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Special transport and Project Cargo
Abnormal load transport: exceptional and oversized cargo
Over 2.55 m wide, 4 m high or beyond the permitted length: route survey, lowbed and multi axle trailers, escorts and permits
- Width carried
- 4.5 m+
- Length carried
- 30 m+
- Trailer types
- 8
- Route survey
- Permits per country
- Authorised escort
- Lowbed, multi-axle, SPMT
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Abnormal load transport · Europe
Abnormal load transport and out of gauge cargo
We provide abnormal load and oversized transport for cargo of exceptional dimensions: bulky freight, out of gauge (OOG) loads, abnormal loads and wide loads exceeding 2.55 m in width, 4 m in height or the permitted length.
We plan every oversize transport with a route survey, lowbed and multi axle trailers, police escorted transport and abnormal load permits, including SPMT solutions for the most complex loads.
- Standard usable length
- 13.6 m
- Standard width
- 2.45 m
- Standard height
- 3 m
- Route survey
- Permits per country
- Authorised escorts
- Lowbed, multi axle, SPMT
How we decide
How we choose the right trailer for your cargo
Three criteria settle the configuration, in this order.
Weight and axle distribution
For heavy tonnages we choose gondolas with 4 or more axles, which spread the weight evenly and stay within the legal limits on every road structure.
Height and centre of gravity
For tall machinery, lowered decks (low bed) bring the loading point down, keeping the overall height under the legal limit of 4 metres.
Length and irregular shape
For long cargo such as wind blades, pipes or beams, we use extendable trailers that adjust to the exact length of the piece.
Abnormal load / oversized
Why choose us for abnormal load and oversize transport
Three things we settle before oversized cargo takes to the road.
Route survey and exceptional dimensions
For every out of gauge transport we run a route survey that analyses bridges, viaducts and obstacles, choosing the lowbed trailer and the multi axle configuration that suit the oversized cargo.
Escorts, permits and oversized authorisations
We obtain the abnormal load permit and provide police escorted transport in every country, in line with the rules for abnormal and wide loads.
Oversize equipment: lowbed, multi axle, SPMT
We use lowbed trailers, extendable platforms, multi axle trailers and SPMT (Self-Propelled Modular Transporter) for oversize and OOG cargo of exceptional dimensions.
How we work
The process of an exceptional cargo transport
Five stages, from the dimensions of the piece to the final report.
- 01
Cargo specifications
You send the dimensions, the weight and, if you have them, photos of the equipment.
- 02
We choose the vehicle
Together with the partner carrier we select the right type of trailer.
- 03
Route survey and permits
We study the route and obtain the permits required for every country crossed.
- 04
Escorts and execution
We coordinate the escorts and monitor the transport throughout the journey.
- 05
Delivery and report
Delivery at destination and a final project report.
Industries served
Industries we provide abnormal load and oversized transport for
Each industry has its own page, with the equipment and permits that suit it.
Renewable energy
Abnormal load transport for wind blades, nacelles and towers.
View the pageOil and gas
Abnormal load transport for tanks, columns and refinery modules.
View the pageConstruction and infrastructure
Abnormal load transport for construction machinery, beams and cranes.
View the pageConventional energy
Abnormal load transport for transformers and generators.
View the pageMining and steel
Abnormal load transport for mining machinery, mills and industrial furnaces.
View the pageAviation and defence
Abnormal load transport for aircraft components and military vehicles.
View the pageMarine and shipbuilding
Abnormal load transport for yachts and vessels.
View the pageChemical industry
Abnormal load transport for chemical reactors and tanks.
View the pageRail
Abnormal load transport for locomotives and wagons.
View the pageManufacturing
Abnormal load transport for machine tools and presses.
View the pageAgriculture
Abnormal load transport for combine harvesters.
View the page
Areas of expertise
The types of exceptional cargo we carry
Every category of cargo brings its own handling, balancing and securing challenges — and often its own type of trailer.
Agricultural machinery
Combines, tractors and water tanks, carried both domestically and internationally.
Construction and infrastructure
Excavators, cranes, drilling rigs and equipment for major sites.
Energy
Wind turbines, transformers and other large energy equipment.
Transport
Wagons, vessels and aircraft components.
Modular construction
Mobile homes and modular structures, delivered complete or in modules.
Steel structures
Metal fabrications of various sizes and industrial applications.
Long cargo
Pipes, beams and profiles of various lengths and diameters.
Military equipment
Specific vehicles and machinery, carried with escorts and confidentiality.
Specialist equipment
The abnormal load vehicles we operate through our partners
Every exceptional load gets the trailer that suits its weight, its height and its centre of gravity. Through our network of verified partner carriers we have access to a full range of specialist equipment.
Straight open platform
A trailer with a completely flat deck, no steps, the right solution for cargo that slightly exceeds the usual envelope but does not need a lowered centre of gravity.
Lowered deck (semi low bed)
A deck lowered relative to the wheel axis, allowing tall machinery to travel without exceeding the legal limit of 4 metres in overall height.
Gondola (low bed)
A low loading area, recessed between the axles, suited to heavy equipment with a wide base. It provides a very low centre of gravity and greater stability over long distances.
4-axle gondola (low bed)
The 4-axle version of the low bed gondola, spreading the weight over a larger area and staying within the legal axle load limits even at very high tonnages.
Extendable trailer
A telescopic chassis that adjusts in length to the piece being carried, the right solution for long cargo such as wind blades, beams or industrial pipes.
Step-deck trailer with wheel wells
A platform with side walls (wells) that frame the wheels of the machine being carried, allowing the overall height to be lowered further, suited to wheeled machinery up to 4 metres tall.
