Rigging-Busters handles heavy equipment loading and unloading in Toronto and across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Our machinery movers and riggers load industrial machines onto trucks, flatbeds, lowboys and tilt-deck trailers, unload them from trailers and shipping containers, and take care of the transport in between.
We work for manufacturers, machine shops, warehouses, equipment dealers, auction buyers and contractors who need heavy machinery transportation with the loading and unloading done right: the machine rigged and secured at pickup, hauled on the right trailer, and set in place at delivery by the same crew.
- Industrial only: machinery and heavy equipment; no household moves, general freight or labour-only unloading.
- One crew from pickup to set-in-place: rigging, loading, transport, unloading, positioning and levelling.
- Fast quotes: replies within 2–4 business hours.
- Service area: Toronto, the GTA and southern Ontario, plus cross-border trips to and from the US.
Need a ballpark first? Try our Heavy Lifting & Moving Calculator for a rough price range.
or give a call +1-647-846-5179
Heavy Equipment Loading & Unloading Contractors in Toronto
Loading and unloading are the riskiest moments of a heavy equipment move, so we treat them as rigging work, not as a delivery. Our heavy equipment loading and unloading services cover Toronto and the surrounding area, about 50 km around the city:
As heavy equipment contractors, we cover oversized load handling, industrial equipment moving and specialized transport services for plants, warehouses and other industrial buildings across Toronto and the GTA.
Every job gets a lift plan, rated rigging gear and load securement that suits the machine, and the crew stays until the equipment is unloaded and placed where you need it.
or give a call +1-647-846-5179
How We Load and Unload Heavy Equipment in Toronto
Whether it is one machine onto a flatbed or a whole production line onto several trailers, a safe load-out follows the same seven steps:
- Equipment data: make, model, weight, dimensions, centre of gravity and lifting points, plus both addresses and your dates.
- Site check at both ends: the path from the machine to the truck, doors, docks, floor capacity, yard space and where the trailer can park.
- Method and trailer: forklift, skates, gantry, jack-and-roll or a crane lift by a licensed partner, and a flatbed, step-deck, lowboy or tilt-deck trailer to suit the load.
- Preparation: power is disconnected and fluids are drained by your trades; we lock moving parts and skid or crate the machine when needed.
- Loading: the machine is lifted or rolled onto the trailer, placed for correct weight distribution, and chained and strapped down.
- Transport on a planned route, with permits and escorts for oversize loads.
- Offloading and set-in-place: the machine is unloaded, moved into the building, positioned and levelled.
In Ontario, electrical work for hire needs a Licensed Electrical Contractor (O. Reg. 570/05), so your licensed electricians disconnect and reconnect power; we handle the rigging, loading, transport, unloading and set-in-place.
Loading Only, Unloading Only or the Full Move
Many jobs cover only one end of the trip. If a dealer or carrier delivers the machine, we unload it from the truck or container and move it into place; if a buyer sends a truck, we rig the machine out of the plant and load it. When you want the whole move, our crew loads, hauls and unloads as one job, with industrial rigging services in Toronto for the lifts.
or give a call +1-647-846-5179
Equipment Our Crew Uses: Forklifts, Skates, Gantries and Crane Lifts
Forklifts, rigging and lifting gear are the core of the job. We choose the method by weight, footprint and the space around the truck, and plan loading solutions for tight docks, narrow yards and busy streets:
- Heavy-duty forklifts to load and unload trailers at docks, in yards and inside plants
- Machinery skates and dollies to roll machines from the building to the truck
- Hydraulic gantries to lift machines where there is no overhead crane or no room for a forklift
- Jack-and-roll systems to raise very heavy equipment in stages and move it on or off a trailer
- Rigging gear: rated slings, shackles and spreader bars for each lift, and specialty rigging for awkward loads
- Cargo control: chains, binders, straps and edge protection to secure every load
When a machine has to come off a trailer over a wall, onto a roof or into a pit, we arrange crane services for heavy equipment through licensed crane partners, as part of the same plan and quote. We do not rent out cranes or forklifts; if the forklift itself needs moving, see our forklift moving service in Toronto.
or give a call +1-647-846-5179
What We Load and Unload: Machinery, Containers and Construction Equipment
Most of our work is industrial machinery of all types, but the same crew and methods handle containers and mobile equipment.
Machinery on Flatbeds, Lowboys and Tilt-Decks
CNC machines, lathes, mills and industrial drilling machines; presses and press brakes; conveyors and assembly line sections; printing presses; generators and electrical transformers; and other manufacturing equipment. Tall or very heavy machines ride on a lowboy (float) or step-deck trailer; machines a forklift can load go on a flatbed or a tilt-deck.
Container Unloading for Machinery
Machines bought overseas usually arrive in 20 ft or 40 ft containers, and are often railed into the GTA through the CN Brampton Intermodal Terminal or CPKC Vaughan Intermodal before a truck brings them to your site. We unload machinery from standard, open-top and flat-rack containers: inside the box the machine is jacked, set on skates and rolled to the door for a forklift, and machines in open-top containers can be lifted out by a licensed crane partner.
