Generator Hauling Services
R&RM LLC has been transporting industrial machinery since 2011, and heavy generator sets are among the most frequently moved items in the industrial transport segment. From compact 100 kW diesel units destined for construction sites to multi-megawatt power plant generators shipping to data centers and hospitals, we have the equipment and experience to move generator sets of any size safely across all 48 continental states.
Industrial generators require more than just a truck. Skid-mounted units have specific lift points and may need crane services at both pickup and delivery. Large enclosure-mounted generators can be wider and taller than standard freight, triggering oversize permit requirements. Fuel systems must be drained before transport in many jurisdictions. Our team handles every step of the logistics chain so your generator arrives on time and undamaged.
Generator Types We Transport
Standby and Emergency Generators
Standby generator sets power hospitals, data centers, water treatment facilities, and commercial buildings when the grid fails. These units are built for reliability over long resting periods and typically range from 100 kW to 2,500 kW. Most are skid-mounted inside a steel-framed acoustic enclosure. Common configurations:
- 100–500 kW: Enclosure dimensions typically 8–12 ft long, 4–5 ft wide, 5–6 ft tall. Weight 3,000–12,000 lbs. Standard flatbed transport.
- 500 kW–1 MW: Enclosure dimensions typically 14–22 ft long, 6–7 ft wide, 7–8 ft tall. Weight 12,000–25,000 lbs. May require wide-load permits depending on enclosure width.
- 1 MW–2.5 MW: Enclosure dimensions typically 24–35 ft long, 8–10 ft wide, 9–12 ft tall. Weight 25,000–65,000 lbs. Oversize permits standard; RGN transport often preferred.
Prime Power & Continuous Duty Generators
Prime power generators operate continuously as the primary power source at remote sites, oil fields, mining operations, and off-grid industrial facilities. They are built heavier than standby units and often lack acoustic enclosures, making them larger in profile. These generators frequently move between project sites as operations shift, making reliable transport logistics critical for project continuity.
Mobile & Trailer-Mounted Generator Sets
Aggreko, Atlas Copco, and Caterpillar produce large trailer-mounted generator sets for temporary power applications. These units arrive on their own road-legal or non-road-legal trailers and may need towing or specialized pickup. We regularly move trailer-mounted units in the 500 kW to 2 MW range for power rental companies, utilities, and event production organizations.
Large & Utility-Grade Generators
Power plant generators, co-generation units, and large utility backup systems in the 2–20 MW range require the most careful transport planning. These units are often shipped in sections (rotor, stator, exciter assembly) or as a complete unit on a specialized multi-axle trailer. Weights can reach 200,000–500,000 lbs for the largest units, requiring superload permits and extensive route surveys.
Generator Brands We Transport
Caterpillar (CAT) Generators
Caterpillar's Electric Power division produces some of the most widely used generator sets in North America. We transport the full Cat lineup:
- C4.4 through C15 series: Compact to mid-range diesel generator sets, 22–455 kW.
- 3406C / 3412C / 3508 / 3512 / 3516: Large industrial generators, 455–2,500 kW. Common in hospitals, data centers, and industrial facilities.
- C175 / C280 series: High-horsepower utility and oil-and-gas generators, 2,000–16,000 kW. These move as heavy oversize loads.
Cummins Generators
Cummins Power Generation covers standby and prime power from small residential units to large commercial and industrial sets:
- DQKAB through DQGAD: Commercial standby units, 20–600 kW.
- QST30 / QSK45 / QSK60 / QSK78: Large prime and continuous-duty sets, 800–2,500 kW. Frequently transported for oil field, mining, and data center applications.
- HSK78 series: High-speed industrial generators for utility-scale prime power applications.
Kohler Generators
Kohler Power Systems produces a complete range from residential to industrial generators:
- 10–150 kW residential/light commercial: Light transport, standard flatbed.
- 200–3,250 kW industrial series: Large enclosure-mounted units frequently requiring oversize permits based on enclosure dimensions.
MTU / Rolls-Royce Power Systems
MTU generators are prevalent in high-demand standby and prime power applications including data centers and hospitals. The Series 2000 and 4000 engines drive the most common transported MTU generator sets, ranging from 350 kW to 3,200 kW.
Other Generator Brands
We transport generators from Aggreko, Atlas Copco, Generac, SDMO, Perkins, Stamford, Leroy-Somer, Olympian, and all other major manufacturers. If you have a unit that doesn't appear here, call us — we transport all brands.
Transport Methods & Trailer Selection
Standard Flatbed Transport
Generator sets under approximately 8'6" wide, 13'6" tall, and within legal weight limits can move on standard 48-ft or 53-ft flatbeds without oversize permits. This is common for units in the 100–500 kW range. We verify dimensions and weight before booking any flatbed shipment to avoid permit surprises at weigh stations.
