Shipping a Gearbox — safely packed, transported insured
Logisticoo ships gearboxes oil-safe and palletised from workshop to workshop, or from private senders to the repair specialist, with a fixed-price quote in 30 minutes. Passenger-car manual gearboxes weigh 30 to 60 kg, automatic and dual-clutch gearboxes 70 to 120 kg, and truck gearboxes considerably more. From this weight class upwards, handling without a forklift or pallet truck no longer makes sense, which is why we always work palletised using a tail-lift vehicle. Two risks define how these transports are run in practice: residual oil leaking out and contaminating other consignments and the load bed, and impact damage to housing flanges, shaft ends and the mechatronics connectors. That is why gearboxes belong on the pallet drained, sealed at every opening, and set in an oil-tight tray or film, bolted down or firmly lashed over the housing. For exchange units we organise the round trip with return of the old part in a single order. Collection in 147 German cities, and for immobilised customer vehicles also as a same-day express direct transport. Your personal dispatcher times collection and delivery to the workshop appointment.
Packaging & load securing
The gearbox sits on a sturdy pallet inside an oil-tight film tray, cushioned underneath with foam and lashed down against shifting with straps run over the housing (never over shafts or attached parts). The ideal solution is to bolt it through the bell-housing holes onto a wooden cradle. Open ports, the breather and connectors are sealed and individually padded; on the load bed, a tight positive fit per VDI 2700 applies.
What matters
- Drain as much oil as possible and seal the drain plug and breather tightly
- State the residual oil quantity realistically — leaks are treated as avoidable damage
- Pad the input shaft, selector shaft and mechatronics connectors separately
- Estimate the weight honestly (rating plate) — this decides between pallet truck and forklift
- For exchange business, book the return of the old part at the same time
Or call us directly: +49 30 346 467 850
From manual gearbox to commercial-vehicle unit — weight and vehicle
A passenger-car manual gearbox weighs 30 to 60 kg, automatic and dual-clutch gearboxes 70 to 120 kg, and commercial-vehicle gearboxes considerably more. From the automatic class upwards, handling without a pallet truck or forklift no longer makes sense, which is why we always work palletised using a tail-lift vehicle. Light gearboxes travel as a part load (consolidated) or general cargo in a Sprinter van, while heavy commercial-vehicle gearboxes go on a 7.5 t truck with a loading crane. For exchange business we organise the round trip with return of the old part in a single order. What decides the choice of vehicle and lifting gear is the weight honestly read off the rating plate, not a rough guess.
Oil-tight and impact-proof — securing over solid faces
Two risks define practice: residual oil leaking out and contaminating other consignments, and impact damage to housing flanges, shaft ends and mechatronics connectors. That is why the gearbox stands drained in an oil-tight film tray on the pallet, the drain plug tight and the breather and open ports sealed. The ideal solution is to bolt it through the bell-housing holes onto a wooden cradle; otherwise we strap over the housing, never over shafts or attached parts. The input and selector shafts as well as the mechatronics connectors are padded separately. On the load bed, a tight positive fit per VDI 2700 applies, so that this heavy, compact unit cannot travel.
How to ship a gearbox with Logisticoo
- You tell us the type of gearbox, the weight (rating plate), the residual oil quantity and the locations.
- We select the vehicle and lifting gear and give you the fixed-price quote in 30 minutes.
- The gearbox is drained, sealed and made ready in the oil-tight tray on the pallet.
- Collection in one of 147 cities, with return of the old part for exchange business.
- Secured transport per VDI 2700, and for an immobilised customer vehicle as an express direct transport without transhipment.
- Delivery to the workshop at the agreed time. Your dispatcher times collection and delivery to the workshop appointment.
What does shipping a gearbox cost?
The price comes up front as a fixed price; the rule-of-thumb figures give you a guide (±15%): Sprinter van around €1.10/km (from €89), 7.5 t truck around €1.45/km (from €169). A gearbox as a part load is an inexpensive single item. An express direct transport for an exchange gearbox from Munich to Cologne (around 575 km) works out at roughly €1.10/km in the Sprinter van, so about €630. Cost drivers are heavy commercial-vehicle gearboxes needing a loading crane, urgent direct transports for immobilised customer vehicles, and returning the old part on the round trip. For repair specialists with regular volume, we set up fixed rates.
Gearbox, vehicle and loading
| Weight | Example | Vehicle | Loading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30–60 kg | Passenger-car manual gearbox | Pallet, Sprinter van/part load | Pallet truck |
| 70–120 kg | Automatic/DSG gearbox | Pallet, general cargo Sprinter/7.5 t | Tail lift/pallet truck |
| over 120 kg | Commercial-vehicle/truck gearbox | 7.5 t truck + loading crane | Forklift/crane |
| Round trip | Exchange part + old part | Direct transport/part load | Pallet truck |
Shipping methods compared
| Shipping method | When it makes sense | Transit time | Cost level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part load | one gearbox, flexible on timing | a few days (consolidated run) | cheapest option |
| Part load (LTL) | several gearboxes or heavy | 1–2 days | medium |
| Direct transport (FTL) | commercial-vehicle gearbox or urgent | same/next day, no transhipment | higher, but fast |
| Express Sprinter van | customer vehicle up on the ramp | a few hours | km-based, from €89 |
Frequently asked questions
Does the gearbox oil have to be drained completely before shipping?
A gearbox can rarely be drained completely, and a residual film is normal. What matters is: the drain plug tight, the breather and open ports sealed, plus an oil-tight tray or film on the pallet. That way even repair specialists accept the delivery without complaint.
How quickly does an exchange gearbox reach the workshop when the customer vehicle is up on the ramp?
By express direct transport we load within a few hours of the order and drive straight through without transhipment — within Germany, same-day delivery is usually achievable. Together with the fixed-price quote in 30 minutes, your dispatcher also gives you the binding time window.
What does it cost to ship a gearbox?
As a part load, a gearbox is an inexpensive single item. An express direct transport we calculate from around €1.10/km in the Sprinter van (±15%); an exchange gearbox Munich–Cologne works out at about €630. The gearbox type, weight and postcodes are enough for the fixed-price quote in 30 minutes.
Can you organise an exchange gearbox including collection of the old part?
Yes. In exchange business we deliver the new or reconditioned part and take the old part back within the same order. That saves a separate booking; your dispatcher coordinates both handovers around the workshop appointment.
How quickly does a gearbox arrive when the customer vehicle is immobilised?
By express direct transport we load within a few hours of the order and drive straight through without transhipment — within Germany, same-day delivery is usually achievable. We give you the binding time window together with the fixed-price quote in 30 minutes.