Shipping a Machine — safely packed, transported insured
Logisticoo ships machinery of every size, from an 80 kg compressor to a machining centre weighing several tonnes, with a fixed-price quote in 30 minutes, the right lifting equipment and fully planned load securing. It all starts with three questions: How heavy is it (from the rating plate, not an estimate)? Where is its centre of gravity? And how does the machine get onto the vehicle, by forklift, overhead crane, pallet truck, or our vehicle with a loading crane or truck-mounted forklift? Everything else follows from that. Sensitive assemblies such as spindles, guideways, control panels and measuring equipment are protected against shock and vibration, oil-filled units against leakage; precision machines travel on air suspension. Top-heavy machines at risk of tipping are bolted onto transport stands or heavy-duty pallets rather than merely lashed. Whether it is a workshop clearance, a machinery dealer or the relocation of a production line, your personal dispatcher coordinates dismantling interfaces, time slots and, in the case of oversized loads, permits. Nationwide from 147 cities and internationally to 55 countries, with our own offices in the Czech Republic and Turkey, and customs clearance on request.
Packaging & load securing
The machine is bolted onto a heavy-duty pallet or transport frame through its foundation holes, or lashed directly to defined lashing points with lashing chains or straps, load securing to VDI 2700 with a tight positive fit against the headboard and anti-slip mats. Moving axes are locked, operating fluids drained or secured, sensitive surfaces protected against corrosion with VCI film and against mechanical damage with timber crating.
What matters
- State the weight from the rating plate and the position of the centre of gravity, both determine the vehicle and the lifting gear
- Use the manufacturer's lifting and forklift points, never lift beneath the panelling
- Drain operating fluids (oil, coolant/lubricant) or plan for leak protection
- Lock moving parts and pack tools and accessories separately
- For export, arrange seaworthy packaging and VCI corrosion protection early
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Which machine, which vehicle, the weight classes
The vehicle and lifting equipment follow from the weight, dimensions and loading situation. Up to around 1.2 t and three load spaces, a Sprinter van with a tail lift or truck-mounted forklift is sufficient, typical for workshop machines, small compressors and pillar drills. Up to 3 t and ten pallets a 7.5 t truck will carry the load, up to 6 t a 12 t truck, both with an optional loading crane for loading without a ramp. Heavy machining centres, lathes and complete lines travel as FTL on a semi-trailer (up to 24 t, 13.6 loading metres); if the machine exceeds a height of 3.0 m, a width of 2.55 m or the permissible gross weight, it becomes a permit-required heavy or oversized transport, which we organise together with all conditions. What matters is the rating-plate weight, not the estimate, as it determines the lifting gear and axle load.
Load securing of machines in detail
Machines are top-heavy, often with a high centre of gravity, and must not shift. We secure them to VDI 2700 et seq.: a tight positive fit against the headboard, lashing down with lashing chains or straps of the appropriate LC rating at the lashing points defined by the manufacturer, plus anti-slip mats (µ ≥ 0.6) that reduce the required pre-tensioning effort. Machines at risk of tipping are bolted onto transport stands or heavy-duty pallets through their foundation holes, direct lashing rather than lashing down alone. We bring moving axes into their transport position and lock them, relieve the load on the spindle, and dismantle loose assemblies and stow them separately. Precision and measuring machines travel on air suspension so that their geometry and measuring equipment stay within the manufacturer's tolerances.
How machine shipping works
- You give us the rating-plate weight, dimensions, centre of gravity and the loading situation at the collection and destination points.
- We select the vehicle and lifting equipment and give you the fixed-price quote in 30 minutes.
- Preparation: secure operating fluids, lock the axes and, if required, apply seaworthy/VCI packaging.
- Loading with a forklift, crane or our loading crane/truck-mounted forklift.
- Secured transport to VDI 2700, with a permit and, if needed, an escort for oversized loads.
- Set-down at the destination at the agreed spot, with machine positioning on request. For workshop clearances and line relocations, your dispatcher coordinates the dismantling interfaces and time slots, so that from the first sling to the final set-down a single point of contact remains responsible.
What does it cost to ship a machine?
