Commercial Truck Shipping for Heavy Trucks and Fleets
You need to export a tractor unit, a dump truck, a fire engine, or a full fleet of buses, and you need each unit loaded, shipped, and cleared without it sitting on a dock for weeks. Texas International Freight ships heavy commercial trucks from Houston and other US ports worldwide by roll-on roll-off, on flat rack, and as breakbulk, with the export filing and title work handled by one team.
Our work is commercial and vocational equipment: the trucks that haul, dump, pump, and carry people for a living. We do not ship personal cars. What does your fleet look like, and where does it need to go?
Heavy Trucks and Commercial Vehicles We Ship
We move on-highway commercial vehicles of every class, one unit or a full fleet. Typical cargo includes:
- Tractor units and day cabs, with or without their trailers
- Dump trucks, concrete mixers, and roll-off trucks
- Fire apparatus such as pumpers, aerial ladder trucks, and tankers
- Transit buses, school buses, and coaches
- Water, fuel, and vacuum trucks for oilfield and mining camps
- Utility, boom, and service trucks
Pulling a trailer behind that tractor? Trailers often ship on the same booking, and our semi-trailer shipping team handles lowboys, flatbeds, tankers, and reefers. Off-road units such as the articulated dump truck and the mining haul truck move as heavy breakbulk under their own plans.
Choosing the Right Shipping Method
Roll-on roll-off
A running truck usually moves by roll-on roll-off. A driver takes it up the ramp and the crew secures it on a vehicle deck. RoRo carriers treat tall and heavy units such as fire apparatus, buses, and tractors as high and heavy cargo, so the booking depends on the dimensions and weight you give us. Accurate numbers keep the unit from being rolled to a later sailing.
Flat rack and breakbulk
A truck that does not run, or a route with no RoRo service, calls for a flat rack or breakbulk loading. The unit is lifted aboard, then blocked, braced, and lashed. Wide bodies, oversized aerial ladders, and damaged units often take this path.
Container
Smaller service trucks and dismantled units can fit in a 40 foot container. You gain protection from weather and theft, and the unit travels on the regular container network to inland destinations.
Preparing a Commercial Truck for Export
Carriers and terminals set rules for how a vehicle arrives at the port. Plan for these steps before the truck leaves your yard:
- Run the fuel level down to the limit the carrier sets for the voyage.
- Secure or disconnect the batteries as the carrier instructs.
- Remove loose tools, hoses, and personal items from cabs and compartments.
- Wash the underside, wheels, and body if the destination enforces biosecurity rules.
- Record the dimensions and weight of each unit, including mirrors, ladders, and booms.
A clean, documented unit clears faster and avoids storage charges at the far end. We send you the carrier and destination checklist before the truck reaches the terminal.
US Export Rules for Self-Propelled Vehicles
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) treats every self-propelled vehicle as a controlled export. You provide the original title or a certified copy. The shipment is filed in the Automated Export System (AES) with each vehicle identification number, and the vehicle and its documents go to CBP at the port of export at least 72 hours before departure. Missing titles and liens are the most common causes of delay, so send us the paperwork early.
We prepare the AES filing, the commercial invoice, and the bill of lading, and our customs broker team coordinates clearance at destination. Have you confirmed that the buyer’s country accepts the age and emissions standard of your units? We check import rules with our destination partners before you commit to a sale.
Fleet Moves to Mexico, Canada, and Overseas
Many truck exports never touch a ship. Units bound for Mexico can move by road through the Texas border crossings with our trucking to Mexico service, and our Mexico freight team coordinates the import side. Fleets heading north use our shipping to Canada network. For overseas fleets, we book RoRo or breakbulk space and arrange inland trucking from your yard to the load port, so every unit moves on one plan.
Ready to move your trucks? Call +1 877-489-9184, email ship@txintlfreight.com, or send the unit list through our contact page for a quote from our Houston office at 11511 Katy Fwy #320, Houston, TX 77079.
Commercial Truck Shipping FAQ
What kinds of commercial trucks do you ship?
We ship tractor units, dump trucks, concrete mixers, fire apparatus, buses, water and fuel trucks, and utility and boom trucks, from one unit to a full fleet. Off-road units such as articulated dump trucks and mining haul trucks ship as heavy breakbulk. We do not ship personal cars.
How does a fire truck or bus ship overseas?
A running fire engine or bus usually ships by roll-on roll-off as high and heavy cargo, driven aboard and lashed on a vehicle deck. A unit that does not run, or a route without RoRo service, moves on flat rack or as breakbulk. We book space from the exact length, height, width, and weight.
What documents does a truck export need?
You need the original title or a certified copy, a commercial invoice, and a bill of lading. The export is filed in the Automated Export System with each vehicle identification number, and the vehicle and documents are presented to CBP at the port at least 72 hours before departure.
Can you ship a tractor unit together with its trailer?
Yes. A tractor and its lowboy, flatbed, or tanker trailer can ship on the same booking. Coupled units often move by RoRo, while a heavy lowboy carrying construction equipment may ship as breakbulk, with the excavator or dozer secured on the deck beside it.
Can you move a fleet of trucks to Mexico or Canada?
Yes. Fleets of dump trucks or oilfield service trucks often move to Mexico by road through the Texas border crossings, and units for Canadian mining or energy projects travel by road or rail. We handle the export filings and coordinate with customs brokers on the import side.
