Low Cost, Coast to Coast Transport for Dozers, Loaders, Backhoes, and Skid Steers
Earth moving tractor covers the machines that push, dig, and carry dirt: bulldozers, track and wheel loaders, backhoe loaders, skid steers, and motor graders. For transport, the class splits by weight. Skid steers and compact track loaders in the 3,000 to 12,000 pound range ride flatbeds or hot shot goosenecks. Backhoes and mid-size loaders at 15,000 to 30,000 pounds usually load onto step decks or lowboys. Full-size dozers, graders, and wheel loaders from 35,000 to 100,000 pounds and up move on lowboy or RGN trailers, often with oversize permits for width. Shipping a farm or utility tractor instead? Start at our tractor shipping page.
Drivable machines walk onto the trailer under their own power: the detachable neck of an RGN gives a full-width, low-angle path for tracked machines, while ramps handle rubber-tired loaders and backhoes. Dead machines need a winch or crane, so tell us up front if the unit does not run. On the deck, federal securement rules apply: machines over 10,000 pounds get a minimum of four rated chain tie-downs at the frame or track points, and articulated machines are locked so they cannot pivot in transit. Blades, buckets, and rippers are lowered to the deck and chained separately.
Bulldozers, track loaders, backhoes, and skid steers all load and ride differently; we match the trailer to the machine, not the other way around.
A 6,000 pound skid steer rides a hot shot or flatbed; a 45,000 pound dozer needs a lowboy or RGN. Your quote is built on the real weight and dimensions of the machine, so the right truck shows up the first time.
Many earth movers exceed the 8 foot 6 inch legal width, so state oversize permits are part of the job, not a surprise. We pull the permits, plan a compliant route, and arrange escorts when a state requires them, and those costs are in your quote before dispatch, not added at delivery.
The quote is only as good as the numbers behind it, so measure the machine you are shipping instead of guessing from a spec sheet. Confirm operating weight with attachments mounted, overall height to the top of the ROPS or exhaust, width across the blade, bucket, or tracks, and length with everything attached. One inch over 8 feet 6 inches wide moves the load from legal to permitted, so those measurements decide the trailer, the permits, and the price.
Before pickup, knock the heavy mud off the tracks and undercarriage; several states inspect machines for soil and plant material, and a clean machine is easier to chain and check over. Lower the blade or bucket, remove or secure loose attachments and keys, photograph the machine from all four sides, and leave roughly a quarter tank of fuel for loading and unloading. If the machine has a battery disconnect or security lockout, show the driver how it works at pickup.
Width is the usual trigger: anything over 8 feet 6 inches needs state permits, and machines much past 12 feet wide start picking up escort requirements that vary state to state. Very heavy units are sometimes cheaper to move partially dismantled, with the blade or counterweight hauled on a second deck. For mining-class machines and multi-load projects, see our oversized heavy equipment service, and let your coordinator run the numbers both ways before you book.
Have the weight, dimensions, and both ZIP codes ready, plus whether the machine runs and what loading help exists on each end. Your dedicated coordinator confirms the right trailer, pulls any permits, and stays your single point of contact from dispatch to delivery. Start with the freight shipping cost calculator or call (866) 821-4555 for a firm quote with no deposit required to book.
