RoRo vs Container vs Breakbulk: How Construction Machinery Ships Overseas

An excavator does not fit in a standard box. The shipping method you choose changes the cost, the packing and the risk of damage. Here is how the three main methods compare.

Method 1 — RoRo (roll-on / roll-off)

RoRo is for wheeled and self-propelled machines: the unit is driven on and off the vessel on its own wheels. It is the cheapest option for wheeled equipment like wheel loaders, truck cranes and mobile boom lifts. The machine travels unpacked on an open deck, so weather and handling are the main risks.

Method 2 — Container (flat rack)

Tracked machines and smaller equipment usually travel on a flat-rack container — an open-sided platform. The machine is lashed and wrapped, protecting it from weather and reducing handling damage. Flat rack costs more than RoRo but offers more protection, and it suits machines that cannot be driven on.

Method 3 — Breakbulk

Oversized or very heavy units that fit neither a RoRo deck nor a flat rack ship as breakbulk — individually lifted and secured in the vessel’s hold or on deck. It is the default for large cranes and heavy machinery, and it is priced per unit.

How to choose

The method follows the machine, not your preference: wheeled and self-propelled tends to RoRo, tracked and mid-size tends to flat rack, oversized tends to breakbulk. The exporter’s shipping team should quote the right method and the packing — and the bill of lading is your proof of shipment, so it matters which method is on it. For the container side, see our LCL vs FCL guide.

Bottom line: the shipping method is dictated by the machine’s size and drivetrain, and it directly affects your freight cost and damage risk. Ask for the method and the packing detail in your quote, not just a freight number.