Hitachi Equipment Transport

Hauling Hitachi Construction Equipment Nationwide

Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of hydraulic excavators, producing the well-known Zaxis series that spans from compact mini excavators to massive mining-class hydraulic shovels. R&RM LLC transports Hitachi equipment across all 48 continental states for construction contractors, equipment dealers, rental companies, and mining operations — a service we've been providing since 2011.

Hitachi's excavator line — sold under the Zaxis (ZX) brand name — is the company's flagship product and the machine type we most often transport. The ZX platform covers a wide range, from a ZX17U that weighs under 4,000 lbs to an ZX870 that tops 200,000 lbs and is more accurately described as a mining shovel than a construction excavator. Between those extremes lies a full lineup of production machines used on utility, pipeline, commercial construction, road building, and industrial projects across the country.

Call (404) 987-6225 or request a quote online for Hitachi transport pricing for any destination in the continental US.

Hitachi Zaxis Mini Excavators (ZX17U–ZX85US)

Hitachi's compact Zaxis mini excavators are zero-tail-swing or reduced-tail-swing machines built for confined urban jobsites, utility work, and landscaping applications. These are the most straightforward Hitachi machines to transport:

• ZX17U / ZX26U / ZX35U: Ultra-compact excavators at 3,700–8,200 lbs. These mini machines fit easily on a flatbed trailer alongside other small equipment. Multiple units can typically travel together on a single load, making them cost-efficient to move for rental companies managing equipment inventory between yard locations.
• ZX50U / ZX55U: Small production mini excavators at 11,000–12,500 lbs. Flatbed or tag-along transport; combination vehicle weights are within legal limits in all states. Zero-tail-swing design keeps the machine compact and easy to secure.
• ZX75US / ZX85US: Compact production excavators at 17,000–19,000 lbs. RGN or flatbed transport; these machines are common on utility contracts and are frequently relocated between project phases by small to mid-size contractors.

Hitachi Zaxis Mid-Size Excavators (ZX120–ZX250)

Hitachi's mid-range Zaxis lineup covers the most common production excavator classes. These machines are workhorses on commercial construction, pipeline, road building, and municipal projects throughout the country:

• ZX120 / ZX130 Series: Compact production excavators at 27,000–31,000 lbs. RGN transport is standard for this class. These are popular rental company machines moved frequently between yard locations and active job sites. Combination vehicle weight typically falls within permit thresholds that are straightforward to obtain in most states.
• ZX160 / ZX170 Series: Standard mid-class excavators at 36,000–40,000 lbs. RGN hauling with standard oversize width permit. These machines are common on road construction and commercial site development projects. Boom positioning during transport affects the overall machine width and thus the permit category.
• ZX210 / ZX225 Series: One of the most commonly transported Hitachi models at 46,000–53,000 lbs. Oversize permits for width are standard; combination vehicle weight requires permit in most states. The ZX210 and ZX225 are staple machines on commercial construction, pipeline work, and utility projects nationwide.
• ZX250 Series: A step up in production capacity at 57,000–60,000 lbs. Multi-axle RGN configurations are typical; oversize permits for width and combination weight both apply in all states transited.

Hitachi Zaxis Large Excavators (ZX290–ZX530)

Hitachi's large Zaxis series serves heavy construction, quarry operations, and medium-scale mining projects. These machines have significant transport weights that push into overweight territory across most US states:

• ZX290 / ZX300 Series: Large production excavators at 65,000–70,000 lbs. The combination of machine weight and required oversize permits for width means advance permit processing of 3–5 business days is typical in most states. We handle all permit procurement as part of the transport arrangement.
• ZX350 / ZX360 Series: Heavy production excavators at 78,000–82,000 lbs. These machines exceed legal weight limits in all states and require overweight permits in addition to standard oversize permits. Multi-axle RGN trailers with adequate axle count to distribute weight are required. Bridge weight clearances must be verified on all non-Interstate routes.
• ZX470 / ZX490 Series: Hitachi's large construction and quarry excavators at 103,000–107,000 lbs. The combination of oversize dimensions and significant overweight classification means these machines require advance coordination with state DOT offices in some states. Counterweight removal may be required on routes with particularly stringent axle weight restrictions. Rear escort vehicles are typically required by state law in this weight class.
• ZX530 Series: A bridge between large construction and mining-class excavators at approximately 120,000 lbs. Full oversize and overweight permits required in all states; heavy multi-axle RGN equipment is necessary. Route planning must account for bridge classifications on all roads used, not just interstate highways.

