Compactor and Road Roller Transport Services
Compactors and road rollers are essential to nearly every road construction, earthwork, and site preparation project — and they move frequently as projects complete and new ones begin. R&RM LLC has transported compaction equipment for road contractors, asphalt paving companies, earthmoving operations, and equipment rental fleets across all 48 continental states since 2011.
Compactors range widely in size and weight. A small tandem asphalt roller may weigh as little as 8,000 pounds and transport as easily as a pickup truck on a standard equipment trailer. A large single-drum vibratory soil compactor — such as a Caterpillar CS86 or Dynapac CA6000 — can weigh 48,000 to 52,000 pounds and require an RGN trailer, oversize permits, and route planning through multiple state DOTs. We handle the full spectrum.
Call (404) 987-6225 or submit a quote request online for a rate on your specific machine and route.
Types of Compactors We Transport
Single-Drum Vibratory Soil Compactors
Single-drum vibratory compactors are the workhorses of earthmoving, used to compact subgrade, subbase, and fill soils on highway, dam, and large commercial site projects. The front drum is the vibrating element; the rear axle carries the machine's weight on pneumatic tires. These machines range from about 10,000 lbs for smaller models up to 52,000 lbs for the largest production compactors.
Large single-drum compactors — especially those with an 84-inch or wider drum — commonly exceed legal width limits and require oversize permits. We coordinate state DOT permit applications, confirm restricted corridor routing, and arrange pilot car escorts where required by state regulations. Common models in this category include:
- Caterpillar CS-56, CS-66, CS-74, CS-79, CS-86
- Dynapac CA2500, CA3500, CA5000, CA6000
- Bomag BW211, BW213, BW216, BW219, BW226
- Hamm H13i, H16i, H20i, H25i, H30i VIO
- SAKAI SV510, SV520, SV540
- Volvo SD115, SD135, SD160
- Ammann ASC Series
Tandem Vibratory Asphalt Rollers
Tandem rollers are two-drum machines used primarily to compact hot-mix asphalt during paving operations. Both drums vibrate, and the machines are designed to work directly behind the asphalt paver. Tandem rollers are generally narrower and lighter than soil compactors, with operating weights typically ranging from 8,000 to 20,000 lbs — most transport legally on flatbed trailers without permits.
Common tandem roller models we transport include:
- Caterpillar CB-10, CB-13, CB-16, CB-24
- Dynapac CC1300, CC2200, CC4200, CC6200
- Bomag BW120, BW138, BW161, BW174
- Hamm HD+ series (HD70, HD90, HD120)
- Volvo DD90, DD110, DD138
- Ingersoll Rand DD Series (now Doosan)
- Roadtec RR Series
Pneumatic Tire Rollers
Pneumatic rollers use rubber tires rather than steel drums to compact asphalt, granular subbase, and soil. They deliver a kneading action that produces a smooth, dense surface particularly suited to final passes on asphalt paving. Operating weights typically range from 12,000 to 30,000 lbs, and most transport on flatbed trailers within legal limits.
Models we commonly transport include:
- Caterpillar PS-360C, PS-300
- Dynapac CP274, CP274 III
- Bomag BW24R, BW27R
- SAKAI TS Series, TP Series
- Hamm GRW Series
- Galion and Huber-Warco legacy models
Landfill Compactors
Landfill compactors are among the largest and heaviest compaction machines built. Designed to work in the punishing environment of solid waste operations, they feature steel cleated wheels (rather than smooth drums) and reinforced cabs protected against debris. Operating weights range from 55,000 to over 100,000 lbs on the largest models — these are always oversize, overweight shipments requiring specialized trailers, multi-state permit packages, and careful route selection.
Common landfill compactor models include:
- Caterpillar 836K and 836H
- Bomag BC Series (BC472, BC572, BC672, BC772)
- Tana Shark Series (E340, E440, E520)
- Terex Ecotec legacy models
Landfill compactor moves require an overweight load permit in virtually every state. We build detailed permit packages, confirm bridge weight ratings along the planned route, and arrange pilot cars and law enforcement escorts where required. Contact us early for these complex moves — multi-state permit coordination typically takes 5–10 business days.
Transport Methods for Compactors
Flatbed Transport
Most tandem rollers and smaller single-drum compactors ship on standard 48- or 53-foot flatbed trailers. These machines typically fall within legal weight limits on a flatbed, making transport straightforward and cost-effective. We load from ground level at equipment yards, job sites, and dealer lots — no crane needed for machines that can self-propel onto the deck.
