In the heavy machinery industry, transporting long arm attachments for excavators presents a distinct logistical and operational challenge. Dewanda, as a professional manufacturer and exporter of customized excavator arms, including long reach booms, has consistently addressed the complex reality of getting these oversized attachments from our production facility to worksites worldwide. While their size and performance capabilities make them essential for river dredging, deep foundation excavation, and hard-to-reach jobs, transporting long arms requires meticulous planning, practical knowledge, and strict adherence to safety and legal guidelines.

Why Long Arm Transport Is Inherently Difficult

Transporting long excavator arms—some reaching lengths of 12 to 22 meters—differs drastically from moving standard buckets or booms. These attachments often exceed the legal dimensions for road transport in many countries. The key issues faced during transport include:

Oversized Load Classification

Most long arms qualify as oversized loads, often surpassing the legal limits for width, height, or length. In many jurisdictions:

Length limit: Regular flatbed trucks may accommodate lengths up to 12 meters without a special permit. Anything beyond typically requires an overlength permit.

Height limit: The height of the loaded arm on a trailer must not exceed 4 meters in many countries.

Weight distribution: Although long arms are relatively lightweight compared to entire machines, improper weight distribution on a trailer can destabilize transport vehicles.

The need to comply with transport laws often necessitates route planning, scheduling during non-peak hours, or even police escorts.

Handling and Lifting Difficulties

Long arms are not just long—they are awkward to lift and balance due to their asymmetrical weight distribution. A standard forklift won’t suffice. Specialized lifting frames, straps, and cranes are often used to load and unload the attachment without causing damage to the boom or injuring workers.

Protection Against Damage

Without proper packaging and support structures, long arms are vulnerable to deformation during transit. Long, unsupported steel sections can flex under vibration, road shock, or improper restraint. Corrosion protection is also critical if the journey crosses maritime routes or high-humidity regions.

Securing Techniques: How to Fix a Long Arm Safely for Road Transport

One of the most overlooked but critical aspects of long arm transport is how the unit is fixed onto the trailer. Dewanda’s logistics team follows a set of standardized, field-proven procedures that reduce risk and ensure compliance.

1. Use of Custom-Built Steel Brackets

Every long arm we ship comes with custom transport brackets, designed to cradle the main boom and stick in a stable position. These steel brackets are welded or bolted to the trailer and lined with rubber or wood pads to prevent scratching and metal fatigue.

Boom support brackets: Placed near the base and midpoint of the boom.

Stick and linkage support: Especially for complex long reach systems, additional lateral bracing is required to prevent side movement.

2. Heavy-Duty Ratchet Straps and Chains

High-tension ratchet straps rated above 10,000 lbs are used in combination with Grade 80 or higher load binders and chains to secure the arm. The standard practice includes:

At least four anchor points, evenly distributed across the frame.

Tensioned both longitudinally and laterally to prevent shifting during cornering or braking.

Straps are regularly inspected for fraying or tension loss before departure.

3. Shock Absorption Padding

Because long arms are long steel components, road vibrations can cause micro-cracks at the welds if not mitigated. Dewanda adds high-density rubber pads and wooden planks under each support point to absorb vibration during travel.

4. Shrink Wrap and Rain Covers

During international shipping or transport through rainy regions, the arms are shrink-wrapped and covered with a UV-resistant rainproof tarp. This prevents corrosion and dust contamination, especially in units with preinstalled hydraulic lines.

Route Planning and Legal Compliance: Avoiding Fines and Delays

The complexity of transporting a long excavator arm isn’t limited to securing it. Legal compliance with regional and international transport regulations is critical. In some cases, ignoring these rules can result in confiscated loads, penalties, or canceled delivery.

Permits and Escort Requirements

Depending on the country or state, transporting a long arm may require:

Oversize load permits

Nighttime movement restrictions

Route restrictions, especially where overpasses or bridges are involved

Pilot cars or escort vehicles

For example:

In the U.S., states like California or New York may require 48-hour advance permit approval, while states like Texas may allow wider loads with escort only.

In Europe, each country has its own clearance heights and tonnage restrictions—Germany mandates warning beacons and reflective panels for loads over 16 meters long.

Dewanda partners with certified logistics firms in each region to navigate the permit process, reducing delivery time while ensuring compliance.

Local Police Notification and Scheduling

In certain countries, like Australia or Saudi Arabia, loads exceeding 18 meters in length must be scheduled in coordination with highway patrol authorities, particularly if the route crosses narrow tunnels or congested urban areas. A mistake here can mean your transport gets stuck at an underpass or rejected entry to toll roads.

Bridge and Road Load Ratings

Even though long arms are not extremely heavy, the distribution of their weight over a long trailer can create high point loads, especially when crossing bridges or elevation transitions. Drivers need to be trained to slow down on ramps and avoid sharp turns that can create lateral force stress on the trailer.

Tips from the Field: Dewanda’s Best Practices

Over years of global delivery, Dewanda has collected a library of best practices that help customers avoid unnecessary delays or damage.

1. Disassemble When Possible

If the long arm is a modular system (main boom and stick separable), Dewanda recommends shipping the parts disassembled. This shortens the total length, potentially eliminating the need for special permits in some regions.

Stick and boom shipped separately

Hydraulic lines pre-marked for reassembly

Customers are provided with reassembly videos or can opt for Dewanda’s local installation support teams.

2. Avoid Transport During Rainstorms or Snow

Moisture not only causes corrosion but also increases the weight and slipperiness of long arms during lifting. If possible, we delay shipments during heavy weather events. Alternatively, we add extra drainage holes and seal all valve ports.

3. Use Experienced Drivers and Certified Logistics Firms

Transporting long arms isn’t a job for generic freight operators. Dewanda contracts only experienced long-load transporters with:

Proper insurance coverage for construction equipment

Experience with abnormal load permits

Trained drivers certified in load balancing and securement procedures

4. Communicate with Customs in Advance

If the delivery is cross-border, ensure that customs documents include detailed product specifications, including:

HS code for attachments

Net and gross weight

Dimensions

Bill of materials if multiple components are shipped

Failure to declare accurate details can cause delays of 2–5 days in ports.

Global Case: Transporting a 22-Meter Long Arm to the Philippines

A recent Dewanda project involved shipping a 22-meter long reach arm to a mining site near Davao City, Philippines. The customer needed the arm for a large-scale riverbank excavation project. Challenges included:

Route through mountainous terrain with narrow switchbacks

Shipping from China to Manila port, then truck transfer to Mindanao

Need for escort vehicle due to 22m length

Bracket reinforcement for sea transport to prevent vibration-induced cracks

We completed the delivery in 13 days, including custom permit acquisition and local coordination with Philippine transport authorities. The arm arrived in perfect condition and was installed within 24 hours of delivery.

If you need our assistance in planning your extended boom transportation solution, please feel free to contact Dewanda's dedicated customer manager. We will provide you with a complete solution based on the actual working conditions, transportation distance and regulatory requirements. Although transportation is complex, safety and efficiency are the ultimate priorities.