Heavy Equipment Transport: The Real Story Nobody Tells You
- Car Carrier Group
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Why Car Carrier Group Is the Only Call You Should Make When the Machines Get Big
The Hook: One Wrong Move and You’re Out Six Figures
Let’s get something straight. Moving heavy equipment is not the same as shipping a car, a pallet of goods, or a box from Amazon. We’re talking about million-dollar iron here — Caterpillars that can level a city block, John Deere machines that clear forests, Komatsu excavators that dig deep foundations.
One mistake? You’re not just late. You’re out tens of thousands of dollars in lost time, penalties, and repairs.
And yet, every day, people roll the dice. They chase the lowest quote. They hand their machines over to some random “guy with a truck.” They trust a smile and a promise. And then they wonder why their dozer is still sitting in the dirt three weeks later, broken, scratched, or stuck at a weigh station.
If you’ve ever tried to move serious machinery with the wrong people, you know the pain. If you haven’t — trust me, you don’t want to.
That’s why we built Car Carrier Group. Twenty-plus years, thousands of moves, and one simple mission: get your equipment from Point A to Point B safely, on time, and without excuses.
The Stakes: Why the Wrong Choice Destroys Projects
Heavy equipment isn’t optional. It’s the heartbeat of a jobsite.
Your dozer doesn’t show up? Crews sit idle, deadlines blow up, clients lose faith.
Your excavator is late? That foundation pour gets delayed, and now the dominoes fall.
Your crane is stranded mid-route? Good luck explaining to the city why the high-rise is behind schedule.
We’ve seen it all:
Carriers who disappear halfway through a job because their one truck broke down.
Cheap quotes that balloon when the carrier suddenly remembers you need permits, escorts, or oversized routing.
Auction buyers who thought shipping would be “easy” — until their $150,000 purchase sat at Ritchie Bros. for weeks while carriers played games.
Here’s the ugly truth: one truck, one carrier, one guy with a dispatcher’s phone — they’re one flat tire away from ruining your plans.
That’s why the expert heavy equipment transport brokers like Car Carrier Group exist. We don’t just rely on one truck. We have an army of carriers, vetted and ready. If one breaks down, we reassign instantly. That’s the difference between your job getting done and your job falling apart.
The Heavyweights We Move
Let’s break down the big brands and the challenges that come with each.
Caterpillar (CAT)
The king of heavy equipment. Dozers, excavators, loaders, graders. Machines that weigh anywhere from 20,000 to 200,000 pounds.
A D6 dozer? You need a step deck at minimum, often an RGN.
A 988K wheel loader? That’s an RGN/lowboy, and you’d better have permits lined up in every state you cross.
Caterpillar isn’t forgiving. Get the wrong trailer, and you’re not just stuck — you’re facing fines, delays, and damaged equipment.
Komatsu
Second only to CAT in brand recognition, but every bit as massive.
The Komatsu PC490 excavator is oversized and overweight — not a flatbed move.
The WA270 wheel loader is manageable but still requires balanced loading.
The challenge with Komatsu is often width. Oversized loads require escort vehicles. We handle it.
John Deere
Known for agriculture, but their construction line is no joke.
Tractors like the 8R or 9RX series can stretch long and tall.
Construction dozers like the 850K demand lowboys.
John Deere buyers often underestimate transport. These machines can crush a trailer if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Volvo
Articulated haulers and excavators that are the backbone of big jobs.
The Volvo A40G articulated truck requires disassembly and RGN hauling.
Smaller Volvo excavators work on a step deck, but balance is critical.
Hitachi
Excavators, cranes, and mining equipment. Their ZX870 is a monster — often a superload. Permits, escorts, and precise routing are mandatory.
Case Construction
Smaller footprint, but still tricky. Their dozers and loaders fit step decks and flatbeds, but poor tie-downs risk shifting loads.
Bobcat
Compact machines — loaders, mini-excavators — but “small” doesn’t mean “easy.” Bobcats need careful balance and strapping.
Kubota
Popular with smaller contractors and farms. Hotshot trailers can handle them, but insurance and strapping still matter.
JCB
From backhoes to telehandlers. Different models need different setups — some step decks, some disassembly.
Liebherr
Tower cranes, excavators, mining rigs. Moving a Liebherr often means multiple loads — cab, boom, counterweights. This is precision logistics, not guesswork.
The Trucks That Make It Happen
Not every truck can haul every machine. Here’s the lineup:
Flatbeds: Smaller equipment — skid steers, compact tractors, small backhoes.
Hotshots: Pickup + gooseneck rigs for light equipment under 15,000 lbs.
Step Decks: Handle medium equipment — dozers, loaders, smaller excavators. Allow taller loads than flatbeds.
RGNs / Lowboys: The kings. Perfect for giant dozers, cranes, and mining rigs. If it’s over 50,000 lbs, this is the move.
Pick the wrong trailer, and you’re in violation of DOT regs. We’ve seen it. We’ve rescued jobs where another carrier showed up with the wrong trailer and had no clue.
Crazy Shipping Stories
We don’t just talk the talk. We’ve been in the trenches.
The 44-Story Crane: Required 20 separate truckloads. Cab, boom, counterweights — all delivered on time despite brutal weather.
The Komatsu Rescue: Client hired a cheap carrier. Truck broke down. Carrier ghosted. We reassigned and delivered within 24 hours.
The Auction Scramble: A buyer won a Caterpillar dozer at GovPlanet. Weeks later, still sitting. We lined up an RGN and had it on his jobsite in three days.
These aren’t exceptions. They’re the rule — unless you call the right people.
Broker vs Lone Carrier
Here’s the blunt truth: trusting one carrier with one truck is gambling.
If they break down, you’re stuck.
If their driver quits, you’re stuck.
If they underestimated the job, you’re stuck.
Car Carrier Group doesn’t gamble. We coordinate. We have backups. We move thousands of loads. That’s the broker advantage.
Why Use Car Carrier Group For Your Heavy Equipment Transport Needs?
Twenty years. Thousands of moves. Phones answered seven days a week. Insurance that protects you.
We’ve shipped everything from Bobcats to tower cranes. We know the permits, escorts, and routing. We know how to keep your project on schedule.
Most importantly: we know the stakes. This isn’t just freight. This is your livelihood, your deadlines, your reputation. And we treat it that way.
Don't Gamble. Don't Wait.
Don’t let your machines sit idle because you trusted the wrong people.
Call Car Carrier Group today: 888-702-7322 or
When the machines get big, the choice is simple. You either roll the dice — or you roll with us.