Guide

Construction equipment from China: closed box if it fits, flat rack if it overhangs, RoRo if it drives aboard.

To ship construction machinery from China, start with the unit’s length, width, height, and weight. If the machine fits inside a 40-foot high cube or open top with the door or roof loading you need, ocean FCL is the usual mode. If width or height exceeds a dry box, book a flat rack or open top and declare out-of-gauge (OOG) dimensions before the vessel is named. Self-propelled wheeled or tracked units—tipper trucks, wheel loaders, some excavators—often move on RoRo where the lane has roll-on/roll-off service; very large mining or plant pieces may need breakbulk instead. Send photos, lifting points, and whether buckets or attachments can be removed to reduce height; battery-powered golf carts and electric mini excavators are Class 9 dangerous goods—lithium-ion units normally UN3556 under IMDG Amendment 42-24 (see the e-scooter and golf cart guide). Yihang Shipping in Dalian quotes FCL, OOG, RoRo, and breakbulk from major Chinese ports to destinations worldwide, with DAP and DDP door delivery on request.

Published 2026-10-26 · By Delia Qu, Deputy General Manager

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Construction machinery secured on a flat rack container

Pre-shipment checklist for construction equipment from China

Measure each unit: length × width × height (with and without cab/roof), gross weight, tracked or wheeled, self-propelled or towed.
Photograph all sides, nameplate, tires/tracks, lifting/lashing points, and any attachments (bucket, blade, counterweight).
Choose mode: 40HC/open top if inside the box; flat rack if over-width/over-height; RoRo if self-propelled and the route has RoRo; breakbulk if none of the above works.
For battery-powered units, collect UN3556/3557/3558 or UN3171 documentation and state-of-charge limits; see /insights/shipping-e-scooters-golf-carts-batteries/.
Prepare the unit: fuel to safe level or empty per carrier rule, batteries disconnected or secured, buckets/attachments removed if needed to clear height.
Confirm used-equipment cleanliness for Australia/New Zealand (no soil, seeds, plant material on tracks, buckets, and undercarriage).
Agree lashing plan and optional paid loading supervision at stuffing or RoRo ramp.
Align Incoterm (FOB, CIF, DAP, DPU, DDP) and send the full delivery address if door delivery is required.
Collect commercial invoice, packing list, HS code, and insured value for customs and insurance.

How do you choose container, flat rack, open top, RoRo, or breakbulk?

40-foot high cube (40HC): default when height is under roughly 2.5–2.6 m at the door and width fits a dry box—common for scissor lifts (folded), small forklifts, and compact excavators with the cab lowered.
Open top: over-height but standard width; load from above by crane when the piece cannot pass the door rail.
Flat rack: over-width, over-length on the bed, or heavy point loads on narrow tracks; sides and ends may overhang within carrier limits.
RoRo: self-propelled wheeled or tracked units that can drive (or be towed) aboard a RoRo vessel where the trade lane offers it—typical inquiries include tipper trucks near 12 tonnes and wheel loaders.
Breakbulk: units too large or heavy for container equipment, or full-deck stowage on a multipurpose vessel—see the break bulk shipping solution.
A mini excavator near 244 cm high often exceeds a 20GP door and may need 40HC, open top, flat rack, or bucket removal—send exact dimensions before booking.

Decision guide by equipment type

Mini excavator (1–8 t): usually 40HC or open top if height clears the door after lowering the blade; flat rack if width overhangs; remove bucket to save height when possible.
Wheel loader: often RoRo or flat rack depending on weight and tire width; height and cab may force open top or flat rack on smaller loaders.
Tipper / dump truck (medium): frequent RoRo candidate when self-propelled; otherwise low-bed trailer to port and flat rack or breakbulk if RoRo is unavailable on the lane.
Scissor lift / boom lift: folded scissor lifts often ship in 40HC; extended boom lifts need open top or flat rack; non-stackable—plan floor space only.
Forklift: counterbalance forklifts in 20GP/40HC if mast lowered and secured; oversized rough-terrain units toward flat rack or RoRo.
Golf cart / utility vehicle with battery: container if dimensions allow; declare Class 9 UN3556 or related vehicle entry—see /insights/shipping-e-scooters-golf-carts-batteries/.
Crane parts and attachments: loose booms, counterweights, and buckets often flat rack or breakbulk; send weight and lifting points per piece.
Attachments only (buckets, hammers): can share a container with other parts if weight and lashing allow; mark centre of gravity.

What should I send for a construction-equipment quote?

Length × width × height per unit, gross weight, tracked vs wheeled, self-driving vs towed.
Make/model, new vs used, year, and whether attachments are fixed or can be removed for transport.
Battery type and voltage for electric units; fuel level policy if diesel.
Photos (all sides), nameplate, and a simple drawing if the shape is awkward.
China pickup city/port preference and destination port or full street address for DAP/DDP.
Incoterm, ready date, and whether you want optional paid loading supervision or a lashing survey.

Preparation, lashing, and securing

Follow carrier and port rules on fuel quantity; many shippers drain or reduce fuel for RoRo and container moves.
Disconnect or isolate batteries on electric and hybrid units; secure battery packs against movement.
Remove buckets, blades, or counterweights when it brings height under the door or roof without harming the unit.
Clean tracks, buckets, and undercarriage—especially for used machinery to Australia and New Zealand biosecurity rules.
Use rated lashing points; pad tires and tracks; block wheels. On flat racks, spread point loads with timber or steel plates.
ISPM 15 on any solid-wood dunnage or cradles used for export.

