Excavator Transport With the Right Trailer and Permits
Dobie coordinates excavator transportation based on the machine's weight, dimensions and route, including specialized trailers and oversize requirements when needed.
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What Is Excavator Transport?
Excavator transport is the heavy-haul movement of tracked excavators on trailers that load from ground level — usually RGNs or lowboys. The machine’s weight and dimensions determine the trailer, whether oversize permits apply and which routes clear, so the move is planned from the spec sheet before a truck is assigned.
Excavator Moves We Coordinate
- Auction and dealer purchases headed to the yard
- Jobsite-to-jobsite mobilizations
- Rental fleet repositioning
- Export moves toward the Mexican border
- Attachments riding with the machine
How It Works
Tell Us About the Machine
Make, model, weight and dimensions. If you have a spec sheet or photos, even better.
We Plan Trailer & Permits
Our team matches the trailer — RGN, lowboy, step deck or flatbed — and coordinates any oversize permits the route requires.
Loading & Transport
The carrier loads, secures and hauls the equipment. Drive-on machines use ramps; inoperable units are winched or lifted.
Jobsite Delivery
The equipment is delivered to the yard, dealer or jobsite, offloaded and confirmed complete.
What Trailer Does an Excavator Need?
Mid-size excavators (a CAT 320 class, ~50,000 lbs) typically ride RGNs or lowboys — the machine walks on from ground level. Larger machines like a CAT 336 push width and weight into oversize territory, adding permits and sometimes escorts. Compact units can go step deck. The spec sheet decides; sending it gets you the right answer the first time.
Cost Factors
How much does it cost to transport an excavator? These are the factors that set the number:
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Weight | Trailer requirement |
| Width | Permit requirements |
| Height | Route planning |
| Distance | Linehaul |
| Loading capability | Equipment needed |
How Long Does It Take?
Most equipment moves are matched with a carrier within a few days of booking — often faster on busy lanes. Transit time depends on distance, route and equipment: regional moves often deliver in 1–3 days, while coast-to-coast shipments average 7–10 days. Your logistics specialist confirms a realistic pickup window when you book and keeps you updated through delivery.
Insurance & Safety
Every carrier in the Dobie network is vetted for active operating authority and insurance before a load is assigned. Your equipment is covered by the carrier's cargo insurance from pickup to delivery, and our dispatch team verifies the certificate of insurance before every dispatch — not once a year.
Where We Coordinate It
Dobie coordinates heavy equipment transport across all 50 states, with deep operating experience in Texas, the South Texas border region and cross-border routes into Mexico. Wherever the pickup and the delivery are, one team manages the entire move.
Shipments Like Yours
Frequently Asked Questions
What trailer does a CAT 320 excavator need?
A CAT 320-class machine (~50,000 lbs, ~10′ wide) typically moves on an RGN or lowboy with oversize-width permits. It walks onto the detached gooseneck under its own power — no crane required.
Does my excavator require permits?
If it exceeds 8′6″ wide — which most full-size excavators do — yes, each state on the route permits it separately. We file them as part of the move.
Do you move the bucket and attachments too?
Yes. Buckets, thumbs and hammers are secured separately on the deck and included in the load plan — list them so weight and space are budgeted.
How much does it cost to transport an excavator?
Machine class, route distance and permit scope drive the price. A compact on a step deck is a fraction of a 336 on a permitted RGN. Exact specs get an exact, free quote.
How does pickup work?
The carrier positions the trailer on level ground, the gooseneck detaches, and the machine walks on and is chained to spec. Inoperable excavators are winched — flag the condition in advance.
Last reviewed: August 2026 · Reviewed by the Dobie Transport logistics team
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