Mining Equipment Hauling Services
Surface mining operations depend on massive, specialized machines that are far too large and heavy to travel on public roads under their own power. When mine sites open, expand, or close, that equipment must be disassembled, permitted, transported across hundreds or thousands of miles of public highway, and reassembled on site. US Heavy Haul — R&RM LLC handles the oversize transport segment of that process, moving individual components and smaller mining support machines across all 48 continental states.
Operating out of Cumming, Georgia since 2011, we have experience coordinating with mine operators, equipment dealers, and rigging contractors on the unique challenges that mining equipment moves present: extreme axle weights, bridge-critical routing, multi-state permit coordination, and tight mobilization deadlines. We also haul the full range of smaller mining support equipment — scalers, service trucks, conveyors, and utility vehicles — that keeps surface and underground operations running.
Ready to move? Request a mining equipment transport quote or call (404) 987-6225 to discuss your load.
Hydraulic Mining Shovels
Hydraulic face shovels — also called hydraulic mining shovels — are the primary production loading machines in large open-pit and quarry operations. Machines from Caterpillar, Komatsu, Liebherr, and Hitachi dominate North American mining sites. These machines are transported in major components: the undercarriage (often in two halves), the upper works/carbody, the boom, stick, and bucket assembly.
Caterpillar Hydraulic Mining Shovels
- Cat 6015B: Operating weight approximately 330,000 lb (150 metric tons). Bucket capacity 15–17 m³. Transport requires multiple permitted loads per major component.
- Cat 6020B: Operating weight approximately 440,000 lb (200 metric tons). One of the most common large production shovels at North American copper and coal mines.
- Cat 6030B / 6040B / 6060: Ultra-class shovels ranging from 600,000 to over 1,600,000 lb operating weight. These are broken into 15–25+ separate transport loads and require extensive route surveys and permits.
Komatsu Hydraulic Mining Shovels
- Komatsu PC3000: 330 metric ton face shovel, bucket 15–17 m³. Common at iron ore and copper mines.
- Komatsu PC4000: 400 metric ton class. Frequently moves between Wyoming coal mines and copper operations in Arizona and Nevada.
- Komatsu PC5500 / PC8000: Ultra-class machines. The PC8000 at 800 metric tons operating weight is among the largest hydraulic shovels in service in North America and requires full project management for any transport move.
Liebherr and Hitachi Mining Shovels
Liebherr R 9100 through R 9800 and Hitachi EX series mining shovels (EX3600, EX5600, EX8000) are found at copper, coal, oil sands, and aggregate operations. Their transport requirements closely parallel the Caterpillar and Komatsu equivalents above.
Blast Hole Drills
Rotary blast hole drills are used to bore the shot holes that blasting crews load before each production blast in a surface mine. These are tall, heavy machines with a mast that folds for transport and a drilling deck on crawlers. Common models include:
- Caterpillar MD6200 / MD6250: Rotary drill for medium-hardness rock. Transport weight approximately 230,000–310,000 lb in travel configuration with mast folded.
- Epiroc PV-271 / PV-351: High-capacity rotary drills, 280,000–400,000 lb. Used extensively at coal and copper mines in Wyoming, Nevada, and Arizona.
- Sandvik DR461i / DR471i: Heavy rotary drills, 300,000–450,000 lb. Commonly moved between coal mining districts in Wyoming's Powder River Basin and operations in Colorado and Utah.
- Atlas Copco DM-M3 / DML: Legacy drills still in service at many operations. Variable weight range based on option packages.
Blast hole drill transport typically uses a specialized heavy-haul lowboy or multi-axle hydraulic platform trailer. Mast height in travel configuration (20–30 ft) requires careful route surveying for bridge clearances and overhead utilities.
Mining Support Equipment
Beyond the primary production machines, surface and underground mines operate a large fleet of support equipment that requires regular transport — especially when mines open, close, or transition between commodities.
Mine Service Trucks and Water Trucks
Large haul road water trucks (used for dust suppression on mine haul roads) and mine service trucks (tire handlers, lube trucks) are often modified commercial trucks with large tanks. They can be transported on standard RGN or step-deck trailers if height and weight are within normal legal limits. Oversized water tank trucks may require permits.
Motor Graders (Mining Grade)
Large motor graders used for haul road maintenance — Cat 24M, Komatsu GD825, Volvo G960 — are heavier than standard construction graders (up to 130,000 lb for the Cat 24M) and may require oversize width permits. These machines move between mines, dealers, and rebuild shops.
