Though safety issues are sometimes exaggerated, any vehicle owner is justifiably concerned about handing over the keys to their unlocked vehicle and sending it away on a ship—especially when that vehicle is their full-time home along the Pan-American Highway. For those with larger vehicles who would love an alternative to Roll-on, Roll-off (RORO) shipping, it’s here.
During the summer of 2023, Overland Embassy shipped its first vehicle around the Darién Gap using a Flat Rack. On a Flat Rack, vehicles that are too big for a shipping container can be covered and locked for the duration of the journey. Not only is this method safer, but pricing is comparable or occasionally less expensive when two vehicles share a Flat Rack.
According to Alejandro “Alex” Huerta, owner of Overland Embassy, a Flat Rack is a metal platform with no walls or roof. Oversized vehicles or other cargo are loaded onto the rack, tied down, and covered with a full-size tarp. Like a shipping container, keys are returned to the owner. This means no one at the port or on the transport ship has access to the vehicle. Flat Racks are shipped on container vessels, not RORO vessels. At this time, the total length cannot exceed 11.7 meters long (38 feet) for one vehicle—or two vehicles shipping together.
Besides the additional security, another upside to Flat Rack is precise shipping schedules compared to tiresome RORO delays. While the actual transit time around the Darién is similar (one or two days), RORO vessels have been delayed, postponed, moved, or even canceled this year without notice. Travelers are left waiting in uncertainty, with mounting accommodation costs. In Panama, travelers cannot drop off their vehicle in port until the vessel has arrived. In contrast, Flat Rack has a semi-fixed departure every week as long as the equipment is available.
The downside to Flat Rack shipping is the quoting process, which takes more time than RORO. Shipping lines take up to a week to study vehicle photos and dimensions on a case-by-case basis. For travelers on a tight schedule, Flat Rack may not be an option. There is also damage risk, as vehicles are exposed (without walls) on container ships.
Like RORO, shipping costs fluctuate. “The shipping industry is affected by global market fluctuations,” Alex shares. “Social and political actions around the world spice up the fuel prices, bunkers, demand, and restrictions on different routes.” At the time of this writing, the cost of shipping a vehicle on a Flat Rack is essentially the same as RORO. When Overland Embassy consults clients, RORO is usually Plan A. It’s still the more popular and proven option for oversized vehicles. But if the quote is exorbitant, which can happen due to fluctuating shipping costs, then it’s worth exploring.
Though Overland Embassy’s focus is assisting travelers around the Darién Gap, there are several alternate routes available from shipping lines for those interested in Flat Rack shipping.
Learn more at OverlandEmbassy.com.
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