Key figures (citable)
| Item | Indicative |
|---|---|
| Cargo type | Vehicles and special-purpose vehicles |
| Common discharge ports | Makassar, Medan, Batam, Palembang |
| Project-cargo threshold | Oversized units (length >12 m) or heavy units (>26 t), project equipment |
| Port coverage | Covers 37 destination ports |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-28 |
What this cargo is on this lane
Dump trucks, mixers, fire engines and mining trucks sit between ro-ro and lift-on: the envelope usually fits a frame, but axle load, height and whether the unit is self-propelled decide whether it drives on or is lifted. Choosing wrong costs nothing in freight and everything at destination — where ro-ro is not available a crane has to be hired at short notice and both cost and time double.
How this shipment actually moves
First confirm whether the destination has ro-ro facilities and a ramp: if it does, roll on, which is faster and carries less damage risk; if not, lift as individual units on breakbulk or flat rack. Self-propelled units board with the tank low and the battery isolated; lifted units use the maker's lift points, never the tow hook or the axles. When several vehicles share one shipment, list chassis number, weight and envelope for each rather than one total.
How to measure it (beyond the four figures that set the mode)
| What to measure | How and why |
|---|---|
| Envelope including body | Highest point and longest side counting the mixer drum, boom or body |
| Axle load and heaviest unit | Load on the heaviest axle and the vehicle weight; ro-ro ramps have load limits |
| Self-propelled or not | Whether it can drive on and off, which decides ro-ro or lift |
| Lift points when lifted | Maker's marked points; tow hooks and axles must not take load |
| Fuel and battery state | Required fuel level before loading and whether the battery is isolated |
Common discharge ports and capacity tiers
| Port | Tier and capacity |
|---|---|
| Makassar | A · Commercial mainline · Container liner service, carries general cargo · Several sailings weekly — wait negligible |
| Medan | A · Commercial mainline · Container liner service, carries general cargo · Several sailings weekly — wait negligible |
| Batam | A · Commercial mainline · Container liner service, carries general cargo · Several sailings weekly — wait negligible |
| Palembang | A · Commercial mainline · Container liner service, carries general cargo · Several sailings weekly — wait negligible |
Where this cargo most often goes wrong
- Assuming ro-ro by default: if the destination has no ramp, the cost and delay of switching to lift-on fall on the shipper.
- Giving vehicle weight but not axle load: ramps and decks are rated per axle, and a local overload is refused just the same.
- One total for several vehicles: the destination checks chassis numbers one by one, and a mismatch holds the whole shipment.
Questions to settle before quoting (the ones from the parent page that matter most here)
- Is it time-critical? Slow and fast services are priced apart, often by more than half
- What is the minimum shipment size? It differs per carrier — always ask for small lots
- Billed per kilogram or per cubic metre? Write "W/M, whichever greater" into the quote
- Damage and insurance liability — breakbulk carries more damage risk than FCL; state sum insured and excess
- Unit dimensions and heaviest unit (L×W×H, kg per unit) — decides container vs breakbulk and lifting gear
Frequently asked, standard answers
Do you accept small breakbulk lots?
Yes. You do not need to fill a container; we accept general cargo lots and fit them to the current sailing. Minimum sizes differ by carrier — confirm before booking.
How is breakbulk billed?
Per kilogram or per cubic metre, W/M whichever greater. Minimum shipment sizes and conversion ratios differ by carrier, so ask item by item. Rates are passed through at the carrier’s tariff in force.
Container or breakbulk for my cargo?
Look at the longest side and the heaviest unit: if it exceeds container internal dimensions or the weight limit it will not fit and must move as breakbulk. Run the tool on this page, then send us the result for confirmation.
Ro-ro or lift-on for a complete vehicle?
Check first whether the destination has ro-ro facilities and a ramp, then decide. We put that in the plan so you are not hiring a crane on arrival.
Do used and new vehicles differ in paperwork?
Yes. Used vehicles need complete chassis number, year and accompanying documents, listed per unit when several share a shipment; missing items hold up clearance or the port-side check.
Can the tow hook be used for lifting?
No. Lift only from the maker's marked points — tow hooks and axles carry no load, and using them distorts the chassis with the loss falling on the shipper.
Official sources
Channels below can be checked independently. Rates, supervision and working times follow each authority's latest notice.
Next step
Assuming ro-ro by default: if the destination has no ramp, the cost and delay of switching to lift-on fall on the shipper. Send us unit dimensions and weight, piece count, origin and destination, whether door delivery is needed and how urgent it is. We return the mode call, the destination's capacity tier, whether transhipment applies, the waiting band and the questions to settle.
Request a breakbulk quote