Shipping a vehicle from the USA to Thailand is a major investment, whether it is a daily driver, a classic car, a motorcycle, or a piece of heavy equipment. For ocean transport, the two primary options you will hear about are container shipping and RoRo (roll‑on/roll‑off). Both can move your vehicle to Laem Chabang and other Thai ports depending on routing, but they are not interchangeable, and choosing the wrong one can add cost, delays, and avoidable risk.
For many passenger vehicles and motorcycles, container shipping is often the stronger choice to Thailand. RoRo is a specialized solution that usually makes sense for oversized vehicles and heavy machinery that cannot be containerized efficiently. This article explains how each method works, what ro ro means in practice, and how to decide which is truly best for your shipment to Thailand.
Before comparing methods, it helps to be precise about what ro ro means in real-world shipping.
RoRo stands for “roll‑on/roll‑off” and uses purpose-built vessels where wheeled cargo—trucks, buses, machines on tracks with tow dollies, or other rollable configurations—is driven or towed onto the ship at origin and then rolled off at destination using internal ramps and vehicle decks.
For Thailand, RoRo is typically used for:
Construction and mining machinery that is too large for a standard container
Buses, coaches, motorhomes, and large RV-style vehicles
Agricultural machinery such as tractors and harvesters
Choosing RoRo for Thailand comes with specific operational expectations that are set by carriers and terminals.
The unit typically must start, steer, and brake—or be towable or rollable per the RoRo operator’s requirements for safe handling on ramps and decks. Vehicles also generally need to meet fuel and fluid restrictions, including low fuel levels and, in some cases, partial fluid drainage depending on destination rules.
Most RoRo operators and preparation guides state that vehicles should typically be delivered essentially empty, with no personal belongings and no loose parts inside the cabin or cargo area. Rules can vary by carrier and route, so shippers should follow the specific RoRo preparation and personal‑item policies that apply to their vessel.
When used in the right scenarios, RoRo can be an efficient solution to Thailand.
Oversized bulldozers, excavators, wheel loaders, graders, and cranes that are easier to drive or tow onboard than to dismantle for containers
Heavy trucks and dump trucks that would require costly disassembly to fit a container
Port or industrial equipment already configured to be driven on ramps or towed safely on wheeled gear
For these shipments, West Coast Shipping can route cargo via RoRo, coordinate port handling, and ensure compliance with Thai port rules using its specialized RoRo shipping service.
Visit this specialized RoRo shipping service to see how oversized vehicles and heavy machinery are handled worldwide.
Container shipping places your vehicle inside a sealed 20‑foot or 40‑foot steel container, which is then loaded onto a container vessel for the voyage to Thailand. This is the backbone of global trade and the primary method West Coast Shipping uses for most cars and motorcycles headed to Asia.
Container shipping to Thailand can be arranged as:
Shared (consolidated) containers where your vehicle travels with others to similar destinations
Dedicated containers where you control the entire 20‑ or 40‑foot box for one or several vehicles and related cargo
West Coast Shipping’s container programs are built around safe blocking and bracing, detailed inspection, and photo-documented loading, as outlined in its complete guide to container shipping for vehicles.
Visit this complete guide to container vehicle shipping for more detail on container loading, consolidation, and preparation steps.
For many standard Thailand shipments, container shipping offers clear practical advantages.
Works for running and non‑running vehicles, including project cars, salvage units, and vehicles with mechanical faults that cannot safely drive on ramps.
Provides a sealed, low‑touch environment with limited access and reduced exposure to port handling and sea air during transit.
Often allows properly declared parts and accessories to travel secured inside the same container, subject to Thai regulations and the specific consolidation setup.
Container services also connect through an extensive global port network and often provide more routing and schedule options to Asia than many RoRo corridors. This flexibility is particularly useful for matching US departure locations with Thai port calls and transshipment hubs.
The table below summarizes how container shipping and RoRo typically stack up for Thailand shipments.
RoRo is not automatically cheaper or more expensive than container shipping; the actual difference for Thailand depends on the unit’s size, distance to suitable ports, and how many shipments you can consolidate into shared containers.
The best way to decide between container and RoRo is to start with your vehicle type, condition, and your goals in Thailand.
For many shipments to Thailand, container shipping is often the strongest option when you are moving:
Modern passenger cars and SUVs
Vintage and collector cars
Motorcycles and scooters
Electric vehicles and hybrids
Container shipping is usually recommended in these cases because:
It accommodates non‑running or partially running vehicles using winches and specialized loading equipment.
It offers strong physical protection and lower handling exposure than typical RoRo operations.
It integrates well with shared‑container consolidations, which can reduce per‑vehicle cost on popular routes.
West Coast Shipping’s method comparison for cars lays out these trade‑offs across multiple lanes and explains why container shipping is often preferred even when RoRo is available.
Review this RoRo vs. container car shipping comparison for a detailed breakdown of pros and cons.