Transloading a machine from a container to a flatbed, and loading machines into containers for your freight forwarder, work the same way.
Construction, Road and Farm Equipment Transport
Construction equipment transport, heavy road equipment and farm equipment transport are case by case for us, not part of our core industrial service. Need a bulldozer moved, or excavators, loaders or other heavy construction equipment, a roller or a tractor, as part of a plant or dealer job? Send the specs and we will confirm whether we can take the job, with the trailer, route and permits, before we quote. The same applies to large oil and gas, mining or power generation equipment.
Industries We Serve
Metal fabrication and machine shops, automotive parts, food and beverage, plastics and packaging, printing, heavy engineering, power and utilities, warehousing and logistics, equipment dealers, auction buyers and contractors across Toronto and the GTA.
or give a call +1-647-846-5179
Heavy Equipment Transport, Permits and Storage in Toronto
Many heavy machinery transport companies only drive the truck. Our heavy equipment transportation services include the loading and unloading at both ends, so the machine is handled by one crew and one plan, with the logistics, route and timing worked out before moving day.
Heavy Haul Trucking and Wide Load Transport
Most machines travel on a flatbed or step-deck. Taller and heavier equipment goes on a lowboy, and wide, tall or long loads become oversize loads that need permits and, on some routes, escorts. We pick the trailer for the load, and our heavy equipment hauling covers Toronto, the GTA and the rest of Ontario.
Oversize Load Permits in Toronto
Before transporting heavy equipment on city streets, check the size of the truck and load together. On City of Toronto roads, a truck and load that reach 2.59 m wide, 4.15 m high, 21.33 m long or 50 t need a single-trip oversize load permit, usually issued in 7 to 10 business days. Oversize loads are not permitted on the Don Valley Parkway, Black Creek Drive, the Allen Expressway, the elevated part of Lake Shore Boulevard West or the Gardiner Expressway east of the Humber River, so we route around them. Provincial highways need an MTO oversize/overweight permit, requested at least 5 business days ahead.
Heavy Equipment Relocation Across Ontario and to the US
We plan heavy equipment relocation within Toronto, between plants in Ontario and across the border: heavy equipment shipping to and from the US, including machines coming to Ontario from US suppliers and auctions. Your customs broker handles the border clearance; we handle the loading, transport and unloading. Moving a whole plant? See factory and plant relocation in Toronto.
Heavy Equipment Storage in Toronto
When the new building is not ready, we can store machines short term between pickup and delivery, on skids or in crates, and deliver when you call. Storage, loading and delivery are then planned as one job, so the machine is only handled by our crew.
Loading, Unloading and Transport Cost in Toronto: What Affects the Price
Every job is quoted on its own, after we see the equipment list and both sites. The main cost drivers are:
- Weight, size and lifting points of each machine
- Both sites: dock or ground-level access, doors, floor capacity and the distance from the machine to the truck
- Method: forklift, skates, gantry, jack-and-roll or a crane lift by a licensed partner
- Trailer and distance: flatbed, step-deck, lowboy or tilt-deck, and the kilometres between sites
- Permits and escorts for wide, tall or heavy loads
- Extras: crating, storage, container work, set-in-place and levelling
Ask for loading, transport and unloading in one quote so you can compare like with like. Estimates are free.
or give a call +1-647-846-5179
Why Toronto Plants and Dealers Hire Us
- Riggers, not just drivers: the crew that loads your machine also unloads it and sets it in place.
- The right method for each site: forklifts, skates, gantries and jack-and-roll, with crane lifts arranged through licensed partners.
- Secured loads: machines blocked, chained and strapped for the trip, with moving parts locked.
- Permits and routes handled for oversize loads on City of Toronto roads and provincial highways.
- Fast answers: quote replies within 2–4 business hours.
A good fit: loading and unloading machinery at plants, warehouses, docks and other industrial facilities; machines arriving by truck or container; auction purchases and dealer deliveries; and relocations that need loading, transport and unloading by one crew.
Not a fit: household or office moves, furniture lifted in by crane, labour-only unloading of boxes and pallets from trucks or containers (lumper services), building and construction material delivery, general freight, equipment repair, and crane or equipment rental.
Have These Ready for an Exact Quote
Estimates are free, and we reply within 2–4 business hours. Send these with your quote request:
- What is moving: make, model, weight and size of each machine (a nameplate photo helps)
- Pickup and delivery addresses, and whether each end has a dock, a ground-level door or a yard
- How it travels: on our trailer, on your carrier’s truck, or in a 20 ft or 40 ft container
- Access at both sites: door sizes, floor capacity, ramps or steps, and any overhead crane
- Dates and hours: pickup and delivery dates, and any night or weekend windows
- Photos of the machine, the route to the truck and the final position
For urgent loading or unloading, call us directly. We accept payments in Canadian dollars (CAD).
or give a call +1-647-846-5179
Areas We Cover in Toronto and Nearby
Our crew loads and unloads heavy equipment across Toronto: Rexdale and the industrial areas around Pearson Airport in Etobicoke, Downsview and the Keele and Finch area in North York, the Tapscott employment area in Scarborough, and the Port Lands. Across the GTA we work in Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Milton and Durham Region, and we haul to Hamilton and the rest of southern Ontario.