Battery-powered equipment and dangerous goods

Battery-powered construction equipment and golf carts are Class 9 when the drive battery is installed—lithium-ion units normally UN3556 under IMDG Amendment 42-24; wet-battery units may remain UN3171.
Yihang handles all dangerous goods classes subject to carrier acceptance; send SDS, battery specs, and state of charge before booking.
Undeclared batteries are not booked. See /insights/shipping-e-scooters-golf-carts-batteries/ for vehicle UN entries and /insights/lithium-batteries-dangerous-goods/ for spare batteries.
Some units ship with batteries removed and packed separately—confirm with the manufacturer which configuration is intended for export.

Used machinery cleanliness (Australia, New Zealand, and general)

Used construction machinery imported into Australia and New Zealand is commonly inspected for biosecurity risk: soil, seeds, plant material, and pest harbourage on tracks, grilles, and buckets.
Clean before export from China; pressure-wash undercarriage and cavities where plant material collects.
This page states the principle only—TODO: confirm final wording and any mandatory cleaning certificates with your destination partners.
New machinery still needs clean crates and ISPM 15 marks on wood packaging.

Destination side: DAP, DDP, oversize, and supervision

DAP and DDP door delivery to major destinations can be quoted when you send the full address and unloading equipment available.
See /insights/dpu-dap-ddp-door-delivery-from-china/ for how Incoterms split customs, duty, and unload.
Oversize and out-of-gauge surcharges apply per shipment once dimensions are confirmed; amounts are not published here.
Loading supervision and lashing survey at the load port are optional paid value-added services—book with the quote.
Freight is quoted prepaid; Yihang can help with EU/UK EORI coordination on DDP files when applicable.

Lane notes (general, no transit times)

Canada: ocean to Vancouver or Prince Rupert, then rail/truck inland—construction units often need OOG acceptance and road permits on the Canadian leg; see /insights/shipping-china-to-calgary-alberta/ and /lanes/china-to-canada/.
Australia and New Zealand: biosecurity on used units; container or RoRo depending on port pair; see /lanes/china-to-australia/ and /lanes/china-to-new-zealand/.
Latin America (Mexico, Peru, Chile, Brazil): Manzanillo, Callao, and Santos are common gateways; RoRo and flat rack availability varies by port—name the destination city on the inquiry.
Europe: North Sea and Mediterranean ports with inland trucking for excavators and lifts; heavy weight may follow the container weight limits guide as well as OOG rules.
United States: West and East Coast ports with inland delivery on DAP; ISF filing is the importer’s side—see /insights/isf-filing/ when the consignee is in the US.

Who is Yihang Shipping?

Dalian Yihang Shipping Agency Co., Ltd. is a freight forwarder and NVOCC based in Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Office: Room 2502, Tower B, Mingshi Fortune Mansion, Zhongshan District, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Phone and WhatsApp: +86 138 4269 5704. Email: hello@yihang-shipping.com. Web: https://yihang-shipping.com
Quotes construction and mining machinery in containers, flat racks, RoRo, and breakbulk from Chinese load ports worldwide.
Handles dangerous goods of all classes when declared, subject to carrier acceptance.

Sources

Linked pages are the publishers’ own. A figure on this page is theirs, for the date named. It is not a Yihang rate.

Questions shippers ask

Can I ship a mini excavator from China in a 20-foot container?

Often no if the unit is near 2.4 m high with the cab up—a 20GP door is lower than a 40HC. Many mini excavators need a 40HC, open top, flat rack, or bucket removal. Send exact L×W×H and photos before booking.

When is RoRo better than a flat rack for construction equipment?

RoRo suits self-propelled wheeled or tracked units that can drive or be towed aboard and where the origin and destination ports have RoRo service. Flat rack is used when RoRo is unavailable, the unit is not self-propelled, or dimensions fit a rack better than a vessel ramp.

How do I ship a tipper truck from China?

Send weight, dimensions, and whether the truck is driveable. Medium tippers around 12 tonnes are often quoted RoRo when the lane allows; otherwise low-bed transport to port and flat rack or breakbulk. Fuel level and battery isolation follow carrier rules.

Can scissor lifts ship in a 40HC?

Folded scissor lifts often fit a 40HC if height and width clear the door and the unit is lashed as non-stackable. Extended booms need open top or flat rack. Treat as non-stackable on the booking.

Are electric golf carts dangerous goods?

Yes, when shipped with batteries installed they are Class 9—lithium-ion carts normally UN3556 under IMDG Amendment 42-24. Declare batteries, send SDS and specs, and read /insights/shipping-e-scooters-golf-carts-batteries/ for vehicle classification.

What cleaning is required for used excavators to Australia?

Used machinery should be free of soil, seeds, and plant material on tracks, buckets, and undercarriage before export. Biosecurity inspection may occur on arrival. Confirm any extra certificates with your importer—this page does not state fees or timelines.

Do you offer DDP delivery for construction equipment?

DDP is available to many major destinations when a valid importer of record and product rules allow. Send the delivery address, HS code, and value. DAP and DPU are quoted more often when the buyer clears customs.

Does this page publish RoRo rates or transit times?

No. RoRo and OOG acceptance depend on the port pair, vessel, and week. Send dimensions and destinations; the quote names the mode and planning window.

Industrial machinery: container or OOG Guide Project cargo Solution Flat rack and open top Solution Break bulk shipping Solution Lithium batteries as dangerous goods Guide DPU, DAP and DDP from China Guide Container weight limits for heavy cargo Guide Cargo supervision (paid) Service Container fit tool Tool Refractory brick to Canada Case Mining transport equipment Case

Quote construction equipment from China

L×W×H and weight per unit, photos, tracked/wheeled, self-propelled yes/no, attachments removed?, battery/fuel status, origin, destination, Incoterm.

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