Hydraulic modular trailer
For ultra-heavy pieces such as transformers, industrial modules or marine components, we use Goldhofer or Scheuerle hydraulic modular trailers, which can be coupled into multi-axle configurations to spread loads of hundreds of tonnes.
Equipped escort vehicle
Pilot vehicles fitted with signalling, beacons and radio communication, compulsory for transports that exceed certain dimensional thresholds on the routes crossed.
Definition & context
What an exceptional or oversized load actually is
Cargo is considered exceptional (abnormal load) when its dimensions or weight exceed the standard limits allowed for free movement on public roads. It is not only about giant machinery: it can be a single industrial piece, a transformer, a tanker, a small vessel or a wind turbine section.
The difference from ordinary road transport is that each such load needs an individual assessment: which vehicle can carry it, which route it can cross without meeting bridges, tunnels or power lines that are too low, and which permits are required in every country crossed. Every request of this kind goes through a dedicated planning team, working with verified partner carriers, before a vehicle is allocated.
The practical benchmark is the standard road trailer, with a usable loading area of roughly 13.6 m in length, 2.45 m in width and 3 m in height. If your cargo exceeds any of these dimensions, it simply does not fit on an ordinary truck and automatically falls into abnormal load transport, with a specialist vehicle and, where applicable, permits.
In short: beyond 13.6 m in length you need an extendable trailer or a pilot vehicle, beyond 2.45 m in width the cargo exceeds the platform's lateral envelope, and beyond 3 m in height a lowered deck (low bed) is normally used. If the combined weight exceeds 40 tonnes, the transport falls under the abnormal load regime anyway: a specialist vehicle, possibly a special transport permit and, above certain thresholds, escorts.
Thresholds and consequences
Length
Standard threshold13.6 m
Extendable trailer or pilot vehicle.
Width
Standard threshold2.45 m
Lateral envelope exceeded, with escorts.
Height
Standard threshold3 m
Lowered deck (low bed), under the legal 4 m limit.
Weight
Standard threshold40 t
Abnormal load regime, with a special permit.
| Dimension | Standard threshold | What exceeding it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 13.6 m | Extendable trailer or pilot vehicle. |
| Width | 2.45 m | Lateral envelope exceeded, with escorts. |
| Height | 3 m | Lowered deck (low bed), under the legal 4 m limit. |
| Weight | 40 t | Abnormal load regime, with a special permit. |
Custom request
Oversized loads have no instant price
Every oversized or heavy move is priced on its own: the route is checked bridge by bridge, permits are issued for the exact dimensions of the piece, and some moves need an escort. A price shown on the spot would be a number with nothing behind it, so we send the quote once a colleague has checked the route.
What to send us so we can quote
- The dimensions of the piece: length, width, height
- Total weight and, if you know it, the axle load
- Loading and unloading addresses, and how accessible they are
- How it is loaded and unloaded: crane, ramp, self-loading
- The date you want and any fixed time windows
We reply on the same working day.
Why us
Why work with us?
We are more than a transport provider — we are your long-term logistics partner.
Fast Response
We provide quotes and transport confirmations as quickly as possible, without bureaucracy.
Insured Transport
All our shipments are fully insured, giving you peace of mind regardless of type or distance.
Fair Pricing
Transparent and competitive rates, without hidden costs or unpleasant surprises on the invoice.
Complete Service Package
From pickup to delivery, we manage all logistics for you with full responsibility.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about abnormal load and oversized transport
Abnormal load transport and out of gauge cargo call for dedicated equipment and permits. Here is what you need to know.
What is the maximum envelope you can legally carry?
We carry cargo over 4.5 m wide or over 30 m long, with permits and a double escort. In practice the real limit is set not by the law but by the route: bridges, underpasses, roundabouts and overhead lines. That is why, for every exceptional envelope, we establish feasibility through a detailed route survey before confirming the transport. Useful legislation and resources: Romanian Government Ordinance 43/1997 on the road regime and Directive 96/53/EC on maximum weights and dimensions.
What happens when the load exceeds bridge heights or lane widths?
The route survey identifies every critical point, and we propose solutions: diversions, temporarily raising power lines, provisionally removing signage, night-time crossings or even switching to a different mode of transport on the problematic section. Nothing starts before we have validated that the whole route can be travelled safely.
At exceptional dimensions, how many escort vehicles are needed?
It depends on the envelope: one escort vehicle for medium excesses and two above roughly 4.5 m in width or 30 m in length, plus the traffic police for a major envelope or sensitive areas. On undivided roads the escort travels in front, and on motorways behind. The exact configuration is set by the permit. Useful resource: CNAIR — Special Transport Authorisations (AST).
Does the load have to be dismantled or segmented, or does it travel whole?
We assess with the client whether the equipment can be segmented or has to be delivered in one piece. Many items — columns, tanks, generators — cannot be dismantled, and that dictates the entire route engineering and the choice of trailer. Where segmentation is possible, it can significantly reduce the complexity and the cost of the transport.
What time or night-time restrictions apply to major out of gauge transports?
Transports with a major envelope frequently run at night or outside peak hours, within the windows imposed by the permit, to reduce the impact on traffic. These time windows, along with any compulsory stops, are planned in advance and built into the delivery schedule.
What equipment do you use for oversized and OOG cargo?
We use low-bed trailers, telescopic or extendable platforms for very long cargo, multi-axle modular trailers and self-propelled SPMT (Self-Propelled Modular Transporter) units for pieces of exceptional dimensions and tonnage. We choose the configuration according to dimensions, weight and load distribution, so that the legal axle limits are respected.
Ready to ship your cargo?
Our team will get back to you in under 2 hours with a personalized quote — no bureaucracy.