In the simplest terms, cargo is the freight being moved. However, in the world of international logistics, cargo is a broad category that dictates everything from the type of ship used to the insurance premiums you pay. When dealing with heavy machinery, like excavators, mining trucks, or agricultural combines, cargo is rarely “boxes on a boat.” It falls into specialized categories that require distinct handling procedures, pricing structures, and safety protocols.
Types of Machinery Cargo
Understanding how your specific equipment is classified is the first step in getting an accurate shipping quote.
Containerized Cargo
This is equipment that fits inside a standard 20-foot or 40-foot container. This is the most secure and cost-effective method. Smaller skid steers, forklifts, or dismantled machinery parts usually fly under this flag.
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)
The gold standard for drivable machinery. If your bulldozer or crane moves on its own wheels or tracks, it is driven onto the vessel and parked on a specialized deck, much like a floating parking garage. This “rolling stock” is charged by volume (cubic meters) rather than weight, making it efficient for massive but relatively light vehicles.
Static Cargo
This refers to machinery that cannot move under its own power, like a generator set, a crushing plant, or a machine with broken hydraulics. These must be loaded onto a MAFI trailer (a heavy-duty wheeled platform) and towed onto the vessel. Static cargo almost always incurs extra handling fees for the towing labor and equipment rental.
Breakbulk / Project Cargo
When a piece of equipment is too big for a container and too awkward for RoRo (like a massive wind turbine blade or a factory-sized press), it is lifted directly onto the ship’s deck by cranes. This is complex, high-stakes shipping that requires specialized engineering to secure.
Importance of Cargo Worthiness
Before your machinery reaches the port, it must be cargo-worthy. For used heavy equipment, this is critical. If a machine is leaking oil, has a flat tire, or has loose glass in the cab, the port captain can reject it. Non-running cargo must be declared as such upfront.
If you book a standard RoRo slot for a truck that won’t start, the port will reject it at the gate, and you will face dead freight charges (paying for space you didn’t use) plus the cost of towing it back.
Cargo vs. Freight: Is there a difference?
While often used interchangeably, industry pros usually distinguish them this way:
- Cargo refers to the goods themselves (the excavators, the parts).
- Freight often refers to the payment or the service of moving it.
You own the cargo, but you pay the freight. Protecting your asset means understanding Cargo Insurance. Carriers have limited liability (often capped at $500 per shipping unit). If a storm sweeps a $200,000 crane off the deck, standard carrier liability won’t cover a fraction of the loss. Specialized All-Risk cargo insurance is essential for high-value machinery.