Some carriers also require draining for safety, so check the carrier's rules before booking.
Not always. Export-grade skids made from ISPM-15-compliant wood (heat-treated and stamped) are common. Full crating is often worth it for high-value precision machinery.
When the machine is too wide or too tall for a standard container, or can't be lifted in and out of one. A flat-rack is a container base without a roof or side walls, which is why oversized machinery and industrial vehicles go on one.
With VCI (vapor corrosion inhibitor) wrap or rust inhibitors, desiccants and sealed packaging, applied before packing.
Insurance is strongly recommended for every machinery shipment: the equipment is high-value and damage can be costly to repair.
Shipping terms in this guide:High Cube ContainerOpen Top ContainerBreakbulk CargoDunnageCommercial InvoicePacking List
U.S. import duty on Heavy Machinery & Industrial Equipment by country of origin
Total duty on the highest-value tariff lines in this category, by country of origin, calculated with our tariff engine and U.S. Census import values. Each page breaks down the duty components, how the rate has changed by entry date, and the landed-cost math.
- Airplanes and other aircraft from France
- Parts of aircraft turbines from France
- Crawler mounted hydraulic backhoes from Japan
- Airplanes and other aircraft from Germany
- Aircraft turbines from Germany
- Aircraft turbines from United Kingdom
- Parts of airplanes and helicopters from Japan
- Parts of aircraft turbines from Japan
- Aircraft turbines from France
- Parts of airplanes and helicopters from United Kingdom
- Machines and apparatus for the manufacture from Japan
- Machines and apparatus for the manufacture from Netherlands
- Parts of airplanes and helicopters from France
- Parts of aircraft turbines from Poland
- Machines and apparatus for the manufacture from South Korea
- Parts and accessories from Japan
61 more in this group. Rates are our tariff engine's total for a commercial entry today. Open a page for the duty lines behind a rate and how it changed by entry date, browse all import duty pages, or price your own shipment.
Planning a machinery shipment?
Send us the machine's size, weight and route. We'll help you work out the routing, packing and documents it needs.
Get a quote to ship heavy machinery and equipment
Tell us the product, where it ships from and to, and the container size or weight. We reply with the freight rate, the destination charges and the services included. The guide you were reading is already in the notes.