Loading or unloading in Brampton? See heavy equipment loading and unloading in Brampton.
Key Cities We Serve Around Toronto
| City | Province | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto | Ontario | Canada |
| Mississauga | Ontario | Canada |
| Milton | Ontario | Canada |
| Vaughan | Ontario | Canada |
| Markham | Ontario | Canada |
| Richmond Hill | Ontario | Canada |
| Brampton | Ontario | Canada |
| Bolton | Ontario | Canada |
| King City | Ontario | Canada |
| Whitchurch-Stouffville | Ontario | Canada |
| Oakville | Ontario | Canada |
| Burlington | Ontario | Canada |
| Whitby | Ontario | Canada |
| Ajax | Ontario | Canada |
| Pickering | Ontario | Canada |
| Newmarket | Ontario | Canada |
| Aurora | Ontario | Canada |
| Oshawa | Ontario | Canada |
| Georgetown | Ontario | Canada |
| Halton Hills | Ontario | Canada |
or give a call +1-647-846-5179
Other Services in Toronto
Related services from our Toronto crew (or browse all our services in Toronto):
- Heavy Equipment & Machinery Movers in Toronto, ON
- Heavy & Industrial Rigging Services in Toronto, ON
- Factory & Plant Relocation Services in Toronto, ON
- Lab & Medical Equipment Movers in Toronto, ON
- Forklift Moving Service in Toronto, ON
- CNC Machine Movers in Toronto, ON
- Printing Press Movers in Toronto, ON
- Electrical Transformer Moving Services in Toronto, ON
- Data Centre Equipment Rigging in Toronto, ON
- Plant Closure & Auction Removal in Toronto, ON
Location of our sales office:
120 Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M4P 1E2, Canada 👇
Heavy Equipment Loading & Unloading in Toronto: FAQ
Industrial machinery and heavy equipment: CNC machines and other machine tools, presses, conveyors and production line sections, printing presses, generators and transformers. We load and unload trucks, flatbeds, lowboys, tilt-deck trailers and shipping containers. For very large oil and gas, mining or power generation equipment, send the specs first.
It depends on the machine and the site. Heavy-duty forklifts work at docks and in yards, machinery skates and dollies roll machines to the truck, hydraulic gantries lift where there is no overhead crane, and jack-and-roll systems handle very heavy loads. Every lift uses rated slings and shackles, loads are chained and strapped down, and a licensed crane partner joins when a crane lift is needed.
We start with the weight, centre of gravity and lifting points, check access at both sites and choose the method and trailer. The machine is prepared and its moving parts locked, then lifted or rolled onto the trailer, placed for correct weight distribution and secured with chains and straps. At delivery the steps run in reverse, ending with the machine set in place and levelled.
It depends on the load. Heavy equipment transporters often load equipment that can be driven or winched onto the trailer, but machinery that has to be lifted needs a forklift, rigging gear and a trained crew, usually arranged by the shipper and the receiver. We can handle one end, both ends, or the whole move including transport, so the same riggers load the machine and unload it.
Every job is quoted on its own. The price depends on the weight and size of the machine, access at both sites, the lifting method, the trailer and distance, permits for oversize loads, and extras such as crating, storage or set-in-place. Try our Heavy Lifting and Moving Calculator for a rough range, or send the details for a free estimate.
Yes. We unload machines from 20 ft and 40 ft containers, including open-top and flat-rack units, at your dock or in your yard. Inside the container the machine is jacked, set on skates and rolled to the door for a forklift, or an open-top is unloaded by crane through a licensed partner. We also load machines into containers, but we do not unload floor-loaded boxes or pallets.
Only for oversize loads. On City of Toronto roads, a truck and load that together reach 2.59 m wide, 4.15 m high, 21.33 m long or 50 t need a single-trip oversize load permit, usually issued in 7 to 10 business days, and some expressways are closed to them. Provincial highways need an MTO permit. We arrange permits and escorts as part of the move.
Yes. When the new site is not ready, we can store skidded or crated machines short term and deliver them when you call, so the same crew loads, stores, hauls and unloads your equipment. Tell us the size, weight and dates in your quote request, and we will build storage into the plan and the price.
No. We are an industrial crew for machinery and heavy equipment. For household or office moves, furniture, labour-only truck or container unloading, lumper services for boxes and pallets, or building material delivery, a moving company or freight service is the right call. If the load is a machine, a production line or heavy equipment, we are a good fit.
Send the make, model, weight and size of each machine, both addresses, access details, dates and a few photos with the quote button on this page, or call us. Estimates are free, and we reply within 2–4 business hours. For urgent loading or unloading in Toronto or the GTA, calling is the fastest way.
