Machinery Transport
Logisticoo plans machinery transport as an engineering task, not as standard freight: from the 500 kg compressor to the multi-tonne machine tool, weight, centre of gravity and lifting points determine the entire chain. It all starts with the technical clarification by your personal dispatcher — nameplate weight, dimensions, lifting eyes or forklift pockets, ground clearance, sensitive assemblies — from which follow the vehicle (curtain-side with crane loading, box body, low-loader), lifting gear (overhead hall crane, mobile crane, loading crane, truck-mounted forklift) and the securing concept. Lashing is done per VDI 2700 with chains or heavy-duty straps at defined points, on anti-slip mats and with a positive fit; precision machines travel air-sprung, locked and with VCI corrosion protection. On request we take on the interfaces before and after: coordinating dismantling, moving through narrow doorways, setting down on the foundation. If the machine exceeds standard dimensions, we switch seamlessly to heavy-haulage handling with permits. We serve machinery dealers, workshop clearances and complete production relocations from 147 German cities to 55 countries — including seaworthy export packaging and customs clearance by our own country offices. You receive the fixed-price quote in 30 minutes; for complex projects with crane deployment, a detailed schedule follows with all responsibilities and time windows.
Service features
- Technical pre-clarification: weight, centre of gravity, lifting points, sensitivities
- Lifting gear to suit the situation: mobile crane, loading crane, truck-mounted forklift or customer's crane
- Load securing per VDI 2700 with chains, heavy-duty straps and positive fit
- Air-sprung vehicles and VCI protection for precision machines
- Moving in, setting down on the foundation and dismantling coordination on request
- Seamless transition to heavy/permit transport for oversized loads
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When a specialised machinery transport is required
As soon as a machine is too heavy, too top-heavy or too sensitive for standard shipping, specialised machinery transport applies. Triggers are a high, unfavourably positioned centre of gravity (turning, milling and machining centres), precision geometry that tolerates no vibration (measuring machines, CNC), defined lifting or forklift points that must be used, and missing lifting gear at the collection or destination point. Typical occasions are workshop clearances, machinery dealers with recurring runs, relocations of complete production lines and the import of used machines. A small, palletisable workshop machine may still travel as a normal part load — but as soon as loading, centre of gravity or sensitivity comes into play, technical pre-planning is the difference between safe arrival and total loss.
Loading, load securing and protection in detail
It all begins with the nameplate weight (no estimate), dimensions, centre-of-gravity position and the manufacturer-defined lifting points. From these we select the vehicle and lifting gear: a mobile crane for very heavy or inaccessible machines, a vehicle-mounted loading crane up into the tonne range, a truck-mounted forklift for palletised units, a low-loader for great overall height. Securing is done per VDI 2700 ff.: direct lashing with chains or heavy-duty straps of the appropriate LC rating at defined points, positive fit against the headboard, anti-slip mats; machines prone to tipping are bolted onto heavy-duty pallets through the foundation holes. Moving axes are put into the transport position and locked, the spindle is relieved of load, and loose assemblies are dismantled and stowed separately. Precision and measuring machines travel air-sprung and with VCI corrosion protection, so that geometry and surfaces arrive within the manufacturer's tolerances.
Machinery transport, heavy haulage and standard freight — the distinction
The boundary runs at the standard dimensions. If the machine stays within the StVZO limits (up to 2.55 m wide, 4.00 m high, permissible gross weight, loadable in divisible form), it travels as a regular machinery transport on curtain-side, box body or low-loader — permit-free, but with full technical securing. If it exceeds these limits — over 3 m wide, over 4 m high, beyond the permissible gross weight or projecting as an indivisible load — it becomes a permit-required heavy or abnormal-load transport with an authorisation under Section 29 (3) StVO (German Road Traffic Regulations) or an exemption permit, a checked route and, where applicable, an escort vehicle. Both differ from purely standard shipping (a pallet in groupage) through the technical pre-planning of loading and securing. We switch seamlessly between the levels — you have a single point of contact for the whole range.
What does machinery transport cost?
The basis is the per-kilometre rules of thumb per vehicle (±15 %): Sprinter van ~€1.10/km from €89, 7.5 t truck ~€1.45/km from €169, 12 t truck ~€1.65/km from €219, semi-trailer ~€1.95/km from €379. A 900 kg machining centre from Munich to Hamburg (around 780 km) on the 7.5-tonner thus comes to roughly €1,050–1,300. Cost drivers are the loading crane, truck-mounted forklift or mobile crane when no lifting gear is available on site, air-sprung transport for precision machines, seaworthy packaging for export, and the permit and escort vehicle for oversized loads. For machinery dealers with recurring runs we set up fixed terms. We name the fixed price in 30 minutes; for crane projects a detailed schedule follows.
Machine weight, vehicle and loading
| Weight/dimensions | Example machine | Vehicle | Loading without a ramp |
|---|---|---|---|
| up to 1.2 t / 3 pallet spaces | Compressor, pillar drill | Sprinter van | Tail lift / truck-mounted forklift |
| up to 3 t / 10 pallets | Lathe, small machining centre | 7.5 t truck | Loading crane optional |
| up to 6 t | Milling machine, press | 12 t truck | Loading crane |
| up to 24 t / 13.6 loading metres | Machining centre, line | Semi-trailer, air-sprung | Crane on site |
| Oversized > 3.0 m / 2.55 m / > gross weight | Large machine, gantry system | Heavy/abnormal-load transport | permit-required, planned |
Frequently asked questions
Do you also transport machines without loading aids at the customer?
Yes — if a forklift or crane is missing at the collection or destination point, we provide vehicles with a loading crane (up into the tonne range) or a truck-mounted forklift. For very heavy or inaccessible machines we coordinate a mobile crane. The loading situation at both ends feeds into the fixed-price quote.
How do you protect a CNC or measuring machine from transport damage?
Locking the axes in the transport position, dismantling or supporting sensitive assemblies, bolting onto a heavy-duty pallet, an air-sprung vehicle and lashing exclusively at the points defined by the manufacturer. On request we document shock loads with indicators so that the condition on arrival is verifiable.
What information do you need for a binding quote?
The nameplate weight (no estimate), the external dimensions, the approximate centre-of-gravity position and the loading situation at both locations (forklift, crane, ramp or none of these). With this we select the vehicle, lifting gear and securing equipment. Photos of the machine and its lifting points speed up the calculation — you receive the fixed price in 30 minutes.
At what point does machinery transport become a permit-required heavy transport?
As soon as the machine plus vehicle exceeds 2.55 m in width (up to 3.00 m with a standing permit), 4.00 m in height or the permissible gross weight, or the load projects as an indivisible unit, an authorisation under Section 29 (3) StVO (German Road Traffic Regulations) or an exemption permit becomes necessary, in some cases with an escort vehicle. We take on the classification, the permit and the route planning and plan the transit time accordingly.
What does machinery transport cost?
The basis is the per-kilometre rules of thumb (Sprinter van ~€1.10/km, 7.5 t ~€1.45/km, FTL ~€1.95/km, ±15 %). A 900 kg machining centre Munich–Hamburg on the 7.5-tonner comes to roughly €1,050–1,300. The loading crane/mobile crane, air-sprung transport, seaworthy packaging and oversized-load permits we show separately. For machinery dealers with scheduled runs we set up fixed terms; we name the fixed price in 30 minutes.