RGN (Removable Gooseneck) Trailers
Large single-drum soil compactors and landfill compactors require RGN trailers for two reasons: first, their weight often exceeds flatbed payload capacity; second, the lower deck height of an RGN helps keep the loaded height within state-mandated limits. RGNs also allow drive-on loading, eliminating the need for cranes at locations without loading ramps.
For the heaviest landfill compactors, specialized multi-axle lowboy trailers with 7–13 axles may be required to spread weight within legal per-axle limits. We coordinate these specialized moves and build complete permit packages for each state on the route.
Oversize and Overweight Permits
Drum width is the primary oversize concern for single-drum compactors — 84-inch drums are exactly 7 feet wide (legal), while 90-inch and wider drums exceed the 8-foot 6-inch legal width in many states. Height is a secondary concern for high-cab compactors with ROPS structures. We handle all oversize and overweight permit applications and confirm restricted travel windows (many states restrict oversize movements during peak traffic hours and weekends on certain corridors).
Loading and Securement for Compactors
Compactors present specific loading considerations that differ from tracked equipment:
- Self-propelled loading: Vibratory compactors drive onto the trailer under their own power wherever ramps or dock height allow, which speeds loading significantly.
- Drum blocking: Steel drums must be blocked fore and aft on the trailer deck to prevent rolling if securement chains were to loosen. Drum surfaces must not contact chain links directly — we use rubber-lined chain hooks or timber blocking to protect drum finish.
- Frame tie-downs: Main chains attach to manufacturer-specified hard points on the machine frame, not to the drum frame or vibratory housing.
- Water and ballast: Many compactors can be ballasted with water or steel shot in the drum to add weight. We recommend draining water ballast before transport to reduce weight and prevent freezing in cold-weather moves.
- Articulation joint: Articulated compactors must have the articulation joint locked in the straight-ahead position and pinned before loading.
- Vibration system: Ensure the vibration system is off and that eccentric weights are locked before transport to prevent accidental activation.
Industries That Ship Compactors With Us
We regularly transport compaction equipment for:
- Highway and road construction contractors: Moving compactors between highway rehabilitation projects as phases complete across different states.
- Asphalt paving companies: Seasonal repositioning of paving fleets as paving season follows warm weather northward through the spring and back south in the fall.
- Equipment rental companies: Repositioning rental compactors from low-demand markets to high-demand projects, or returning units after long-duration rentals.
- Solid waste and landfill operators: Moving large landfill compactors to new landfill cells or between facilities.
- Dam and reservoir contractors: Transporting large soil compactors to dam construction sites, often in remote locations requiring specialized route planning.
- Equipment dealers: Dealer-to-dealer inventory transfers and new-unit delivery from ports of entry or manufacturer distribution points.
Compactor Transport Pricing
Transport cost varies by machine size, pickup and delivery locations, permit requirements, and market conditions. Rough guidelines:
- Small tandem roller, regional (under 300 miles): $700–$1,500
- Mid-size single-drum compactor, regional: $900–$2,000
- Large single-drum compactor, long-distance (600+ miles): $2,500–$5,000, plus permit costs
- Landfill compactor, long-distance: $6,000–$15,000 depending on route, state count, and axle configuration required
These are illustrative ranges only. Request a quote or call (404) 987-6225 with your machine make, model, pickup, and delivery for a firm rate.
Related Equipment and Services
Compaction equipment typically moves with other road construction and site work equipment that we also transport:
- Asphalt pavers and milling machines — the equipment that works immediately before and after the compactor on paving projects
- Motor graders — for subgrade preparation before compaction passes
- Scrapers — for bulk earthmoving and rough grading before fine compaction work begins
- Oversize load transport — for wide-drum and heavy landfill compactors
- Permit services — multi-state permit packages for long-haul compactor moves
Get a Compactor or Road Roller Transport Quote
Provide the machine brand, model, drum width if known, approximate weight, and pickup/delivery locations. We will quote the move, identify any permit requirements, and confirm availability. R&RM LLC has handled compactor transport from coast to coast since 2011 — let us handle yours.
R&RM LLC · Cumming, GA · (404) 987-6225 · info@usheavyhaul.com