Drill Rig & HDD Equipment Transport

Drill Rig Transport Specialists

R&RM LLC has been hauling heavy equipment since 2011, and drill rigs present some of the most complex transport challenges in the industry. From compact water well drills that load on a flatbed to massive horizontal directional drilling (HDD) machines that require multi-axle RGN trailers, dedicated oversize permits, and pilot car escorts — we have the experience to move drilling equipment of all types safely and on schedule.

Drilling contractors, utility companies, energy producers, and rental yards across all 48 states call us when they need a rig moved. We handle everything from permit procurement through delivery, including routing for over-length pipe trailers and extra-wide mud recycling systems.

Types of Drilling Equipment We Haul

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Rigs

HDD machines are among the most challenging loads in the drilling segment. Entry-level maxi-HDD rigs start at around 40,000 lbs and grow to 200,000+ lbs for the largest machines. Their wide undercarriages and extended boom assemblies frequently push transport widths past the 8'6" legal limit, triggering oversize permits in every transit state. Common models we haul include:

• Vermeer: D100x120, D220x300, D500x500, D1000x900 — from midsize utility-grade to massive pipeline-crossing rigs
• Ditch Witch: JT100, JT2720, JT5720, JT100M — highly capable machines with wide support frame footprints
• American Augers: DD-140, DD-210, DD-440 — large-bore pipeline crossing units with extra-heavy transport weights
• XCMG / PRIME: International HDD models increasingly common in pipeline and utility markets

HDD ancillary equipment we also transport includes mud mixing and recycling systems (often 14–16 feet wide), drill pipe trailers carrying 40–60 foot joints, power packs, and pullback tools. Each component may require its own permit and routing analysis.

Oil & Gas Wellsite Drilling Rigs

Land rigs for oil and gas exploration and production are always transported in pieces — drawworks, substructure, derrick sections, top drive, mud pumps, shakers, and support trailers each move as separate loads. A 1,000-horsepower rig can generate 15–25 individual trailer moves; a 2,000-HP rig can exceed 40 loads. We regularly handle individual components and can coordinate complete rig moves in partnership with rig moving companies.

Typical individual components we haul include:

• Drawworks assemblies — 40,000 to 120,000 lbs depending on rig class
• Substructure sections — wide, low-profile loads requiring multi-axle trailers
• Top drives and rotary tables — dense, compact loads often exceeding 40,000 lbs
• Mud pumps (duplex/triplex) — National, Gardner Denver, and Ideco units from 15,000 to 80,000 lbs
• Shale shakers and solids-control equipment — frequently oversized for width
• Generator and SCR houses — self-contained skid units up to 80,000 lbs

Water Well Drilling Rigs

Water well drills range from small truck-mounted units to large rotary rigs capable of drilling 2,000+ feet. Most move on a flatbed or step deck, but the largest units require a lowboy or RGN. Manufacturers we frequently haul include Schramm (T685H, T130XD), Foremost (DR24, B-47), Ingersoll Rand, and Drillmec. Water well rigs for municipal, agricultural, and industrial supply often move on short notice when a drill job wraps up — we accommodate same-week scheduling whenever possible.

Geotechnical & Environmental Drilling Equipment

Geotechnical exploration and environmental remediation drilling requires smaller, often track-mounted equipment that is still oversize or overweight. CME (75HT, 850), Boart Longyear (LF70, LF90), Geoprobe, and AMS machines are regular loads for us. These compact rigs often move to tight urban job sites requiring precise routing to avoid low-clearance roads and weight-restricted bridges.

Transport Challenges & How We Handle Them

Oversize Dimensions

HDD rigs and mud recycling systems routinely exceed 8'6" in width. Our team coordinates oversize load transport permits with every transit state's DOT before each move. Width permits typically allow travel only during daytime hours with specific corridor restrictions. We factor all of this into the transport schedule upfront so there are no surprises at the state line.