Step-Deck (Drop-Deck) Flatbeds
For generators taller than 10 ft that would exceed 13'6" total height on a standard flatbed, step-deck trailers lower the deck height by 12–18 inches. This is a cost-effective alternative to an RGN for units that are tall but not excessively wide.
RGN Removable-Gooseneck Trailers
Our RGN trailers provide the lowest possible deck height — typically 18–24 inches — making them the right choice for tall generator sets, skid-mounted units without forklift pockets, or large enclosure units that need to be driven or craned onto the trailer from the rear. RGN transport is standard for generators over 1 MW and for any unit where height is a concern.
Multi-Axle Specialized Trailers
For the largest utility-grade generators — those exceeding 100,000 lbs or with extreme dimensions — we source multi-axle hydraulic platform trailers that distribute weight across many more axles than a standard trailer. These are required for superload permits and ensure legal bridge postings are respected throughout the haul.
Loading & Rigging Considerations
Industrial generators on skids or in enclosures often cannot simply drive onto a trailer. Key loading considerations include:
- Lift points: Generator skids and enclosures have engineered lift points. We work from the manufacturer's rigging chart and do not improvise attachment points.
- Crane coordination: Many large generators require a crane at pickup and delivery. We coordinate with rigging crews and confirm crane capacity before arrival.
- Fuel drain requirements: Most states require fuel systems to be drained before transport of equipment with fuel tanks. We confirm state requirements and coordinate fuel drainage with your site team.
- Vibration isolation: Sensitive generator components — particularly stator windings and voltage regulators — should be protected from transport vibration. We use appropriate blocking and cushioning materials.
- Weatherproofing: Open-skid generators without enclosures need tarping to protect electrical components from road spray and rain during transport.
Permit Requirements for Generator Transport
Permit requirements depend on the generator's transport dimensions. Most enclosed standby generators fall into one of these categories:
- Legal (no permit): Width ≤ 8'6", height ≤ 13'6", weight ≤ 80,000 lbs gross. Common for units under ~500 kW.
- Oversize width: Enclosures wider than 8'6" require permits in every state transited. Larger 1 MW+ enclosures are frequently 9–10 ft wide.
- Oversize height: Units loaded on RGN trailers that still exceed 14–15 ft may require high-load permits and bridge/overpass clearance checks.
- Overweight: Large generators in the 1–3 MW range often push gross combination weight above 80,000 lbs. Overweight permits and axle distribution engineering required.
- Superloads: Utility-grade generators over approximately 200,000 lbs or with extreme dimensions require superload engineering, advance state review, and sometimes road surveys.
Our permit services handle all applications, routing, and escort coordination across every state on your route. We manage the permit paperwork so you stay focused on your project.
Common Generator Transport Applications
- Data center and hospital standby power — new generator installation or generator replacement projects
- Oil field and natural gas compression station power — moving prime power generators between drilling locations
- Disaster response and emergency power — rapid deployment of temporary generation for hurricanes, ice storms, and grid failures
- Construction site temporary power — delivering and retrieving portable generator sets from large job sites
- Power rental return and delivery — moving Aggreko, United Rentals, and generator rental company assets between depots and customer sites
- Military and government facility backup power — standby generator installation at federal installations and public utilities
- Mining and remote industrial facilities — long-distance transport of prime power generators to off-grid operations
- Agricultural and water infrastructure — irrigation pump station and water treatment facility generator installations
Generator Transport Pricing
Pricing for generator shipments varies significantly based on unit size, transport configuration, and permit requirements. General ranges:
- 100–500 kW generators: Regional moves of 300–600 miles typically run $1,200–$2,500 on standard flatbed.
- 500 kW–1 MW generators: Long-haul moves requiring permits typically run $2,500–$5,000 depending on route and permit costs.
- 1 MW–3 MW generators: Cross-country moves on RGN with oversize permits typically run $4,500–$9,000.
- 3 MW+ utility-grade units: Highly variable. Request a custom quote based on specific unit dimensions, weight, and route.
Contact us with the generator manufacturer, model, kW rating, enclosure dimensions, and pickup/delivery locations. We can provide a quote quickly and have decades of experience moving transformers and industrial equipment of similar size and complexity.
Get Your Generator Transport Quote
R&RM LLC — based in Cumming, Georgia and in business since 2011 — is your dependable partner for industrial generator transport across all 48 continental states. Our experienced team handles everything from the initial quote through delivery confirmation, keeping your power project on schedule.