Updated October 1, 2026 · hauls booked January 1 to October 1, 2026 · CAD, GST included
Median price per km, by trip length
What shippers actually paid in 2026. Short trips cost more per km because loading and permits are fixed costs.
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| Trip length | Typical $/km | Median $/km | Median all-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 300 km | $4.01–$5.83 | $5.69 | $1,657 |
| 300–600 km | $3.96–$6.39 | $4.58 | $2,242 |
| 600–1,000 km | $1.93–$3.91 | $3.23 | $2,546 |
| Over 1,000 km | $1.73–$4.38 | $3.43 | $4,806 |
“Typical” is the middle half of booked hauls. Weight and dimensions decide where your machine lands in the range.
October 2026 market report
Rates rose in July to September
Typical price means half of shippers paid less and half paid more, on heavy equipment hauls booked through Trusted Dispatch. An arrow appears only when the change is bigger than normal month-to-month swings. This looks back, not ahead. USD at 1.4243 CAD, Bank of Canada Oct 1, 2026.
What it costs by machine size
Machine size moves the price more than anything else. Typical price per km over the last six months (April to September 2026), by the weight of the load. Each group has few hauls, so read these as a guide to your estimate, not a trend:
Light machines in this data travelled farther on average, which pulls their per-km figure down.
What’s pushing rates now
Rates on hauls booked through Trusted Dispatch rose from a soft spring at every trip length in July to September, back about where the year started (Trusted Dispatch, Jul-Sep vs Apr-Jun).
Pushing rates up
- Calgary diesel ended September 17% higher than it started (NRCan daily prices, Sep 1-30), and carriers build fuel into every bid.
- Canada’s rig count rose 11 to 208 (Baker Hughes, week ended Sep 25), and fall rig moves compete with your equipment for the same lowboys.
- US flatbed loads outnumber posted trucks about 41 to 1 (DAT, Sep 20-26), which draws cross-border flatbeds off Canadian lanes.
Pushing rates down
- Calgary diesel has eased 5% since its Sep 21 peak (NRCan daily prices, Sep 21-30), which trims the fuel cost in new bids.
- Saskatchewan farmers harvested 22% of the crop in one dry week (Saskatchewan Agriculture, Sep 22-28), so farm-equipment haulers are starting to free up, though harvest still runs behind normal.
- US dealers report slower used-equipment sales and more cautious buyers (Sandhills, August data), so fewer machines need a truck.
You cannot control the market, but you can control a lot of your price: see five ways to lower the cost.
Prices rose this quarter. Your machine and route decide your price.
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Written October 2026 from the public sources named in each line. It describes forces acting now, not a forecast of your price.
What recent hauls cost
Each card is one real 2026 haul and what the shipper paid. One haul is not a market average.
More lanes: Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge.
How it works
How the free estimate works
- Enter your pickup location.
- Enter your drop-off location.
- Type your machine’s make and model. Our equipment specs tool fills in the weight, length, width and height. Check them and correct anything that differs.
- See your estimate on screen. We also email you a copy.
Shipping several machines? Enter each machine on its own trailer as its own load. For small items sharing one deck, enter the combined weight and stacked dimensions.
What changes the price
Weight and dimensions. These matter most. They decide the trailer and whether the load needs an oversize permit.
Oversize permits. Alberta generally requires a permit for loads wider than 2.6 m, taller than 4.15 m with the trailer, or longer than 23 m. British Columbia and Saskatchewan set their own limits.
Distance and direction. Per-km rates fall on longer hauls. The same lane can cost less one way than the other.
Season. Spring road bans, harvest and the Alberta auction calendar all tighten trucks on a lane.
Which trailer your machine needs
Hotshot. A gooseneck or flat deck behind a one-tonne truck, for compact tractors, skid steers and mini excavators. Usually the cheapest option when your machine fits.
Step deck. Carries most farm tractors, backhoes and mid-size equipment.
Double drop, RGN or lowboy. Carries tall or heavy iron such as dozers, excavators and combines. It costs more, but it is often the only legal way to move the load.
Read our guide to trailer types.
Five ways to lower the cost
- Remove what you can. A bucket or attachment can drop the load below a permit limit or onto a cheaper trailer.
- Enter exact numbers. Accurate weight and dimensions put the right truck on the job the first time.
- Stay flexible on dates. A carrier who fits your load around a return trip can charge less.
- Ship together. One larger trailer usually costs less than several small trips.
- Book ahead of big auction closings. Trucks fill fast after a large sale.
Cross-border shipping and what happens after you book
Trusted Dispatch moves equipment between Canada and the United States, in both directions. We do not book moves that start and end inside the United States.
After your estimate, you decide whether to post the load. Vetted carriers bid, you choose one and pay online, and Trusted Dispatch holds the payment in trust until delivery. You deal directly with your carrier, with no broker in the middle. Read the full shipping process.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship heavy equipment per kilometre?
Shippers on Trusted Dispatch paid a median of $5.69 per km on moves under 300 km, $4.58 per km on 300–600 km moves and $3.43 per km on hauls over 1,000 km, for hauls booked January 1 to October 1, 2026. Your machine’s weight and dimensions decide where you fall in each range.
Does a bigger machine cost more to ship per kilometre?
Yes. Over April to September 2026, machines under 5 tonnes paid a median of CA$2.62 (US$1.84) per km, machines of 5 to 15 tonnes CA$4.03 (US$2.83), and machines of 15 tonnes and up CA$5.84 (US$4.10). Heavier machines need bigger trailers and often an oversize permit.
Is the heavy equipment shipping calculator free?
Yes. The estimate is free, takes about 60 seconds and needs no account. You are not committed to book.
How accurate is an instant estimate?
The estimate depends on the weight and dimensions you confirm. Our specs tool fills them in from the make and model, and you can correct them. Accurate numbers give you an estimate that matches the trailer and permits your machine actually needs.
Why do weight and dimensions change the price so much?
They decide the trailer and whether the load needs an oversize permit. A load wider than 2.6 m generally needs a permit in Alberta, and a heavy machine may need a lowboy instead of a step deck.
Can you ship equipment between Canada and the United States?
Yes. Trusted Dispatch moves equipment across the border in both directions. We do not book moves that start and end inside the United States.
How long does delivery take?
Heavy-haul carriers cover roughly 800 km a day. Calgary to Edmonton is usually same-day once booked. Calgary to Vancouver usually delivers the next day.
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Data: hauls booked January 1 to October 1, 2026 on Trusted Dispatch, what shippers paid in Canadian dollars with GST, pickups and drop-offs snapped to the nearest major city within 150 km. The per-km figures match our city rate guides. More: Rates by city · Cost to ship heavy equipment · Skid steer costs · Rate index
