Loaders, dozers & graders

Shipping Wheel Loaders, Dozers and Graders Overseas

What it costs to ship a CAT 950 wheel loader, a D8 dozer or a 140 grader from the U.S. by RoRo, flat rack or breakbulk, priced by region from our cost model, with the weight limits, Saudi Arabia's age rule and the duty in six markets.

By the Seaway Export logistics team Updated October 2026 8 min read

from ⁦$7,300⁩

CAT 950 by RoRo to Saudi Arabia

39,500 kg

D8 dozer weight

15 years

Saudi age limit, used equipment

Size, weight and the methods that fit

A CAT 950 GC is 8.46 m long, 2.95 m wide and 3.46 m tall at 18.4 t; a CAT 140 grader is 9 m by 2.6 m by 3.35 m at 17 t. Both are self-propelled and well out of gauge, so RoRo is the default wherever it calls, with a flat rack or breakbulk where it does not.

A D8 dozer is another weight class: 39.5 t and 4.04 m wide over the blade. That is past what a 40′ flat rack takes on a tracked footprint, so it rolls aboard by RoRo, ⁦$9,700–14,800⁩ to Saudi Arabia, or ships breakbulk at ⁦$16,800–27,900⁩. Taking the blade and ripper off brings the width in for the road leg.

Wheel loader: articulation locked, bucket lowered; rolls on and off on its own tyres.
Grader: moldboard turned in line with the frame, articulation locked, ripper raised.
Large dozer: RoRo or breakbulk; blade and ripper can travel as separate pieces.

Class	Reference model	L × W × H (m)	m³	Weight (kg)	Methods
Medium wheel loader	Cat 950 GC¹	8.46 × 2.95 × 3.46	86.4	18,400	RoRo, driven or towed aboard · 40′ flat rack · Breakbulk
Large dozer (D8 class)	Cat D8¹	7.91 × 4.04 × 3.53	112.8	39,500	Breakbulk · RoRo, driven or towed aboard · 40′ flat rack
Motor grader	Cat 140¹	9 × 2.6 × 3.35	78.4	17,000	RoRo, driven or towed aboard · 40′ flat rack · Breakbulk

Sources^1,2

Price by region

Guatemala sets the Central & South America column for a loader at ⁦$5,100⁩, while Chile, at the far end of the same column, starts at ⁦$10,400⁩. Saudi Arabia starts at ⁦$7,300⁩, and West Africa and Australia cost the most because the sailings are longer.

Each cell is the lowest-priced method for that reference machine to the region's featured destinations, from a U.S. East or Gulf Coast port: the range runs from the published "from" price to the typical high. Port-to-port; the importer's side is separate.^{3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}

Reference machine	Central & South America	West Africa	UAE & Saudi Arabia	Australia
Medium wheel loaderCat 950 GC	⁦$5,100–7,800⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in GuatemalaModel estimate	⁦$9,400–15,100⁩40′ flat rackLowest in GhanaModel estimate	⁦$7,300–12,800⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in United Arab EmiratesModel estimate	⁦$9,500–15,800⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardModel estimate
Large dozer (D8 class)Cat D8	⁦$6,900–10,200⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in GuatemalaModel estimate	⁦$13,100–21,000⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in NigeriaModel estimate	⁦$9,700–16,300⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in United Arab EmiratesModel estimate	⁦$12,500–20,100⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardModel estimate
Motor graderCat 140	⁦$4,800–7,200⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in GuatemalaModel estimate	⁦$9,100–14,700⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in NigeriaModel estimate	⁦$6,700–11,900⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in United Arab EmiratesModel estimate	⁦$8,800–14,700⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardModel estimate

Every destination's equipment price, in one table

Sources^4,5,11

Every method on one lane

To Saudi Arabia RoRo is far ahead for all three machines: a grader at ⁦$6,700–10,400⁩ against ⁦$10,000–16,100⁩ on a flat rack. The dozer has no flat rack option at all, which is why breakbulk shows as its only alternative.

Saudi Arabia: port-to-port price by method^3,4,5,6,8,9

Reference machine	40′ flat rack	RoRo, driven or towed aboard	Breakbulk
Medium wheel loaderCat 950 GC	⁦$10,000–16,100⁩	⁦$7,300–11,300⁩lowest	⁦$12,700–21,700⁩
Large dozer (D8 class)Cat D8	Too heavy for this method	⁦$9,700–14,800⁩lowest	⁦$16,800–27,900⁩
Motor graderCat 140	⁦$10,000–16,100⁩	⁦$6,700–10,400⁩lowest	⁦$11,800–20,100⁩

Flat rack fit

The loader and the grader both fit a flat rack by weight but sit over its 2.44 m width and 2.25 m height, so each blocks the slots beside and above it. The D8 does not fit at all: past 30 t on tracks, the deck cannot spread the load, and the carrier turns it to RoRo or breakbulk.

