Oversized transport with permits and escort
A load that exceeds ordinary dimensions or weight is moved together with its permits, a routing plan and escort vehicles. The assessment comes from dimensions, weight and centre of gravity — the date is confirmed after that, so the permits have time to arrive.
Who we arrange oversized transport for
Engineering and equipment manufacturing
Machines, production lines and weldments that cannot be split into smaller pieces without losing function.
Metalwork and structures
Long profiles, beams and welded structures that overhang the loading area.
Technology assemblies
Tanks, silos, transformers and plant components with unusual height or width.
Plastics and moulds
Large mouldings and injection moulds with heavy weight concentrated on a small footprint.
How an oversized transport runs
Assessing the load
State the dimensions, weight, centre of gravity and lashing points. From those we choose the trailer type and work out what the transport will need.
Routing and permits
The route is planned around bridge capacities, underpasses and diversions. Every country on the route issues its own permit, so we apply for them in parallel.
Loading and securing
How the load is lifted on and secured is agreed with your shipping department in advance, including the equipment needed to load it.
Transport with escort
The permit decides the escort — we arrange escort vehicles, police escort where required, and plan the drive into the permitted hours.
Vehicles, dimensions and permits
- Vehicles
- Flatbed and low-bed semi-trailers, telescopic trailers for long pieces, low loaders for tall assemblies.
- Dimensions and weight
- The limits for ordinary transport are set by each country’s rules; beyond them the transport runs on a permit for a specific route and period.
- Permits
- We apply for them, separately in every country on the route. Processing times differ between countries, so oversized loads need a longer lead time.
- Escort
- The permit sets the extent of the escort — from a single escort vehicle to police escort on the largest shipments.
- Securing the load
- The lashing plan follows the centre of gravity and the lashing points; the equipment needed is agreed before loading.
Exact parameters are confirmed after the load is assessed and the permits are issued.
Permits, documents and insurance
Permits for an abnormal load are issued by the road authority of each country on the route and are valid for a specific route, vehicle and period. We prepare the applications from the data you give us — a change in dimensions or weight after a permit is issued means applying again.
Every shipment travels with a signed CMR consignment note, copies of the permits and photographs of how the load was placed and secured.
The carrier's liability is covered under the CMR convention, limited to 8.33 SDR per kilogram. For plant assemblies the invoice value is almost always above that limit, so additional cover is always worth arranging — state the value of the load in the enquiry.
Oversized transport — frequent questions
Have an oversized load?
Send us the dimensions, the weight and the loading and unloading addresses. We will assess the route and prepare a quote.