RoRo becomes a realistic contender for Thailand when vehicles simply cannot be containerized efficiently.
Examples include:
Articulated dump trucks, large vocational and off‑road trucks
Wheel loaders, graders, excavators, bulldozers, and cranes where dismantling for containers would be complex or uneconomical
Buses, coaches, motorhomes, and other tall, long vehicles that exceed standard container dimensions
For these shipments, West Coast Shipping evaluates both RoRo and container‑based project cargo options such as flat racks or multiple containers, balancing handling risk, cost, and port capabilities on the Thailand route.
Visit this heavy equipment shipping guide to Thailand (container vs. RoRo) to understand the specific options for large machines and oversize units.
If you are a dealer or frequent importer shipping several vehicles to Thailand, container shipping can deliver strong economies of scale.
Multiple units can be loaded in the same 40‑foot container when dimensions allow.
Consolidated sailings can reduce per‑vehicle cost while maintaining container-level protection.
Scheduling can be matched to buyer demand or auction dates in Thailand.
West Coast Shipping’s Asia hub explains how multi‑vehicle container programs are structured for dealers and repeat importers.
Explore the Asia car shipping hub to see how multi‑vehicle container solutions work across Asia, including routes serving Thailand.
From a cost perspective, the key point is that RoRo is not inherently cheaper, nor inherently more expensive, than container shipping for Thailand.
Total cost depends on:
Vehicle dimensions and operating weight
Number of vehicles or machines per shipment
Distance to the nearest suitable container depot vs. RoRo terminal in the USA
Thai port fees, handling charges, and local delivery arrangements
Whether you need to move parts and accessories along with the vehicle
Several downstream cost factors can tilt the Thailand decision toward containers.
Extra inland trucking to a more distant RoRo terminal can negate any apparent ocean-rate advantage if a container facility is closer to your origin.
With RoRo, restrictions on personal belongings and loose parts typically mean arranging separate freight for parts that could otherwise travel inside a container.
RoRo services often operate to fewer port pairs and with less schedule frequency, which can introduce storage fees or delays at origin or destination.
Shared container services, by contrast, can spread costs across multiple vehicles and offer more schedule and routing flexibility, particularly for standard cars and motorcycles.
For a Thailand‑specific view of the financial picture, including typical base shipping ranges and how taxes and duties layer on top, use West Coast Shipping’s cost breakdown for shipping a personal vehicle to Thailand.
Review this cost breakdown for shipping a personal vehicle to Thailand to understand expected budgets and line‑item charges.
Both container and RoRo follow a similar broad sequence on the US–Thailand trade.
Vehicle pickup or delivery to a US loading facility or port
Ocean freight to Laem Chabang
Unloading, customs clearance, and local handling in Thailand
On many lanes, ocean transit times for container and RoRo can overlap, with differences driven more by sailing frequency and routing than vessel speed.
Container shipping usually offers more routing and capacity options, which is valuable when shipping to Thailand.
Container lines connect to a wide network of Asian hubs, offering multiple ways to reach Thailand with transshipment if needed.
Additional sailings reduce wait times at origin and can create smoother, more predictable door‑to‑door schedules.
West Coast Shipping’s Asia programs outline typical timeframes for container shipments to major Asian ports and explain how departure from California, Florida, or New Jersey affects schedules.
Visit the Asia car shipping page to see typical transit ranges and port combinations for container moves from the USA to Asia, including Thailand.
The choice between container and RoRo is important, but execution by your logistics partner is just as critical.
West Coast Shipping specializes in:
End‑to‑end international car shipping using container, RoRo, and air options where appropriate
Company‑managed loading facilities for safe, documented container loading and secure vehicle handling.
Direct relationships with major ocean carriers for both container and RoRo capacity, which supports competitive and reliable service.
Detailed method guides that outline when container vs. RoRo is appropriate, including for classic cars, heavy machinery, and motorhomes.
For more technical detail on RoRo as a process, West Coast Shipping’s RoRo guides explain step‑by‑step what to expect from booking through destination port release.
Visit this complete guide to RoRo vehicle shipping if you want a deep dive into RoRo operations and preparation.
Review this complete guide to container shipping for vehicles for operational best practices that apply to Thailand and other destinations.
After you have a working preference between container and RoRo, the next step is to translate that choice into real numbers.
West Coast Shipping provides digital tools and guides that make this straightforward:
An international car shipping calculator that lets you input origin, destination, and vehicle information for live rate estimates based on current contracts and surcharges.
A step‑by‑step guide to using the calculator that explains each field, how fees are calculated, and how to interpret and compare your quotes.
Use the international car shipping calculator as your starting point for Thailand routing scenarios and method comparisons.
When you are ready to see actual numbers for your vehicle—whether it is a standard car suited to containers or an oversized machine that may need RoRo—the fastest path is to run your details through West Coast Shipping’s calculator and then speak with a specialist.