Calculating Cost for Overseas Roll-on Roll-off Shipping

Roll-on Roll-off overseas shipping is a very efficient method of transporting vehicles (passenger cars, trucks, limos, buses, motorcycles, motorhomes, mobile cranes) and other rolling stock (boats on trailers, travel campers, towable generators) to other countries. It’s generally considered to be a cheaper option compared to international container shipping due to the absence of packing charges and lower terminal handling fees.

However, not a lot of shippers have a clear understanding how the charges are calculated with international roll-on roll-off vehicle shipping. The most important things is the size (or dimensions) of your shipment. Let me give you a few examples for different types of cargo:

1. Automobiles, Pick up trucks and SUVs. These vehicles are usually divided into groups based on the total size. If your automobile is under 400 cubic feet then it’ll be charged under first category (let’s say $600). If the size of your automobile is between 400 cuft and 650 cuft – then the price for the second category will be applied (let’s say $750) and so forth.

2. Boat on trailers or cradles. When you ship your boat overseas using roll-on roll-off service the price will be based on the total dimensions of your cargo. I must stress that the total size of your shipment is NOT considered to be just the size of the hull of the boat. The vessel operators treat the shipment as one whole unit. This means that the shipment will be measured from the tip of the trailer tongue, from the trailer fender on one side to another (or the hull width – whichever is wider), and from the ground to the top of the highest part of the boat. Since the cost of the shipping will be based on these total dimensions it can save customers a lot of money by removing parts of the boat to reduce the height or the length.

3. Trucks, buses, motorhomes, trailers. Just like with the boats the cargo will be measured from the longest point, to the widest point, to the highest point. This means that the bumpers will be included. Side mirrors will be included. If you have the AC unit on top on your motorhome – it will be included in the total measurements.

Usually when customers ask us for the international shipping quotes to ship their cargo via roll-on roll-off service they provide us with the manufacturer’s dimensions. Manufacturers usually go by the size of the body of the vehicle – not by the total dimensions. When cargo gets delivered to the ocean port for export – port workers re-measure the cargo as one whole unit and overseas shipping charges must be based on the dimensions provided by the port. A lot of customers are surprised to see a higher bill for international shipping and we have to explain over and over again how the cargo is really measured.

So folks, if you don’t like surprises – please, get the exact dimensions of your cargo so that international shipping company can provide you with an accurate quote for overseas roll-on roll-off transport.