What does it cost to move heavy equipment?

Moving a heavy machine isn't priced like a car tow. The number depends on weight, size, how far it's going, and whether the load needs a permit. A skid steer across the county is one thing. An excavator that has to run down the interstate on a lowboy is another. Give us the machine and the two addresses and we'll work up a real quote, but here's what goes into it.

Weight and dimensions come first

Every trailer and truck has a rating, and every machine has a weight and a footprint. A compact skid steer fits on a standard trailer with room to spare. A full-size excavator or dozer needs a heavy lowboy, and once the load gets wide, tall, or heavy enough, the state requires a permit and sometimes an escort. Permits and escorts cost money, and they take time to arrange, so they factor into both the price and the schedule.

Distance and access

Like any haul, the miles matter. A move between two job sites in Charleston County costs less than a run up I-95 or across to the coast. Access matters too. If we can drive straight onto a graded pad, loading is quick. If the machine is stuck in a soft field, sitting in a ditch, or wedged somewhere tight, that's closer to a recovery job, and it takes more rigging and time.

The type of load

Machinery, construction equipment, containers, and boats each ride differently and strap down differently. Some need special care so nothing shifts or gets damaged in transit. A crew that hauls this stuff every week knows how to chain it down right, which is worth more than a cheap quote from someone who's guessing.

What should you have ready when you call? The make and model of the machine or its weight and rough dimensions, where it is now, where it's going, and when you need it there. With that, we can give you an honest price and an honest timeline. We won't lowball you to win the job and then pad the bill, and we won't promise a date we can't hold.

Contractors, dealers, and property managers who move equipment regularly usually set up a commercial account with us so it's one call every time. Whether it's a single machine or a standing arrangement, call (843) 813-6335 and tell us what you're moving.