Tower Crane Hauling Services
Tower cranes are among the most logistically complex pieces of heavy equipment to transport. Unlike self-propelled machines that can be driven onto a trailer, a tower crane must be fully dismantled before each move — breaking down into mast sections, jib arms, counter-jibs, slewing ring assemblies, operator cabs, ballast counterweight blocks, and foundation anchors. Each component carries its own dimensions, weight, and securement requirements, and a complete crane disassembly routinely fills multiple trailer loads.
R&RM LLC has coordinated tower crane transport moves across the continental United States, working with general contractors, crane rental companies, and erecting crews to sequence disassembly, load planning, and delivery timing. Since 2011, our experience with oversized industrial loads — including large crawler cranes and all-terrain cranes, power transformers, and specialty industrial components — directly applies to the challenges of tower crane section transport.
Tower Crane Components and Their Transport Requirements
Mast Sections (Standard / Climbing Sections)
The vertical mast is built from bolted-together standard sections, typically 6–10 feet wide, 6–10 feet tall, and 16–25 feet long per section. Individual standard sections weigh 3,000–8,000 lbs depending on the crane class. Most mast sections fall within legal highway dimensions and are transported on standard flatbed or step deck trailers with four or more sections per trailer load. However, large luffing-jib crane mast sections and some heavy-lift crane mast sections can exceed 8 feet 6 inches in width or 13 feet 6 inches in height, pushing into oversize permit territory.
Slewing Ring and Slewing Unit
The slewing ring is the large-diameter rotating bearing assembly that allows the crane's upper structure to rotate independently of the mast. Slewing rings range from 4,000 to 15,000 lbs and are large, heavy, and awkward to load. They require flatbed or RGN trailers with specialized blocking and chocking — the ring must not be loaded on its gear teeth. Slewing units from large flat-top cranes can push both weight and width limits, requiring oversize routing.
Tower Top and Hydraulic Climbing Frame
The hydraulic climbing frame allows the crane to self-erect by inserting additional mast sections from the inside. The climbing frame typically measures 6–8 feet square in cross-section and weighs 5,000–20,000 lbs depending on the crane. It is transported as a single unit and usually fits within legal dimensions, though its length and weight require careful trailer selection and securement planning.
Jib (Working Arm) Sections
The jib is the horizontal arm from which the hook is suspended. For large flat-top cranes, the full jib can extend 200 feet or more, but it breaks down into sections for transport. Individual jib sections are typically 20–40 feet long, 4–6 feet wide, and 1,500–8,000 lbs. Their length is the primary transport challenge — long sections may require oversize permits for length. Jib sections from luffing-jib cranes are heavier and structurally different from flat-top sections but follow the same general transport approach.
Counter-Jib
The counter-jib is the shorter rear arm that carries the crane's counterweight trolley and machinery. Counter-jibs are transported similarly to jib sections — section by section on flatbed or step deck trailers. They are typically shorter and lighter than main jib sections and rarely require oversize permits on their own.
Counterweight Blocks
Tower cranes use dense concrete or cast-iron ballast blocks to counterbalance the load on the jib. Block weights range from 2,000 to 30,000 lbs per block, and a single crane may use 10–30 blocks depending on the model. Multiple counterweight blocks can be loaded on a single flatbed trailer if total axle weights remain within legal limits. Stacking is not recommended without blocking. Very heavy individual blocks from large high-capacity cranes may require multi-axle trailer configurations and overweight permits.
Operator Cab
The operator cab is relatively compact and is typically transported as a single unit on a flatbed trailer. Most cabs are within standard legal dimensions and do not require oversize permits. Cabs with large windows or extended sun visors should be secured to prevent damage from road vibration.