Conveyors and Belt Equipment
In-pit conveyor systems and portable conveyor structures are transported in sections. Individual conveyor frames, drives, and head/tail pulley assemblies often move on flatbed or step-deck trailers. Longer portable conveyor sections may require oversize length and width permits.
Crushing and Screening Equipment
Portable crushing plants and screening plants are increasingly common at quarries and mining operations. Self-propelled tracked crushers (Sandvik QJ341, Metso Lokotrack LT120) travel on their own crawler undercarriage for short site moves but require oversize transport for any highway move. Wheeled crushing plants on semi-trailer frames can sometimes be towed, but width and height often require permits.
Scalers and Underground Equipment
Underground mines use specialized scalers, jumbo drills, LHD (load-haul-dump) machines, and underground haul trucks that occasionally require surface transport between mine sites or to rebuild facilities. These are specialized vehicles with unusual dimensions and ground clearance requirements that our team evaluates on a case-by-case basis.
Transport Methods for Mining Equipment
RGN Trailers for Mining Equipment
RGN trailers are standard for most self-propelled mining support equipment. Tracked undercarriages for small to mid-size mining machines can drive directly onto the RGN deck when the detachable neck is removed. Standard RGN capacity ranges from 40–80 tons; heavy-duty multi-axle RGNs carry 100–200 tons per load.
Hydraulic Platform Trailers
For the heaviest mining components — shovel upperworks, counterweights, and blast hole drill travel frames — hydraulic platform trailers (also called PSC trailers or modular trailers) with 8–32 axle lines are required. These move individual components that can weigh 200,000–500,000 lb per load. While US Heavy Haul typically focuses on the heavy haul trucking segment (under 200,000 lb per load), we coordinate with specialized heavy lift contractors when a mine move involves both truck transport and ultra-heavy lift components on the same project.
Oversize and Overweight Permits for Mining Equipment
Mining equipment moves are among the most permit-intensive loads on public highways. A single hydraulic shovel move may require separate permits in 5–8 states, each with its own maximum dimensions, bridge formula calculations, travel time restrictions (daylight only, no weekends in some states), and escort vehicle requirements. Our permit services team manages the entire permit application process, coordinates with state DOT officials, and arranges pilot car escort vehicles for wide and long loads.
Key Mining Regions We Serve
Surface mining activity in the 48 continental states concentrates in several key regions, and our routes follow the equipment:
- Powder River Basin (Wyoming, Montana): The largest coal mining region in North America. Equipment moves constantly between active mines, rebuild shops in Gillette and Sheridan, and dealer facilities.
- Copper Triangle (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico): Major copper operations in the Bagdad, Globe-Miami, Morenci, and Bingham Canyon areas require frequent equipment mobilization.
- Appalachian Coal (West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania): Underground and surface coal mines in this corridor regularly move smaller equipment including continuous miners, shuttle cars, and surface support machinery.
- Iron Range (Minnesota): Iron ore mining on the Mesabi Range in northern Minnesota involves some of the largest shovel fleets in North America.
- Phosphate Mining (Florida, North Carolina): Large draglines and mining dredges operate in these states, with equipment occasionally moving to rebuild facilities in other states.
- Gold and Silver (Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Montana): Precious metal mines regularly transport drill rigs, haul trucks, and support equipment between operations.
Mining Equipment Transport Pricing
Mining equipment transport costs are highly variable depending on machine size, disassembly requirements, and permit complexity. A mid-size motor grader moving 800 miles on a standard RGN might cost $4,000–$7,000. A single component from a mid-size hydraulic shovel moving 500 miles with multi-state permits and pilot cars commonly runs $10,000–$20,000 per load. Full shovel moves involving 15–25 permitted loads are coordinated as a project and priced accordingly.
For an accurate estimate, provide the machine model, operating weight, the origin and destination locations, and any known permit restrictions. Call us at (404) 987-6225 or use our online quote form.
Request a Mining Equipment Transport Quote
US Heavy Haul — R&RM LLC has been moving heavy equipment across all 48 states since 2011. We understand the urgency of mining equipment mobilization and work to keep your project on schedule. Based in Cumming, Georgia, we serve mining operations from the Appalachians to the Rockies and the Pacific Northwest.