Heavy Equipment and Machinery Shipping from Saudi Arabia by Road and Sea
An excavator, a generator or a production line is not ordinary cargo. Every centimetre of height and every tonne of weight changes the trailer, the route and the permits required. We start by surveying and measuring the machine, choose the right trailer or container, then arrange the crane, the lashing and the permits so it reaches its new site in the Gulf, Jordan, Turkey or North Africa.
- 🚜 Lowbed and flatbed
- 🏗️ Crane loading
- 📐 Size and weight survey
- 🚢 Flat rack and open top
Equipment and machinery we move out of the Kingdom
We handle construction and road equipment such as excavators, wheel loaders, bulldozers and forklifts; power equipment such as generators, compressors and transformers; and factory machines and production lines that are dismantled into sections and reassembled at the destination. Each type lifts and secures differently, which is why we never quote before we know the machine precisely.
The service covers checking the loading site, deciding whether a mobile crane or loading ramps are needed, choosing the trailer or container, coordinating with the competent authorities when the load exceeds standard dimensions, then completing export clearance on Fasah and following the shipment through to delivery.
- Self-propelled machines drive up onto the trailer on ramps.
- Static machines are lifted by crane and lashed with chains and straps.
- Production lines are dismantled, numbered and packed in wooden crates.
Trailers and containers for heavy equipment
The choice comes down to length, width and height, plus weight and how the machine will be loaded.
Lowbed trailer
A low deck that lets tall machines such as excavators and bulldozers travel without exceeding the permitted road height.
Flatbed trailer
Suits generators, compressors and steel structures within normal height, loaded from the side or from above.
Extendable trailer
For long items such as columns, steel booms and cylindrical tanks that exceed a standard flatbed.
Flat rack container
A sea container with no side walls or roof, for machines wider or taller than a standard box, lashed down with chains.
Open top container
Open from above so the machine is lowered in by crane; ideal for tall equipment whose width still fits.
Closed truck
For precision machines, spare parts and units sensitive to dust and rain, fixed on pallets or in crates.
Measuring size and weight before any quote
Most problems in equipment shipping begin with a rough measurement or a guessed weight, so the survey always comes first:
- 1
Machine details
Model, serial number and spec sheet if available, to confirm operating weight and approved lifting points.
- 2
Actual dimensions
Length, width and height in transport position, with the boom folded and removable attachments taken off.
- 3
Loading site check
Confirm the ground can take the crane and trailer and that the access allows manoeuvring.
- 4
Route review
Check bridges, tunnels and tight turns on the way to the border or port if the load is oversize.
- 5
Plan and quote
Trailer or container, crane and permits defined, followed by an itemised quote for each stage.
Matching each machine to the right transport
This general guide helps you picture the plan; the final decision is based on the actual survey:
| Equipment | By road | By sea | Loading method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excavator or bulldozer | Lowbed | Usually flat rack | Driven up ramps or lifted by crane |
| Wheel loader or mini backhoe | Lowbed or flatbed | Flat rack or open top | Driven up ramps |
| Large generator | Flatbed | Open top or flat rack | Crane from lifting points |
| Forklift | Flatbed or closed truck | Standard container if height allows | Driven on or craned |
| Dismantled factory machine | Closed truck or flatbed | 40ft container or open top | Crane and wooden crates |
| Tank or long structure | Extendable trailer | Flat rack | Two cranes where needed |
ℹ️ Self-propelled machines should have most of their fuel drained and batteries disconnected, according to the regulations in force at the time of shipping.
Cranes and lashing points: where cargo safety is decided
A machine that cannot move by itself needs a mobile crane rated not just for its weight but for the distance between the crane and the centre of the load. We choose the crane after the survey, use the manufacturer's lifting points, and rig suitable slings or chains with spreaders so straps do not press on delicate parts.
Once the machine is on the trailer or in the container, lashing follows: chains and tensioners pulling in opposing directions, timber or chocks under tracks and wheels, and protection for anything that sticks out. Lashing is checked before departure and again at stops, because vibration on long roads can slowly loosen tensioners.
Removable parts such as buckets, extra arms and detachable cabs are taken off, numbered and shipped with the machine or in a separate crate. This reduces height and width and can remove the need for an oversize permit altogether.