Machines against a 40′ high-cube flat rack^2,12,13

Machine	W × H, m	Weight, kg	Over width	Over height	Lost slots	Flat rack
Medium wheel loaderCat 950 GC	2.95 × 3.46	18,400	Yes	Yes	5	Out of gauge
Motor graderCat 140	2.6 × 3.35	17,000	Yes	Yes	5	Out of gauge
Large dozer (D8 class)Cat D8	4.04 × 3.53	39,500	Yes	Yes	—	Too heavy: RoRo or breakbulk

Sources^2,12

Preparing it for the ship

1
Lock the articulation
Loaders and graders steer by bending in the middle. Fit the frame lock bar before the machine is driven aboard, so it cannot fold under lashing tension.
2
Bring the width in
Turn a grader's moldboard in line with the frame. On a D8, the blade and ripper can come off and ship as separate pieces, which can also avoid an oversize permit on the road to the port.
3
Clean it
Chile, Peru and Australia reject soil in the tyres, belly pans and radiator. Wash at origin and photograph the clean machine before it goes to the terminal.
4
Check the model year
For Saudi Arabia, a used machine must be no more than 15 years from its year of manufacture, and only a company registered in the equipment sector can import it. Confirm both before you buy at auction.

Sources^14,15,16,17

Where they ship and what it costs

Mines and quarries buy loaders and dozers in Chile, Peru and Australia; Saudi Arabia buys for construction under its age rule; Kazakhstan's machines land at Poti or Klaipėda and finish by rail; and Nigeria takes U.S. auction loaders through Lagos.

Medium wheel loader: lowest-priced method by destination

Chile^{4,5,6,3,18,19}⁦$10,400–16,700⁩by RoRo, driven or towed aboardDuty 6% · 0% U.S.-built (U.S.-Chile FTA)Country guide Price this route
Peru^{4,5,6,3,20,21}⁦$10,000–17,100⁩by 40′ flat rackDuty 0% · 0% U.S.-built (U.S.-Peru TPA)Country guide Price this route
Saudi Arabia^{4,5,6,3,8,9,22}⁦$7,300–11,300⁩by RoRo, driven or towed aboardDuty 5%Country guide Price this route
Kazakhstan^4,5,6,3,23⁦$8,200–13,000⁩by RoRo, driven or towed aboardDuty 5%Country guide Price this route
Nigeria^{4,5,6,3,24,25}⁦$9,500–15,300⁩by 40′ flat rackDuty 5%Country guide Price this route
Australia^{4,5,6,3,7,10,26}⁦$9,500–15,800⁩by RoRo, driven or towed aboardDuty 0% · 0% U.S.-built (AUSFTA)Country guide Price this route

Sources²⁷

Duty and import taxes

On a ⁦$140,000⁩ CIF loader, Saudi Arabia's 5% duty and 15% VAT come to ⁦$29,050⁩ and Kazakhstan's 5% duty with 16% VAT to ⁦$30,520⁩. Peru charges no duty, only IGV and IPM, ⁦$25,200⁩; Chile drops to ⁦$26,600⁩ for a U.S.-built machine with an FTA certificate.

A used machine for Saudi Arabia also needs a SABER shipment certificate before the vessel arrives and an inspection certificate from a SASO-approved body. Kazakhstan exempts used machines from EAEU conformity confirmation.

Duty and import taxes on a $140,000 CIF value

Country	Tariff line	Standard duty	U.S.-built	Taxes after duty	Total, standard	Total, U.S.-built	Status
Chile^18,19	8429.52	6%	0%U.S.-Chile FTA	IVA 19%	$36,596 (26.1%)	$26,600 (19%)	Read on the official tariff
Peru^20,21	8429.52	0%	0%U.S.-Peru TPA	IGV 16% · IPM 2%	$25,200 (18%)	$25,200 (18%)	Confirm with your broker
Saudi Arabia²²	8429.52	5%	no preference	VAT 15%	$29,050 (20.8%)	—	Confirm with your broker
Kazakhstan²³	8429.52	5%	no preference	VAT 16%	$30,520 (21.8%)	—	Confirm with your broker
Nigeria^24,25	8429.52	5%	no preference	Surcharge 7% of duty · CISS 1% of FOB · ECOWAS levy 0.5% · VAT 7.5%	$20,809 (14.9%)	—	Confirm with your broker
Australia^26,10	8429.52.10 / 8429.52.90	0%	0%AUSFTA	GST 10%	$14,000 (10%)	$14,000 (10%)	Read on the official tariff

Sources^22,28,29,20

Specs and loading records

Specifications, loading records and engineering for these machines are on our project cargo site, Seaway Project Cargo (English):

Prices on this page come from our boat and machinery cost model, reviewed October 26, 2026, the same figures as the rate hubs and the calculator. They are port-to-port and per unit; duty and the importer's side are shown separately.