Hitachi Zaxis Mining-Class Excavators (ZX650–ZX870)

Hitachi's top-tier Zaxis machines are full mining-class hydraulic shovels used in open-pit mining, large quarry operations, and major earthmoving projects. Transporting these machines is a serious logistics undertaking requiring specialized equipment and extensive advance planning:

• ZX650 / ZX670 Series: Large mining excavators at approximately 145,000–153,000 lbs. Transport requires counterweight removal, dedicated heavy-haul multi-axle RGN equipment, and full oversize and overweight permits in all states on the route. State DOT advance notification or approval is typically required. Rear and sometimes front escort vehicles are mandated by state law.
• ZX870 Series: One of Hitachi's largest hydraulic excavators at approximately 200,000 lbs in standard configuration. The ZX870 is a major mining machine that requires counterweight and boom disassembly for highway transport. Each component — the carbody, upper structure, boom, and counterweight stack — is transported as a separate load. Coordinating a ZX870 move means managing multiple permit applications, scheduling, and delivery sequencing so the machine can be reassembled at the destination. This type of project requires significant advance planning, and R&RM LLC coordinates with customers well ahead of the move date to ensure everything is in order.

Hitachi Wheeled Excavators

In addition to their tracked Zaxis line, Hitachi produces wheeled excavators (on rubber tires) for urban construction, road maintenance, and applications requiring machine mobility between sites without a trailer. Wheeled Hitachi excavators can sometimes be driven short distances under permit, but for long-distance moves they're transported on RGN or flatbed trailers in the same manner as their tracked counterparts, with the added benefit of easier loading since outriggers can stabilize the machine during drive-on loading.

Transport Methods for Hitachi Equipment

• RGN (Removable Gooseneck) Hauling: The standard transport method for most Hitachi Zaxis tracked excavators. The removable gooseneck allows the excavator to drive directly onto the trailer deck under its own power, eliminating the need for cranes or loading ramps. This is the safest and most efficient loading method for most tracked Hitachi machines.
• Flatbed Transport: Compact Hitachi mini excavators (ZX85 and smaller) can be transported on flatbed trailers, often with multiple machines per load. Heavier models can also travel on specialty flatbed equipment when RGN is unavailable, though drive-on loading is preferred.
• Oversize & Overweight Transport: Hitachi ZX290 and larger machines require state-issued oversize and overweight permits on every state traversed. We handle all permit procurement, routing, and coordination for multi-state moves.
• Pilot Car Escorts: Required by state regulation when loads exceed defined width or weight thresholds — which applies to most Hitachi machines in the ZX350 class and above. Our permit and escort coordination service arranges all required pilot cars for your route.
• Multi-Load Disassembly Moves: Mining-class Hitachi excavators (ZX650 and larger) are typically transported in multiple loads after partial disassembly. We coordinate the sequencing, permitting, and scheduling of each component load so they arrive at the destination in the correct order for reassembly.

Hitachi Equipment Transport Applications

Hitachi Zaxis excavators appear on a wide range of project types, and the move reasons are equally varied:

• Construction contractor fleet repositioning between active project sites
• Equipment dealer inventory movements between yard locations
• Rental company rebalancing of fleet distribution across regions
• Auction purchase transport — winning bidders transporting purchased Hitachi machines
• Mining operation equipment deployment to new dig sites
• Job site start-up deliveries for excavators purchased from out-of-state dealers
• Equipment return to dealers or manufacturers at end of lease

Why R&RM LLC for Hitachi Transport?

R&RM LLC has been transporting construction equipment, including Hitachi Zaxis excavators, across all 48 continental states since 2011. We work regularly with construction contractors, equipment dealers, and mining operations moving Hitachi machinery — and we understand the Zaxis product line well enough to know which models have specific tie-down point locations, which require counterweight removal for legal transport, and how to route large ZX machines around weight-restricted bridges on secondary roads.

For mid-size Hitachi excavators — the ZX130 through ZX250 range — our process is efficient: we handle permit procurement, schedule the RGN, and manage the load safely. For the large and mining-class ZX machines, we have the experience and equipment contacts to manage complex multi-load moves, coordinate with multiple state DOT offices, and keep the project on schedule. Reach us at (404) 987-6225 — we're ready to quote your Hitachi transport, whatever the size.

Get a Hitachi Transport Quote

Provide the Hitachi model number, approximate machine weight, and pickup and delivery locations. If you know the machine's transport dimensions, include them — it speeds up the permit procurement process. We'll respond quickly with a competitive quote.