Over-Length Drill Pipe Trailers

Drill pipe segments for large HDD and wellsite rigs often run 40–60 feet per joint. Pipe trailers carrying bundled sections may stretch 75–110 feet from bumper to bumper, requiring special over-length permits and, in many states, pilot cars front and rear. We have experience routing these loads through bridge-restricted corridors and weight-sensitive roads common in oil and gas producing regions.

Tight Job Site Delivery

Drilling locations — pipeline right-of-way bore pits, wellsite locations, water well sites in rural fields — often have narrow access roads or soft ground. We work with customers to identify the best approach route, confirm load-out dimensions, and coordinate crane-assist if the rig cannot self-load onto the trailer. Our experience with oilfield locations means we know what to expect before we arrive.

Transport Methods for Drilling Equipment

• RGN (Removable Gooseneck) Trailers: The first choice for large HDD rigs that can be tracked or rolled onto the deck. Drive-on loading minimizes crane and rigging requirements.
• Multi-Axle Lowboys: Necessary for the heaviest wellsite components and large HDD machines over 80,000 lbs where axle distribution must be carefully managed.
• Step Deck Trailers: Ideal for truck-mounted and carrier-mounted drills that are too tall for a standard flatbed but lighter than RGN territory.
• Standard Flatbeds: Used for geotechnical equipment, smaller water well drills, and drilling support tools under 48,000 lbs and 8'6" wide.

Permit Requirements by Drilling Equipment Type

Every state sets its own thresholds for when oversize and overweight permits are required. For drilling equipment, the triggers we encounter most often are:

• Width: Anything over 8'6" requires an oversize permit in all 48 states. Mud recycling systems at 14–16 feet wide need permits in every transit state plus escort vehicles in most.
• Height: Over 13'6" on most interstate routes, 14'0"–15'6" on designated high-clearance corridors. Masts in raised-and-pinned transport positions can push this limit.
• Weight: Legal gross weight on a 5-axle combination is 80,000 lbs. Large HDD rigs and wellsite components regularly push 100,000–200,000+ lbs, requiring overweight or superload permits.
• Length: Standard legal combination length is 65 feet in most states. Drill pipe trailers frequently exceed this and require over-length permits.

Our team handles all oversize and overweight permit services in-house, coordinating directly with state DOT offices to confirm routing, travel windows, and escort requirements before the truck rolls.

Industries We Serve

Drilling equipment moves across nearly every sector of the US economy. Our drill rig transport customers include:

• Oil & Gas Exploration: Land rig components moving between formations in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania
• Pipeline Utilities: HDD machines relocating between major water, gas, and telecommunications crossing projects nationwide
• Municipal Water & Sewer: Water well rigs serving municipal supply expansion and sewer replacement bore projects
• Agriculture: Water well drills supporting irrigation and livestock water supply in the Plains and Southeast
• Environmental Remediation: Geotechnical rigs moving between contamination assessment and groundwater recovery sites
• Mining Exploration: Core drilling equipment relocating between mineral exploration programs

We serve all of the major drilling regions, from the Permian and Eagle Ford basins in Texas to the Bakken and Niobrara in the Northern Plains. See our oilfield and pipeline equipment page for a broader look at energy-sector transport.

Drill Rig Transport Pricing

Drill rig transport pricing depends on several variables: rig type and size, permit complexity, number of transit states, whether escort vehicles are required, and scheduling flexibility. A compact geotechnical rig or small truck-mount moving regionally might cost $1,500–$3,500. A large HDD machine with mud system on a multi-state move with pilot cars typically runs $8,000–$18,000 for the primary load, with additional costs per ancillary trailer. Wellsite rig component moves are priced per load based on weight, dimensions, and distance.

We provide firm quotes with no hidden fees for permits, fuel surcharges, or escort coordination. Call us or use the form below with your rig model, current location, destination, and preferred move date.

Get a Drill Rig Transport Quote

Provide the rig manufacturer and model (or describe the equipment), approximate weight, pickup location, delivery location, and target date. We'll come back with a complete quote including permit fees and escort coordination.