Shipping Feller Bunchers From Houston to Forestry Operations Worldwide
A feller buncher cuts and gathers trees in a single pass, which makes it one of the heaviest and most awkward machines on any logging site. Moving one to a remote operation means handling a high boom, a heavy felling head, and a track or wheel base that rarely fits a standard box. How do you get it there without damage, downtime, or a customs hold?
Texas International Freight moves wheeled and tracked feller bunchers from Houston to forestry operations across the Americas, Europe, and beyond. We match the machine to the right method, prepare the export paperwork, and arrange the biosecurity cleaning that forestry equipment needs at the border.
Why Feller Bunchers Are Hard to Move
Size and weight set the first limit. A wheeled drive-to-tree machine can run 20,000 to 35,000 pounds, while a large tracked unit with a leveling boom and a disc saw head can pass 60,000 pounds. The boom and head raise the loaded height beyond standard deck and container clearance, so many units travel as out-of-gauge cargo. The articulation joint, the saw head, and the hydraulic lines each need protection before the machine moves.
Wheeled and Tracked Machines Ship Differently
Wheeled drive-to-tree feller bunchers roll on rubber tires and load under their own power, which suits roll-on roll-off service. Tracked machines built for steep or soft ground carry a leveling cab and a longer boom, and their width and height often push them onto breakbulk berths. Our team handles both alongside the rest of your fleet, from forestry equipment to a wheel loader on the same booking.
Shipping Methods That Fit the Machine
Self-propelled units move by roll-on roll-off, where the machine drives onto the vessel and gets lashed in place. Oversized tracked units ship as breakbulk cargo on flat rack or open-top equipment, lifted aboard by crane. A smaller machine can travel in a box only after the head and boom come off, so container shipping fits compact models rather than full-size harvesters. For a crew sending several machines to one site, vessel charter keeps the whole move on one schedule.
Preparing a Feller Buncher for Transport
Preparation protects the machine and the timeline. Our crews remove or secure the felling head, lower and lock the boom, drain or secure fluids to the carrier limits, disconnect the battery, and lock the articulation joint against movement. Wood crating for the head and loose parts follows ISPM-15 marking rules, and proper export packing and crating guards the saw teeth and hydraulics in transit. We photograph and log existing damage so the condition report holds up at delivery.
Where Forestry Operators Ship Feller Bunchers
Forestry runs on the same machines worldwide, so used and new feller bunchers move between the major timber regions. From Houston we route units to Canada, Brazil, and Chile across the Americas, and to the Nordic timber belt in Sweden and Finland. Which port sits closest to your landing or dealer yard shapes the routing and the cost.
Compliance and Biosecurity at the Border
Forestry equipment draws extra scrutiny because soil, bark, and seeds travel with it. Australia and New Zealand hold used machines to strict quarantine cleaning, and many other countries inspect for plant pests before release. A feller buncher that arrives with packed mud in the tracks risks a cleaning order and a delay. We arrange pressure washing and inspection-ready cleaning before the unit sails, and we file the export and import paperwork that keeps customs moving.
Working With a Houston Freight Forwarder
Texas International Freight books vessel space, prepares your export filing, arranges the biosecurity cleaning, and coordinates inland heavy haul from the dealer or job site to the Houston terminal. The same desk runs your wider equipment program, from heavy equipment shipped overseas to multi-unit project logistics. You work with one team from pickup to final delivery.
Get Your Feller Buncher Shipment Booked
Texas International Freight handles wheeled and tracked feller bunchers, forestry attachments, and oversized machinery bound for forestry operations worldwide. Send us the make, model, loaded dimensions, weight, and delivery point, and we return a routing and a quote.
Phone: +1 877-489-9184
Email: ship@txintlfreight.com
Address: 11511 Katy Fwy #320, Houston, TX 77079
Web Form: Request a Quote
Can a feller buncher ship by roll-on roll-off?
Yes, for self-propelled units. A wheeled drive-to-tree feller buncher drives onto the vessel under its own power and gets lashed to the deck, which keeps handling simple. Many tracked machines also roll on, though a tall leveling boom or a wide track gauge can push a large unit onto a breakbulk berth instead. We confirm the loaded dimensions against the service before booking.
Do you remove the felling head before shipping?
Often, yes. The disc saw or shear head adds height, weight, and exposed cutting edges, so removing it lowers the shipping profile and protects the teeth. On a full-size machine the head and sometimes the boom come off and travel crated, which can bring an oversized unit back within roll-on roll-off or flat rack limits. Smaller machines may ship intact when the dimensions allow.
How do you ship a feller buncher that will not fit in a container?
Most full-size feller bunchers move as breakbulk on flat rack or open-top equipment, lifted aboard by crane and secured with chains and blocking. A large tracked harvester with a high boom ships this way rather than in a standard box. For several machines bound for one operation, vessel charter and project logistics keep the move on a single plan and schedule.
What cleaning does a feller buncher need before export?
Used forestry machines must arrive free of soil, bark, and plant material, because customs and agriculture agencies inspect for pests at many destinations. Australia and New Zealand apply strict quarantine cleaning standards, and a machine with mud in the tracks can draw a cleaning order on arrival. We arrange pressure washing and inspection-ready cleaning before the unit sails so it clears without a quarantine hold.
Which documents does an exported feller buncher need?
Your set covers the commercial invoice, the packing list, the bill of lading or the roll-on roll-off receipt, and Electronic Export Information filed in the Automated Export System for shipments above the reporting threshold. The machine gets a Schedule B classification, and wood crating carries ISPM-15 marking. We prepare the filing and match it to the destination import rules.
