How to Ship a Vacuum Excavator (Vac Truck): Dimensions, Weight, and Transport Requirements

Vacuum Excavator Types and Transport Configurations

Understanding which type of vacuum excavator you're shipping determines the transport method:

• Truck-mounted vac trucks: These are self-propelled units built on commercial chassis (Kenworth, Peterbilt, International). They drive under their own power and are typically transported by driving them to the destination or loading them on a lowboy/RGN for long-distance moves where driver availability or DOT hours are a constraint.
• Trailer-mounted vacuum excavators: These units are towed by a separate truck. For long-distance transport, they are typically loaded onto a flatbed or step-deck trailer rather than towed, to avoid excessive wear on the trailer's running gear.

Dimensions and Weight

Vacuum excavator specifications vary widely by manufacturer and tank size:

• Length: 25–35 feet for truck-mounted units (e.g., Vermeer VXT300: 31 feet)
• Width: 96–102 inches (8–8.5 feet) — most units are at or just over the 8'6" legal limit
• Height: 11–13 feet (e.g., Vermeer VXT300: 11.5 feet)
• Empty weight: 30,000–35,000 lbs for large industrial units
• GVWR: 66,000–68,000 lbs for large units like the Vermeer VXT300

Critical weight note: The debris tank must be empty before transport. A full debris tank can add 10,000–20,000 lbs to the vehicle weight, pushing it well over legal limits. The water tank should also be drained or reduced to the minimum required for the transport move. Even 100–200 gallons of water adds 830–1,660 lbs to the unit.

Permit Requirements

Most large truck-mounted vac trucks fall into a gray area: they may be within legal weight limits when empty (under 80,000 lbs GVW) but exceed legal width (8'6") due to the body width of 96–102 inches. Width permits are required in most states for units over 8'6" wide. If the unit is loaded on a trailer for transport, the combined weight of the trailer and vac truck must be calculated carefully to stay within axle weight limits.

• Width permit: required if unit exceeds 8'6" wide (most large units)
• Height permit: required if transport height exceeds 13'6" (federal) or state limit
• Overweight permit: required if GVW exceeds 80,000 lbs

Loading and Securement

When loading a trailer-mounted vac excavator onto a flatbed or step-deck for transport:

1. Confirm the debris tank is completely empty and clean — carriers may refuse to load units with debris or hazardous material in the tank.
2. Drain the water tank to the minimum level needed for the move.
3. Retract all hose booms and secure them in their transport positions.
4. Engage all travel locks and parking brakes.
5. Use a minimum of four tie-downs at manufacturer-designated lashing points per 49 CFR 393.130.

Common Shipping Scenarios

Vacuum excavators are frequently shipped in these situations:

• Auction purchases: Contractors buy used vac trucks at Ritchie Bros, IronPlanet, or Purple Wave and need them delivered to their yard or job site.
• Fleet relocation: Underground utility contractors moving equipment between multi-state project sites.
• Dealer-to-dealer transfers: Used equipment dealers moving inventory between locations.
• Export: Used vac trucks are in high demand internationally; export-bound units are shipped to port cities like Houston, Savannah, or Baltimore.

Get a Quote for Your Vacuum Excavator Transport

IronHaul Logistics ships vacuum excavators and hydrovac trucks nationwide. We handle permit applications, trailer sourcing, and door-to-door delivery. Call (208) 495-2260, email [email protected], or fill out our online quote form with your unit's make, model, dimensions, and pickup/delivery locations.