Information we need to plan the shipment
The more accurate these details are, the clearer the plan and the closer the quote is to the real cost:
- Equipment type, model and serial or chassis number.
- Dimensions in transport position and weight from the spec sheet or a recent weighbridge ticket.
- Whether the machine runs and moves under its own power or needs a crane.
- The exact loading location, ground conditions, access and any restrictions on large vehicles.
- Delivery site and the unloading method there: a crane on site, or one we arrange.
- Ownership documents and commercial invoice, plus a certificate of origin for new equipment.
- The date the machine must be on site if it is tied to a project.
Oversize load permits
If the load exceeds permitted road width, height or weight, the trip needs an oversize load permit from the competent authorities, and an escort vehicle or set travel hours may be required. The same applies in every transit country. These permits add time, so do not plan your project around a standard truck schedule. We coordinate the Saudi-side applications, and everything applies according to the regulations in force at the time of shipping.
When equipment goes by sea and when it goes by road
For the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Jordan, road transport is the usual choice: the machine leaves its site in the Kingdom and arrives at the project site with no intermediate unloading. It needs the right trailer and transit permits where required, and benefits from nearby crossings such as Al Batha, Salwa, Al Khafji and Al Haditha.
Turkey, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Libya are served by sea from Jeddah Islamic Port or King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam. This is where flat rack containers come in for machines wider or taller than a standard box, and open top containers for tall machines lowered in by crane. For large equipment to Lebanon, sea freight to Beirut port is the practical option.
Bear in mind that import rules for used equipment vary from country to country, particularly in North Africa, and may include conditions on age or condition. The consignee should check with their own customs before shipping, while we prepare the Saudi-side papers.
- Sea to Turkey: approximately 15–25 days port to port.
- Sea to North Africa: approximately 20–35 days depending on the port and shipping line.
Usual equipment transport plan by destination
Times are approximate and exclude the time needed to obtain oversize permits where the load requires them:
| Destination | Usual mode | Crossing or port | Approximate transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Road, lowbed or flatbed | Al Batha then Ghuwaifat | About 2–4 days to Dubai and Abu Dhabi |
| Qatar | Road | Salwa then Abu Samra | About 2–3 days from Riyadh |
| Kuwait | Road | Al Khafji or Al Ruqi | About 2–3 days from Riyadh |
| Bahrain | Road | King Fahd Causeway | About 1–2 days from Dammam |
| Oman | Road | Empty Quarter crossing then Ramlat Khaylah | About 3–5 days to Muscat |
| Jordan | Road | Al Haditha then Al Omari | About 3–5 days to Amman |
| Lebanon | Sea | Beirut port | Depends on the shipping line |
| Turkey | Sea, flat rack or open top | Mersin or Istanbul ports | About 15–25 days |
| Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya | Sea from Jeddah | Rades, Algiers, Oran, Casablanca, Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata | About 20–35 days |
Heavy equipment shipping: common questions
Can you ship a machine that does not run?
Yes. A non-running machine is lifted by crane instead of being driven up ramps, and this is planned in advance. We only need its weight and lifting points, and confirmation that it is not leaking oil or fuel.
Who provides the crane at loading and unloading?
We arrange the crane at the loading site in the Kingdom as part of the plan. At the destination, either the consignee provides one or we arrange it through a local partner, shown as a separate line in the quote.
Do parts need to be removed before shipping?
Not always, but removing the bucket, arms or attachments can bring the dimensions down enough to avoid an oversize permit or to use a cheaper container. We decide this with you after the survey.
What is the difference between flat rack and open top?
A flat rack has no side walls and no roof, so it suits loads wider than a container. An open top has walls but no roof, so it suits tall machines whose width fits and which are lowered in by crane.
Can the equipment be insured in transit?
Insurance for valuable items can be added on request, and that includes high-value equipment, with its value stated in the documents before loading.
Do import rules for used equipment differ?
Yes, they differ between countries and may include requirements on age or technical condition. The consignee checks with their customs, and we prepare the Saudi export documents according to the regulations in force at the time of shipping.
Have a machine that needs to reach a project abroad?
Send us the equipment type, dimensions, weight, loading location and destination, and we will arrange a survey and propose the right trailer or container with an itemised quote.