A cargo-readiness checklist for heavy machinery

Freeze the transport condition

Agree which guards, booms, tools, hoses, platforms or loose components will be removed and how they will be packed. Record final dimensions with the machine on its transport base, not its operating footprint. Mark protrusions and vulnerable points. If fabrication or disassembly continues after measurements, schedule a final verification. Equipment selection and permits should not rely on an early drawing that no longer represents the shipped configuration.

Verify weight and centre of gravity

Use certified or engineering-supported weight data, including cradles and attached components. Identify centre of gravity in three dimensions and mark it clearly where practical. The information drives crane selection, rigging, trailer loading and securing. A machine that is within total payload can still overload a section of a flatrack or trailer. Provide support-point loads and special no-support zones.

Define the lift and securement

Confirm approved lifting points, sling angles, spreader needs and restrictions. Do not assume visible lugs are rated for the complete transport weight. Create a rigging plan for each lift and a securing plan for each mode. Identify where chains, webbing, timber, welding or bolting may and may not contact the machine. Protect finished surfaces without introducing compressible materials that loosen lashings.

Make the machine safe for transport

Drain or secure fuels, oils, coolants and batteries according to the transport plan and legal requirements. Isolate moving parts, lock articulation and protect controls. Clean machinery where quarantine or contamination requirements apply. Pack loose parts in a traceable list. Provide safety data, lifting instructions, drawings and receiving requirements to the teams that will handle the cargo rather than keeping them only in the project office.