Industrial Motor and Engine Shipping for Heavy Machinery
You need to ship a large electric motor, a diesel or gas engine, or a complete generator set, and the unit is heavy, precise, and easy to damage. Moisture, vibration, and a shaft that shifts in its bearings can ruin a machine that looks fine from the outside. Texas International Freight ships industrial motors and engines from Houston worldwide in containers, on flat rack, and as breakbulk, with export crating and customs handled by one team.
What is on your order: one rebuilt engine for a mine site, or a full set of motors for a new plant?
Motors and Engines We Ship
Plants, rebuild shops, and equipment dealers ship a wide range of rotating equipment through our desk:
- Large low-voltage and medium-voltage electric motors from makers such as Siemens, ABB, and WEG
- Diesel and natural gas engines from Caterpillar, Cummins, and Waukesha
- Generator sets and alternators
- Marine propulsion engines and locomotive prime movers
- Drilling rig engines, mud pump motors, and compressor drivers
Motors and engines often travel with the machines they drive. We also ship gas compressor packages, turbines, transformers, and centrifugal pumps on the same booking when your project calls for it.
Choosing the Right Shipping Method
Container freight
Crated and skidded units that fit inside a box ship by container shipping, as a single unit or a consolidated lot. Containers keep the machine out of the weather and reduce handling.
Flat rack and breakbulk
A large genset, a slow-speed marine engine, or a big motor on its baseplate can exceed container height, width, or weight. Those units ship on flat rack or as breakbulk on a multipurpose vessel, lifted from the quay by their certified lift points.
Air freight
When a mine or a platform sits idle waiting on a replacement engine, downtime costs more than freight. Smaller engines and critical spares can move by air freight within aircraft size and weight limits.
Crating and Protection for Rotating Equipment
Motors and engines are damaged more often by preparation mistakes than by rough seas. Our export packing crews build crates around the risks that matter:
- Vapor corrosion inhibitor wrap and desiccant to stop rust on machined faces
- Shaft and rotor locks so bearings do not brinell under vibration
- Skids and blocking matched to the unit’s weight and center of gravity
- Clear lift points, tilt indicators, and handling marks
Engines should arrive with fuel and coolant drained to the levels the carrier allows. Do you have the maker’s shipping instructions? Send them, and we build the crate to match.
Export Documents and Inland Haul
A motor or engine export needs a commercial invoice, a packing list, and a bill of lading. The unit is classified under the correct Schedule B number, and the Electronic Export Information is filed in the Automated Export System when a line is valued over $2,500 or needs a license. Our customs broker team prepares the set and coordinates clearance at destination.
Many orders go north or south by road. Engines and gensets for mines and energy projects in Mexico move with our trucking to Mexico service, and our shipping to Canada team handles units bound for Canadian sites. Multi-unit orders run as coordinated project logistics.
Ready to Ship Your Motor or Engine?
Send us the unit details and destination, and our Houston team returns a plan and a quote for your industrial motor or engine shipment.
Phone: +1 877-489-9184
Email: ship@txintlfreight.com
Address: 11511 Katy Fwy #320, Houston, TX 77079
Frequently Asked Questions About Industrial Motor and Engine Shipping
What motors and engines do you ship?
We ship large electric motors, diesel and natural gas engines, generator sets, alternators, marine engines, and drilling rig engines, from single crated units to full plant orders. We also ship the compressors, pumps, and turbines they drive.
How does a large engine or genset ship overseas?
Crated units that fit a box ship in containers. A large genset or slow-speed marine engine that exceeds container limits ships on flat rack or as breakbulk on a multipurpose vessel, lifted by its certified lift points like other heavy machinery and oil rig components.
How do you protect a motor from damage in transit?
We wrap machined surfaces in vapor corrosion inhibitor film, add desiccant, lock the shaft and rotor so bearings do not brinell, and build skids and blocking for the unit’s weight. Engines ship with fuel and coolant drained to carrier limits.
Can you rush a replacement engine to a mine or rig site?
Yes. When a haul truck, drilling rig, or mining shovel sits idle, smaller engines and critical spares can move by air freight within aircraft limits. Larger engines move on the fastest available vessel, with the heavy haul booked to meet it.
Can you ship engines and motors to Mexico or Canada?
Yes. Engines, gensets, and motors for mines, oil and gas sites, and construction projects in Mexico move by truck through the Texas border crossings, and units for Canadian sites travel by road or rail. We handle crating, export filings, and customs coordination.