Foundation Anchors and Transportable Mast Base
The foundation anchor is the ground-level structural element that the mast attaches to. Fixed foundations are cast-in-place concrete pads and are not transported. However, many modern tower cranes use transportable base frames — large welded steel structures that can be moved between jobsites. Transportable mast bases range from 8 to 14 feet wide, 8 to 14 feet tall, and 10,000 to 40,000 lbs or more. These are often the most challenging component on any tower crane move, requiring oversize load permits and routing for their width and weight. In some cases, engineering studies may be required for bridge crossings.
Tower Crane Brands We Transport
R&RM LLC transports tower crane sections from all major manufacturers operating in the United States market, including:
- Liebherr: 110 EC-B, 132 EC-H, 200 EC-H, 280 EC-H, 630 EC-H, and the full EC-B and EC-H flat-top line
- Potain (Manitowoc): MD 208, MD 345, MC 175, MC 310, IGO T 130, Hup 40-30, and the full MD/MC series
- Wolff: 166 B, 355 B, 6020 B, 7532.16, and the B-series luffing-jib line
- Raimondi: LR213, LR330, MRT189, and other European flat-top models increasingly active in US high-rise construction
- Terex / Comedil: CTT 231, CTT 331, CTT 561, and CBC 6032 series
- JASO: J40, J50, J70 tower crane series — common in southeastern US commercial construction
- RC (Gru Reco): European tower crane models appearing on US high-rise and infrastructure sites
If your crane brand is not listed, contact us — we transport all tower crane makes and models.
Trailer Selection for Tower Crane Components
Different tower crane components require different trailer configurations:
- Flatbed (48' or 53'): The workhorse for mast sections, jib sections, counterweight blocks, and operator cabs. Standard legal loads fit comfortably.
- Step Deck: Useful when component height would push load profile above 13'6" on a flatbed. Climbing frames and some large jib sections benefit from the lower deck height.
- RGN Trailers: Removable gooseneck trailers are suited for large mast bases, slewing ring assemblies, and other heavy, bulky components that benefit from ground-level loading.
- Multi-Axle Configurations: For very heavy transportable mast bases or single heavy components, multi-axle RGN or lowboy trailers distribute weight across more axle groups to comply with bridge formula limits.
Oversize and Overweight Permits for Tower Cranes
Most individual tower crane sections — standard mast sections, jib sections, counterweight blocks — are within legal highway dimensions and do not require oversize permits. The components that most commonly trigger permit requirements are:
- Transportable mast base frames wider than 8'6" or taller than 13'6"
- Slewing ring assemblies from large crane models (width or weight)
- Jib sections that exceed 53 feet in length
- Counterweight blocks or stacks exceeding 80,000 lbs gross trailer weight
- Climbing frames from large luffing-jib cranes (width and weight)
Our permit services team handles all state permit applications as part of each move. We review component dimensions and weights before quoting to identify which loads will require permits and factor permit timelines into delivery scheduling.
Sequencing and Delivery Coordination
Tower crane transport is not just a hauling problem — it is a sequencing problem. Erection crews need components in the order they will be used. Mast sections, climbing frames, and foundation hardware must arrive before the jib and counterweights. Delivering components in the wrong order causes costly erection delays on tight construction schedules.
R&RM LLC coordinates with your crane erecting crew or rental company dispatcher to agree on delivery sequence and timing before loads are dispatched. We track each load in transit and communicate proactively when any delay affects the delivery window.
Common Tower Crane Transport Applications
- Crane rental company fleet relocation between markets
- General contractor crane moves between high-rise construction projects
- Single-jobsite setup delivery from rental depot to project site
- Crane manufacturer dealer-to-dealer inventory moves
- Auction and liquidation — purchased cranes being returned to buyers
- Emergency crane relocation when a project schedule changes
Get a Tower Crane Transport Quote
To quote a tower crane move accurately, we need the crane manufacturer and model, a component list with weights and dimensions, pickup location, delivery location, and your target delivery date. The more detail you can provide, the more accurate our quote will be. Call us at (404) 987-6225 or submit your load details online.
For related crane transport case studies, see our completed moves — including all-terrain cranes, crawler cranes, and large mobile cranes hauled across multiple states.