What qualifies as heavy or over-dimensional cargo (ODC) in India?

Any cargo exceeding standard size or weight limits, such as machines over 18–20 tonnes, height above 4.8m, width above 2.6m, or loads requiring hydraulic modular trailers, falls under ODC.

How long does heavy machinery shipping typically take in India?

Transit time depends on height, permits, routing, and state regulations. For example, a Delhi–Ahmedabad ODC move can take 44–48 hours due to low bridges and detours, even if Google shows 22 hours.

Why is FTL preferred over LTL for industrial machinery?

FTL avoids transshipment, reduces handling, shortens transit time, and lowers the risk of damage. LTL loads often get delayed waiting for consolidation and may be loaded or unloaded multiple times.

What permits are required for ODC movement in India?

ODC shipments require state-by-state permits, escort approvals, and night-movement permissions. A multi-state move may need 40+ permits, leading to delays if any document is missing.

What insurance is recommended for shipping high-value machinery?

Standard transporter insurance is insufficient. A Project Cargo All Risk policy is recommended, covering shocks, tilts, crane operations, and high-value machinery during transit.

Ultimate 2026 Guide to Heavy Equipment Shipping in India

You have a 3.5-tonne German machining centre lying in your factory at Manesar, and the customer at Sanand wants it set up in 10 days.

A single wrong call, and you are staring at ₹50 lakh in penalties plus a damaged ₹12-crore machine, and that's not all, you have to deal with furious suppliers from Germany.

This sounds too terrible, right? Welcome to the punishing world of heavy machinery and industrial shipping in India!

At Velocity Express, we have been shipping this kind of load for years now and have earned expertise in it. And the following content is the kind of chewy, high-quality long-form writing we wish every plant manager, procurement bigwig, and project engineer would read before they picked up the phone to call a logistics company.

What Even is “Heavy” or “Bulk” Cargo in 2026?

There is no grey area with Indian rules. If your shipment has any of these triggers as part of it, every day trucks and regular couriers will run away screaming :

Hence, now companies want:

Single not-split boulder more than 18/20 tonnes
Anything taller than 4.8m or wider than 2.6m when packed
Anything over 18.5m (just most cartridge trailers can't cope, I'm afraid)
Needs a crane with an over 50-tonne safe working load to lift
Requires hydraulic modular trailers between 12–22 axles

Even a “small” 14-ton CNC is over-dimensional if the wooden crate nudges the height to 5.1m. We see that error quite often!

FTL vs LTL: Decision that could (or cost) you lakhs!

Many companies still attempt to economise by clubbing their 22-ton press with someone else’s cargo. Here’s what actually happens:

Otherwise, with FTL (Full Truck Load), the whole trailer is yours. The machine goes directly from your factory gate to the customer’s shop floor.

No transshipping, no double handling, and no waiting for other shipments to consolidate. Refrigerated transit time from Gurgaon to Chennai is reduced from 12–14 days to 4–6 days, while the risk of damage is brought down.

With LTL (Less Than Truck Load), your costly machine kept in Nagpur or Hyderabad gets stuck till the truck is full. It gets loaded and unloaded 3-4 times. Shock, tilt, rain, dust, all of these additional touches are an opportunity for disaster.

The Seven Stealth Challenges That Scuttle Most Weight Loss

Packaging errors that the insurance company loves

A layer of plastic sheeting and wooden pallets is not “packing” for a ₹15-crore machine. Insurance companies don't take more than a minute to disapprove claims that feature faulty or less packaging. Hence, it is important to use sturdy and efficient packaging that is capable of handling the safety of the specific machinery.
Loading disasters waiting to happen

Using under-capacity cranes to lift a press of 38 tons is a sure-shot recipe for ending up in viral WhatsApp videos. Hydraulic Gantries, 120-250 ton mobile cranes, and certified riggers are standard equipment.
Route and bridge nightmares

Google might say 22 hours for Delhi to Ahmedabad. Reality: With a 5m height, we are looking at 44-48 hours. Because you need to take into account a detour around 300+ low bridges!
The permit black hole

A single oversize load travelling across eight states can require upwards of 40 different permits. Miss a stamp and the RTO will let your ₹20-crore cargo languish on a highway for days.
Movement rules are restricted to night within cities.

Most states permit only ODC (open body/container) consignments between 11 pm and 6 am inside city limits. Miss the window and your trailer will be parked for 18 hours.
Insurance that works

Courier or transporter insurance, as it is available today, has a coverage cap of ₹5-10 lakh. You require a full Project Cargo “All Risk” policy.
The last-mile hiccup no one expects

Your factory gate is 3.9 meters wide, but the shipped machine is 4.3 meters wide. Unloading is impossible! This is just one of the 'unexpected hiccups' that we can think of!

India's Industrial Mega-Corridors Where the Real Action Is

The five golden routes account for most of the country's industry volume

Delhi NCR to anywhere in Gujarat (Sanand, Halol, Ahmedabad, Vadodara)
Pune-Chakan-Talegaon to Chennai-Oragadam-Sriperumbudur
Gurgaon-Manesar-Bhiwadi to Pune-Pimpri-Chinchwad
Hosur-Coimbatore-Hyderabad Triangle
Jamshedpur/Haldia to Chennai/Krishnapatnam Port for export.

The new Dedicated Freight Corridors and expressways have increased the average speed on hydraulic trailers from 22 kmph in 2021 to nearly 40 kmph today.

We have seen the transit time of these 60+ hour movements reduced to 36 - 40 hours.

Industries That Keep Our Phones Ringing 24×7

Automobile and EV component shops transporting complete stamping lines and battery gigafactory gear, machine-tool companies ferrying DMG Mori and Mazak machines worth crores, renewable energy projects moving 82-metre wind blades and 120-ton nacelles, steel and cement plants shifting kiln sections and mill stands, defence also aerospace (under strict NDAs), data-centre fit-outs with precision air-conditioners also gen-sets, pharma plus FMCG plant relocations besides plastic extrusion lines the size of railway coaches.

View all sectors we handle with specialized project cargo solutions.

Why Our Clients Rely On Velocity Express Every Year

We have an arsenal of specialised trailers and boast of nearly zero damage on the oversized movements that we are responsible for. We can also make mobile cranes available on a 24×7 basis when needed.

We offer services such as real-time tracking, 24/7 customer support, an experienced and skilled team and affordable rates.

The 9 Questions You Should Ask Before You Hand Over Your(Machine) Key

Do you have the trailers, hydraulic, or do you hire the market vehicles?
Can I access your internal bridge-clearance database for my precise route?
If a mid-journey permit is declined, who pays?
Can shock tilt data be included in an insurance survey?
30 minutes time-stamped unloading photos?
What is your claim ratio for more than ₹5 crore value shipments?
Do you also offer cranes and riggers, or is it just a truck?

If they fumble, keep walking.

Willing to Sail Without the Drama?

Whether it’s a single 28-ton lathe from Gurgaon to Bengaluru or an entire 1,600-ton plant shift from Jamnagar to Vizag, we offer the most convenient transport! We offer smoother, faster, and safer service for your needs!