How to Ship an All-Terrain Crane: Permits, Trailers, and Disassembly Planning

All-Terrain Crane Overview

All-terrain cranes combine highway mobility (speeds up to 55 mph on multiple axles) with off-road capability. They range from 40-ton capacity units to 1,000-ton giants, with lifting heights up to 500 feet. Common manufacturers include Grove (Manitowoc), Liebherr, Tadano, and Terex.

For transport planning, the critical specs are:

• Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW): The crane's own weight, which determines whether it can legally self-propel or must be trucked
• Width: All-terrain cranes are typically 8–12 ft wide in transport configuration
• Height: Typically 12–14 ft in transport configuration
• Length: Varies by model; larger cranes may exceed 60–80 ft

Self-Propel vs. Trucking: When to Choose Each

All-terrain cranes can drive themselves, but trucking is often required or preferred:

• Self-propel is practical when: The move is under 200 miles, the crane's GVW is within state legal limits on the route, and the operator has the appropriate CDL and oversize permits for self-propelled movement
• Trucking is required or preferred when: The crane exceeds state GVW limits for self-propelled movement, the move is long-distance (over 200 miles), the route includes weight-restricted bridges, or the crane needs to be disassembled for transport anyway

Disassembly for Transport

Larger all-terrain cranes are typically broken into multiple loads for transport:

• Carrier (main body): The crane's chassis and engine. This is the heaviest component and often the widest. A Grove GMK5150 carrier weighs approximately 136,000 lbs and measures roughly 50 ft long, 8.5 ft wide, and 13.1 ft tall.
• Superstructure: The rotating upper body with the cab and hoist. Transported separately on a flatbed or step deck.
• Boom sections: The main boom and fly sections are transported on flatbeds. Boom sections can be 60–100 ft long, requiring oversize length permits.
• Counterweights: Heavy steel plates, typically 5,000–50,000 lbs each. Transported on flatbeds.
• Outrigger pads and accessories: Often consolidated on one flatbed load.

Trailer Selection for All-Terrain Crane Components

• Multi-axle RGN (for carrier): The crane carrier often exceeds 100,000 lbs and requires a multi-axle RGN or specialized heavy-haul trailer. Superload permits required.
• Flatbed (48 ft or 53 ft): Used for boom sections, counterweights, and accessories.
• Step Deck: Used for the superstructure if height requires a lower deck.

Permit Requirements for All-Terrain Crane Transport

All-terrain crane moves are among the most permit-intensive in heavy haul:

• Carrier loads typically exceed 80,000 lbs GVW — overweight permits required in every state
• Widths over 8.5 ft require oversize permits; widths over 14 ft require route surveys
• Superloads (over 120,000 lbs or over 16 ft wide) require engineering review — allow 5–10 business days for permit processing
• Boom sections over 53 ft long require length permits
• Escort vehicle requirements scale with dimensions: front escort for 12–14 ft wide; front and rear for over 14 ft wide; police escort may be required for superloads in some states

Cost Factors for All-Terrain Crane Transport

All-terrain crane moves are priced per load, not per crane:

• A typical 100-ton all-terrain crane may require 4–6 separate loads (carrier, superstructure, boom sections, counterweights)
• Each load is priced independently based on dimensions, weight, and distance
• Superload permit fees can run $1,000–$5,000 per state for the carrier load
• Escort vehicles: $500–$1,500/day per vehicle; superloads may require 2–4 escorts
• Total move cost for a 100-ton crane over 500 miles: $20,000–$60,000+ depending on configuration

IronHaul Logistics has experience coordinating multi-load crane moves nationwide. Call (208) 495-2260, email [email protected], or use our online quote form to discuss your crane transport needs.