Plant, Agricultural and Commercial Unit Shipping

What counts as plant and agricultural machinery

This service covers rolling and static equipment used in construction, agriculture and material handling: excavators, wheel loaders, dozers, telehandlers, forklifts, tractors, combines, sprayers and their implements. Some units are self-propelled and can be driven aboard a RoRo vessel, while others are static or dismantled and need to be lifted onto a flat rack, into an open-top container or booked as breakbulk cargo.

The right shipping method depends on whether the unit can move under its own power, its overall dimensions once booms and buckets are accounted for, and whether the destination port has the lifting equipment to handle it on arrival.

Rolling versus static equipment

Rolling plant such as excavators, telehandlers and tractors is generally the more straightforward and cheaper option, since it is driven aboard a RoRo deck in the same way as a car and does not require crane lifts at either end. Booms, buckets and cabs are often lowered or removed to reduce the overall height and fit standard deck clearances.

Static machinery — generators, processing equipment, gantries and dismantled units — has no engine to drive it aboard, so it travels on a flat rack, in an open-top container, or as breakbulk cargo on a conventional vessel, with lifting points and cradles engineered specifically for that item's weight distribution.

• Excavators, wheel loaders, dozers and telehandlers
• Tractors, combines, sprayers and towed implements
• Forklifts and warehouse handling equipment
• Static generators, processing units and dismantled machinery

Measuring and weighing correctly

We take dimensions and weight from the manufacturer's data plate rather than a generic model listing, since attachments and optional extras change both figures considerably. Booms that can be lowered, cabs that fold, and buckets that detach are all noted, because the equipment we book is based on the shipped configuration rather than the machine's working footprint.

Centre of gravity matters for anything travelling on a flat rack or as breakbulk, and getting this wrong affects both the lashing plan and, on heavier units, the crane capacity needed at the port. Getting accurate figures from you at the quote stage avoids a costly re-measure or re-booking once the machine is already at the terminal.

Cleaning and biosecurity requirements

Many countries — Australia and New Zealand in particular, but also several others — reject agricultural and construction machinery on arrival if it is carrying soil, plant material or seed residue. We advise on steam cleaning before collection, and in some cases arrange an independent biosecurity inspection with a certificate that travels with the shipment.

This is one of the most common causes of destination delay on machinery shipments, since a failed inspection on arrival can mean the unit is held, re-cleaned locally at cost, or in the worst cases refused entry altogether. Budgeting for cleaning before the machine leaves the UK is far cheaper than dealing with a rejection abroad.

UK collection and heavy haulage

Machinery is collected from farms, depots, auction sites and dealer yards using low-loaders or heavy haulage trailers matched to the unit's weight and dimensions. Where the load exceeds standard road limits, we arrange abnormal load notifications with the relevant highway authorities and, where required, a police or pilot escort for the route to the port.

Timing the heavy haulage leg to coincide with the vessel's loading window is important, since ports typically allocate a specific slot for oversized cargo and missing it can mean waiting for the next available crane slot rather than the next sailing.

Pricing structure for plant and machinery moves

Quotes are built around freight, UK haulage, port handling and, where relevant, crane or lift-on lift-off charges, since these stevedore fees can be substantial on oversized units and are often missed in cheaper headline quotes. We include them from the outset so the figure you plan around does not change once the machine reaches the port.

Rolling plant moving RoRo is priced closer to a standard vehicle booking, while static or oversized units on flat rack or breakbulk are quoted individually once we have final dimensions, weight and the chosen destination port's handling capability.

Transit, insurance and documentation

Transit times follow the general RoRo or breakbulk schedule for the trade lane, with breakbulk services often running less frequently than container or RoRo sailings, so lead times can be longer on some routes. Export documentation includes the standard customs declaration plus any biosecurity or cleaning certificates required by the destination.

Marine insurance is worth arranging given the values typically involved, covering loss or damage during loading, the sea passage and discharge. We recommend declaring the full replacement value rather than a depreciated figure, since claims are settled against the sum insured.

Common mistakes and destination handling

The most frequent issues are underestimating height once a boom or attachment is raised, skipping the cleaning step for destinations with biosecurity checks, and leaving heavy haulage booking until too close to the sailing date. Each of these can be avoided with earlier planning, which is why we ask for full details before quoting rather than after booking.

On arrival, our destination agent coordinates the discharge, any required biosecurity re-inspection, and onward inland transport to the buyer or site, keeping you informed if any local formality needs attention before release.