Wide and abnormal loads are types of shipment that come with their own set of rules and regulations.
Have you ever shipped an abnormal load? Would you know what counts as a heavy load, and what you’ve got to do before you ship them?
In this blog, we’ll cover all bases, so you’ve got everything you need to ship wide or abnormal loads.
What Is An Abnormal Load?
Where most consignments are made up of reasonably sized packages that fit inside containers, trucks and aeroplanes, abnormal loads are most commonly transported by road.
Abnormal loads are loads that can’t be divided into smaller loads for the sake of transit without incurring high costs or damage to the goods involved. When it comes to what counts as an abnormal load, these are the figures:
- a weight of more than 44,000kg
- an axle load of more than 10,000kg for a single non-driving axle and 11,500kg for a single driving axle
- a width of more than 2.9 metres
- a rigid length of more than 18.65 metres
And if you’re looking to move your abnormal load abroad, different figures may apply. More on that later.
Examples Of Abnormal Goods
If you’re struggling to get your head around what constitutes an abnormal load, these examples of abnormal goods might help.
- Wind turbines
- Luxury yachts
- Cranes
- Drilling rigs
- Light aircraft
- Factory machinery
Shipping Wide Or Abnormal Loads Within The UK
When it comes to moving abnormal loads around the country, no two jobs are the same. The transport of abnormal and wide loads requires special handling equipment and transport vehicles to ensure safe and proper delivery is achieved.
If you’re responsible for shipping an abnormal load within the UK, you need to notify the appropriate authorities ahead of time. Depending on the load, and your route, you might need to inform:
- The police
- The highway authorities
- Bridge and structure owners, such as Network Rail.
This is because these authorities may need to make special arrangements for the safe transport of your consignment.
Number Of Loads
Usually, only one abnormal load is allowed to be carried at one time. However, two or more may be transported on one vehicle as long as the loads are picked up and delivered to the same place and are of the same nature.
Advance Warning
It’s crucial to inform the authorities of your abnormal load well in advance, so there is time to get the proper clearances. For many abnormal loads, two clear days’ notice is sufficient, but it’s best to check way ahead of time in case your shipment meets other criteria.
You can read more about clearance times on the Government website here.
Electronic Service Delivery For Abnormal Loads (ESDAL)
Planning on shipping a wide or abnormal load? The ESDAL system streamlines the process for everyone involved.
If you’re a haulier, you can use ESDAL to:
- Plan your route and check its suitability for your load
- Access full details of everyone you need to notify
- Notify the police, highways and bridge authorities
- Get advance notice of any potential route issues
- Save vehicle and route details for future use
Anyone in your business who will be using the system will need to complete their own online registration form to use it.
Shipping Wide Or Abnormal Loads Overseas
Anyone shipping abnormal loads overseas need to first register their trailer.
Some countries also measure abnormal loads differently. If you’re shipping an abnormal load abroad, check with each country it’s travelling through to find out if your cargo meets their criteria.
If your load is considered abnormal in any of the countries on its route, you’ll need to get an abnormal load trailer keeper’s certificate and keep it handy within the vehicle. Your certificate will be requested at each border you cross.
Plan Ahead When You’re Shipping Abnormal Goods
It’s not difficult to ship wide or abnormal goods.
Register with and make use of the online ESDAL system to get all boxes ticked with ease. And for peace of mind, submit your plan way ahead of time. That way, you can be sure you’ve got the proper clearances and keep up-to-date with potential route problems.
Not Sure What Type Of Shipping Container You Need
Here at Millennium Cargo, we’ve moved everything from single pallets to oversized goods.
Download our container specifications guide for a comprehensive look at what we offer.