A straddle carrier is a large rubber-tyred gantry vehicle, a core piece of port equipment, used in container terminals to transport, stack and load containers. The vehicle drives directly over containers, picks them up from below and can stack them up to 3 containers high. Straddle carriers are used in high-throughput terminals where fast cycle times between the quay and container stack are critical.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Typical Range |
|---|
| Stacking height | 1-over-1, 1-over-2, or 1-over-3 |
| Lifting capacity | 40–50 tonnes |
| Travel speed (loaded) | 30 km/h |
| Lane width required | ~9.5 metres |
| Drive | Diesel or electric |
Types of Straddle Carriers
| Type | Description |
|---|
| Manual straddle carrier | Operator-driven |
| Semi-automated straddle carrier | Automated in yard, manual at transfer zone |
| Fully automated straddle carrier | No operator, automated guidance |
| Low-profile straddle carrier | For lower stacking, often rail transfer |
Leading Manufacturers
| Brand | Key models |
|---|
| Kalmar | SC 344, SC 450 (most common globally) |
| Konecranes (Noell) | NSC series |
Straddle Carrier vs Reach Stacker
| Straddle Carrier | Reach Stacker |
|---|
| Throughput | High | Medium |
| Flexibility | Requires dedicated lanes | Works in any yard |
| Stacking depth | 1 row only | 3–4 rows deep |
| Cost (new) | €700k – €1.2M | €300k – €500k |
| Best for | Large container terminals | Depots, smaller terminals |
Used Market Pricing (2026)
| Condition | Price Range |
|---|
| 10+ years, high hours | €150,000 – €300,000 |
| 5–10 years | €300,000 – €600,000 |
| Refurbished / low hours | €600,000 – €1,000,000 |
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