International Sweeper Truck Shipping
We recently managed the international transport of a used street sweeper truck, built on a heavy-duty International chassis, from Kansas City, Missouri to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia — a growing logistics and industrial hub in South America.
This wasn’t just any truck — it was a full-featured sweeper vehicle, equipped with dual steering, hydraulic brush systems, debris hopper, and water tanks for dust suppression. With an overall length of 28 feet, width of 8.5 feet, height of around 11 feet, and a weight exceeding 25,000 lbs (11,300 kg), the unit presented both overland and ocean freight challenges.
Due to its height and configuration, the truck was not eligible for Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) shipping. Instead, it was carefully prepped and shipped as static cargo inside an open-top container. This process included:
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Draining all fuel and fluids per port safety guidelines
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Disconnecting the battery and securing all movable components
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Wrapping exposed hydraulic and electrical systems for protection
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Lowering suspension and removing side mirrors to optimize container fit
From Kansas City, the vehicle was transported by land to the Port of Houston, where it was professionally containerized and loaded for international shipment. The ocean leg took it to Port of Arica, Chile, the nearest seaport gateway for inland Bolivian cargo. From there, we coordinated inland customs clearance and cross-border trucking to the final destination — Santa Cruz de la Sierra, one of Bolivia’s largest and most dynamic urban centers.
Our team handled all required documentation:
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Bill of Lading
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Commercial Invoice & Packing List
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AES Export Filing (Shipper’s Export Declaration)
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Non-Hazardous Certification
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Original Vehicle Title & Power of Attorney
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EPA Form for used diesel vehicles export
Throughout the journey, the client received real-time tracking, photos from staging and loading, and full support with Bolivian customs requirements.
From Midwestern city streets to South American infrastructure, this project is a great example of how we connect complex equipment to emerging markets — safely, efficiently, and with full attention to detail.