Sources

1. Caterpillar machine specifications, Caterpillar (Manufacturer), accessed October 26, 2026
2. 40′ Flatrack High Cube: inside dimensions and payload, Hapag-Lloyd (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
3. Seaway Export lane rate card (destination pages), Seaway Export (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
4. RoRo bunker adjustment factor and high & heavy surcharges, Wallenius Wilhelmsen (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
5. RoRo surcharges and high & heavy acceptance, Höegh Autoliners (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
6. Vessel-operating common carriers: published tariffs, Federal Maritime Commission (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
7. Yacht transport sailing schedule and pricing guidance, Sevenstar Yacht Transport (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
8. Middle East and Red Sea situation: land bridge and booking status, Maersk (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
9. Customer Advisory 25-2026: Middle East situation update (UAE), CMA CGM (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
10. BICON: used machinery and vessel import conditions, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
11. MSX and USCX RoRo sailing schedule: U.S. East Coast to the west coast of South America, NYK RORO (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
12. Loading and lashing cargo on flatracks (over-width measurement), Hapag-Lloyd (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
13. Special cargo: flat racks, open tops and out-of-gauge acceptance, Hapag-Lloyd (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
14. Oversize and overweight load permits by state, Federal Highway Administration (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
15. Resolución 3103/2016: phytosanitary requirements for used machinery, Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG) (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
16. Cleanliness requirements for imported machinery, equipment and spare parts, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
17. Heavy equipment import requirements: age limit, eligible importers, banned conditions, SASO / SABER (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
18. Arancel Aduanero y TLC Chile–Estados Unidos, Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
19. U.S. free trade agreements: tariff schedules, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
20. Arancel de Aduanas, IGV, IPM y percepción, SUNAT (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
21. Régimen de percepciones del IGV a la importación: 10%, 5% (bienes usados), 3.5%, SUNAT (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
22. Customs tariff and VAT on imports, Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
23. EAEU Common Customs Tariff and import VAT, State Revenue Committee of Kazakhstan (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
24. ECOWAS CET 2022–2026 and import levies, Nigeria Customs Service (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
25. Nigeria announces 2026 fiscal and trade policy changes (CET national list, IAT), USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
26. Schedule 3, chapter 84: 8429.11 to 8429.59 rates, Australian Border Force (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
27. U.S. exports by partner across 15 heavy-machinery classes, 2024 and 2025 (UN Comtrade data), World Bank WITS (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
28. Technical Regulation for Machinery Safety, Part 2: mobile machinery and heavy-duty equipment, SASO (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
29. TR CU 010/2011 on the safety of machinery and equipment (Decision No. 823), Eurasian Economic Commission (Official), accessed October 26, 2026

Download the full model as open data

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a D8 dozer go on a flat rack?

Not as a whole machine. At 39.5 t on tracks it is past what a flat rack carries, so it goes RoRo, ⁦$13,600–21,300⁩ to Chile, or breakbulk. With the blade and ripper off it is lighter and narrower, but it still rolls on.

How old can a used loader be for Saudi Arabia?

No more than 15 years from its year of manufacture, not counting the current year. Flooded, burned, rolled-over machines and any with a damaged chassis are banned whatever their age.

How much does it cost to ship a wheel loader to Chile?

A CAT 950 runs ⁦$10,400–16,700⁩ by RoRo to San Antonio, port to port. On ⁦$140,000⁩ CIF a U.S.-built machine pays ⁦$26,600⁩ in IVA with an FTA certificate, or ⁦$36,596⁩ without one.

How does a loader reach Kazakhstan?

By sea to Poti in Georgia or Klaipėda in Lithuania, then by rail or across the Caspian. The ocean leg for a CAT 950 by RoRo is ⁦$8,200–13,000⁩; the inland leg is quoted per shipment.

Does a grader need any dismantling?

Usually not. The moldboard is turned in line with the frame, the articulation locked and the ripper raised. Mirrors, lights and a tall beacon may come off to keep it under the carrier's height band.