Excavator transport Canada is the specialized hauling of tracked digging machines — from compact mini units to full-size large excavators — on flatdeck, step-deck or RGN trailers to job sites across the country. Red Foot Haulers has moved equipment within Canada since 2016, backed by 700+ reviews, commercial cargo insurance and written condition reports. Coverage is Canada-wide. To get a quote, you'll need your machine's make and model, its loaded weight and dimensions, and the pickup and delivery locations.
Excavator Transport Across Canada
Excavators are among the most common machines we move, and they cover an enormous size range. A mini excavator weighing a few tonnes with a narrow track gauge is a completely different transport problem than a large excavator with wide tracks, a long boom and a counterweight that pushes the whole load into oversize territory. Getting the right trailer under the machine is the first decision, and it drives everything that follows — permits, escorts, route and schedule. Excavator hauling is one piece of the broader heavy equipment transport Canada service we run, and the same principles of accurate dimensions and careful securement apply across every machine class.
The core question is deck height and total weight. Excavators are tall and heavy, and every centimetre of deck height matters because it adds directly to the loaded height that determines whether you clear bridges and overpasses. A flatdeck sits high off the ground, which is fine for small, low machines. Step-decks drop the deck lower to buy back height for taller loads. An RGN (removable gooseneck) sits lowest of all and lets the machine drive on from ground level, which is why the largest excavators almost always ride on an RGN. Choosing correctly keeps you legal, avoids re-routes, and often reduces or eliminates the need for height permits.
Choosing the Right Trailer
Trailer selection comes down to how tall and heavy the loaded machine is, how wide the tracks sit, and how the boom and bucket are positioned on the deck. Lowering and folding the boom, and positioning the bucket correctly, can drop the loaded height enough to change which trailer class you need. When weight or height rules out flatdeck and step-deck, the answer is a lowboy RGN trailer transport Canada setup that carries the machine low and lets it load under its own power.
| Trailer | Best for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Flatdeck | Mini and small excavators | Simple to load and secure when the machine is short and light enough that the high deck still clears height limits. |
| Step-deck | Mid-size excavators | The lower deck level recovers height clearance for taller machines that would be oversize on a flatdeck. |
| RGN / lowboy | Large and heavy excavators | Lowest deck height and a detachable gooseneck let the machine drive on from ground level, keeping tall, heavy loads within reach of legal height. |
Practical details shift the decision too. Track width determines whether the machine sits within legal deck width or triggers an oversize flag. Boom position — folded down and back versus left extended — changes loaded length and height. Whether the bucket stays mounted or ships separately affects both width and how the load balances on the deck. We work all of this out from your photos and measured dimensions before committing to a trailer.
What Your Quote Depends On
We do not publish a flat per-kilometre rate for excavator transport, because the same distance can carry very different requirements depending on the machine and the route. Instead, here are the real drivers of your quote and how each one moves the number.
| Driver | How it moves your quote |
|---|---|
| Distance | Longer hauls cost more through fuel, driver hours and time the trailer is committed to your load. |
| Trailer class | Flatdeck is the simplest and most economical; step-deck and especially RGN carry higher cost because of the specialized equipment and handling involved. |
| Weight | Heavier machines can require more axles, tighter routing and overweight permits, all of which raise the price. |
| Width / height / length | Once loaded dimensions cross oversize thresholds, permits and escorts are added and the route may get longer. |
| Runs under own power | A machine that drives and steers onto the deck loads quickly; one that must be winched or craned adds labour, equipment and time. |
| Season | Winter conditions, seasonal road bans and demand peaks affect scheduling and cost. |
| Escorts / permits | Oversize or overweight loads may need provincial permits and pilot vehicles, each adding cost. |
| Distance from a highway-capable road | Sites deep off the highway on rough or narrow access take more time and may need specialized handling to reach. |
For excavators specifically, the factors that most often dominate are loaded weight, loaded height and track width — the combination that decides whether you're on a flatdeck at legal dimensions or on an RGN with permits and escorts. Distance matters, but for a large machine the trailer class and oversize status usually swing the quote more than the kilometres do.
Permits and Escorts
When a loaded excavator crosses oversize or overweight limits, the move needs provincial permits, and in some cases pilot (escort) vehicles to accompany the load. The thresholds that trigger these requirements differ from province to province and even by the specific highways used on the route, so there is no single number that applies everywhere. Rather than guess, we confirm the exact requirements for your route before quoting, using your loaded dimensions and the roads the trip will actually use.
The dimensions that commonly determine whether permits and escorts are needed are:
- Overall width — usually driven by the machine's track gauge or a mounted bucket.
- Overall height — the deck height plus the machine and its boom position.
- Overall length — including the boom if it extends past the deck.
- Axle weights — how the machine's weight distributes across the trailer's axles.
Because these thresholds vary by jurisdiction and highway, the safest path is always to measure the loaded machine accurately and let us verify against the route. That is why complete photos and honest dimensions up front save time later.
Preparing an Excavator for Hauling
Good preparation makes loading faster, safer and cheaper. Before pickup, we ask that you take these steps:
- Clean the tracks and undercarriage — packed mud, rock and debris add weight, can fall onto the highway, and hide the machine's true condition.
- Secure loose parts — latch cab doors, close and lock covers, and stow anything that could shift or blow off in transit.
- Remove or fold attachments as advised — thumbs, quick couplers and buckets may come off or be repositioned to bring the load within width and height; we'll tell you what's needed for your machine.
- Take photos from all sides — front, back, both sides and the undercarriage. These support the condition report and help us confirm the right trailer.
- Note site access — gate widths, ground firmness, overhead obstructions and how far the machine sits from a highway-capable road all affect loading.
- Tell us whether it runs and steers — a machine that drives and steers under its own power loads onto the deck directly; one that doesn't needs winching or craning arranged in advance.
We document the machine's condition with written condition reports and photos at pickup and delivery, so both sides have a clear record. This is part of how we've kept 700+ reviews since 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you haul a mini excavator and a large excavator the same way?
The process is similar, but deck class and permits change with weight and width. Mini excavators often fit a standard flatdeck; larger machines more often need step-deck or RGN.
Should the bucket stay on for transport?
Often yes if it is secure and within width; sometimes it ships separately. We confirm from photos and dimensions.
Do excavator moves need oversize permits?
Sometimes — wide tracks, tall boom configurations or heavy axle loads can trigger permits and escorts. Thresholds vary by province and highway, so we confirm against your loaded dimensions before quoting.
Do you transport heavy equipment to or from the United States?
No. Red Foot Haulers moves equipment within Canada only. Cross-border hauls involve customs and different permitting we do not handle.
Other popular routes: tractor transport Canada, lowboy RGN trailer transport Canada and heavy equipment transport Ontario.