Concrete Mixers & Cement Pump Trucks Shipping Guide
Concrete mixers and pump trucks move between job sites, buyers, and dealers on lowboy and RGN trailers, not under their own power, and for good reason: hauling saves the drivetrain hours, avoids jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction permit driving, and delivers the machine ready to work. Whether the truck is heading across the state, across the country, or overseas to markets in Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, or the Middle East, the process is the same: pick an experienced hauler, prepare the truck, document its condition, and let the carrier handle the securement and routing. Here is how to go about it:
Select an Experienced Shipping Company
Concrete equipment punishes inexperience: mixers are tall, top-heavy, and heavy, and pump trucks add boom overhangs that change the whole securement plan. Talk logistics with the company before booking, especially if you are moving several units. Ask directly about their concrete-equipment experience, and get answers to:
- Do you have insurance coverage?
- Does your company ship internationally?
- What is the expected delivery date?
- What are the charges, and are there extra charges?
Why Choose a Shipping Company?
The obvious reason is that someone else handles the logistics: permits, routing, securement, and scheduling. The practical reasons are just as strong:
- Keeping the concrete mixers and cement pump trucks in shape: Driving these trucks cross-country means crossing jurisdictions with different rules, burning engine hours, and adding miles that come straight off the resale value. On a trailer, the odometer and the hour meter stay where they were.
- Driver time and safety: A mixer is a work tool, not a road-trip vehicle. Long hauls in a vocational truck are exhausting for whoever you send and take that person away from the job site for days. Carriers run these routes professionally, under hours-of-service rules, with equipment built for the distance.
The Cost
As a general estimate, heavy truck shipping starts around $2 per loaded mile and rises with the machine’s specifications. The final price depends on:
- Weight: A 10-ton truck costs meaningfully less to haul than a 30-plus-ton loaded mixer, which may need a multi-axle trailer and permits.
- Shipping distance: Short hauls carry the highest per-mile rates while long routes cost more in total but less per mile. Either way, the trailer beats adding those miles and hours to the machine itself.
- Weather: Spring and summer moves run predictably; winter routes can close or slow, which delays deliveries and firms prices. If you need the machine on site by a hard date in winter, book early and build in margin.
Preparing Concrete Mixers and Cement Pump Trucks for Transportation
Depending on the move, the mixer drum ships mounted or separately, and the carrier plans that with you in advance. If you are a seller shipping a new or used cement pump truck to a buyer, this checklist gets it there in one piece:
Wash and Clean the Truck
Washing is how dents, dings, paint chips, and scratches become visible, which makes the pickup condition report accurate. Clean out the cab, knock off the dried concrete, and remove any accessories the new owner has not paid for.
Pictures
Photograph everything after cleaning and before handing the truck to the carrier: all angles, the drum or boom, and any existing damage, with time stamps. That record is what settles any question about transit damage quickly and in your favor.
Think about the Rust
On open transport the truck rides through weather, dust, and road spray. Ask the shipping company which anti-rust protection makes sense for your machine and route, especially for coastal deliveries or winter lanes where road salt is in play.
Conclusion
Shipping concrete equipment comes down to four moves: choose an experienced, insured hauler, clean the truck, document its condition, and protect it for the route. With extended lowboy trailers and stacking options, we handle the rest, including the permits and routing that mixers and pump trucks require.
SAC has been in the transport business for over a decade and we make our experience work for you. Contact an experienced heavy haul transport representative at Ship A Car, Inc. today by calling (866) 452-3657.