The price is provided in advance as a fixed price; as a guide, the per-kilometre rules of thumb apply (±15 % depending on the route, loading effort and return load): Sprinter van around €1.10/km (from €89), 7.5 t truck around €1.45/km (from €169), 12 t truck around €1.65/km (from €219), semi-trailer (FTL) around €1.95/km (from €379). A 900 kg machining centre from Munich to Hamburg (around 780 km) on the 7.5 t truck therefore falls roughly in the €1,050–1,300 range. Cost drivers are a loading crane/truck-mounted forklift when there is no forklift on site, air-suspension transport for precision machines, seaworthy packaging for export, plus the permit and escort vehicle for oversized loads. For machinery dealers with recurring runs, we set up fixed rates.
Machine weight, the right vehicle and loading
| Weight/dimensions | Example machine | Vehicle | Loading without a ramp |
|---|---|---|---|
| up to 1.2 t / up to 3 load spaces | Compressor, pillar drill | Sprinter van | Tail lift / truck-mounted forklift |
| up to 3 t / up to 10 pallets | Lathe, small machining centre | 7.5 t truck | Loading crane optional |
| up to 6 t | Milling machine, presses | 12 t truck | Loading crane |
| up to 24 t / 13.6 loading metres | Machining centre, production line | Semi-trailer (FTL), air-suspended | Crane on site / heavy load |
| Oversized > 3.0 m / 2.55 m / > gross weight | Large machine, gantry system | Heavy/oversized transport | permit-required, planned |
Shipping options compared
| Shipping option | When it makes sense | Transit time | Cost level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part load (consolidated) | one machine, flexible on timing, cost-focused | a few days (consolidated run) | cheapest option |
| Part load (LTL) | 1–3 load spaces, moderate urgency | 1–2 days | medium |
| Direct transport / FTL | urgent, sensitive or a full load | same/next day, without transhipment | higher, but fast and gentle |
| Express Sprinter van | small machine, immediate | a few hours | km-based, from €89 |
Frequently asked questions
What if there is no forklift at the collection or delivery point?
Then we provide the lifting equipment: vehicles with a loading crane lift machines up to the tonne range straight from the street, truck-mounted forklifts handle palletised units, and Sprinter vans with a tail lift take smaller machines. Just tell us the situation on site, the right solution is part of the fixed-price quote in 30 minutes.
How is a CNC machine protected against transport damage to the spindle and guideways?
The axes are moved into their transport position and mechanically locked, the spindle is relieved of load, and loose assemblies are dismantled. Transport is on air suspension, bolted onto a heavy-duty pallet and stowed with a tight positive fit, so that the geometry and measuring equipment stay within the manufacturer's tolerances.
What details does Logisticoo need for a binding quote?
The rating-plate weight (no estimate), the external dimensions, the approximate centre of gravity and the loading situation at both locations (forklift, crane, ramp or none of these). With that we select the vehicle, lifting gear and securing equipment and give you the fixed-price quote in 30 minutes. Photos of the machine and the lifting points speed up the calculation.
When does it become a permit-required heavy transport?
As soon as the machine together with the vehicle exceeds a height of 4.0 m, a width of 2.55 m or the permissible gross weight, or extends beyond the loading area as an indivisible load, a special permit under the German StVO/StVZO becomes necessary, in some cases with an escort vehicle. We organise the permit, route and escort and plan the transit time accordingly.
Can you ship machines abroad, including customs and export packaging?
Yes. We travel to 55 countries and, through our offices in the Czech Republic and Turkey, handle customs clearance on both sides. For overseas shipments we arrange seaworthy packaging with timber crating to IPPC/ISPM 15 and VCI corrosion protection, ideally enquire early so that the packaging and transit time fit together.
What does machine shipping cost and how is the price made up?
You receive a fixed price in advance. As a guide: Sprinter van around €1.10/km (from €89), 7.5 t truck around €1.45/km, semi-trailer around €1.95/km (from €379), each ±15 %. A 900 kg machining centre Munich–Hamburg comes to roughly €1,050–1,300. Loading crane, air-suspension transport, seaworthy packaging and oversized-load permits are itemised separately.