Oversized cargo: transportation features, permits and recommendations

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Oversized cargo is a cargo whose parameters exceed the dimensions established by the standards. For its transportation, special equipment is often required, and special requirements are imposed on transportation. How to transport such goods and what you need to know about it?

The law establishes a number of rules regarding bulky and oversized cargo. The main provisions are regulated by the rules of the road. They also have special regulations.

What is oversized cargo?

This term can cover any cargo that is more than 13.6 meters long and exceeds 2.5 meters in width and height. In terms of weight, this category includes loads that carry a load on the axles of the vehicle that exceeds the maximum allowable according to the technical requirements for this machine.

All these parameters are governed by the rules for the transportation of oversized cargo, which also indicate that when leaving the vehicle (by 1 m in length and 40 cm inwidth) the cargo must be equipped with special reflective signs.

How to transport such goods?

Of course, the transportation of oversized cargo is carried out on a special cargo vehicle. Its driver must first obtain permission from the traffic police. It is issued for up to 3 months and can be both disposable and reusable. In the latter case, the number of shipments should not exceed 10. In addition, transportation is carried out strictly along the intended route, from which it is forbidden to deviate. It's all about the carrying capacity of road structures: on this route they are one, and on the other they are different and may not correspond to the parameters of the transported cargo.

Before transportation, it is important to competently approach the organization of this process. To do this, you need to select a suitable vehicle or container, approve the necessary fastening schemes, go through loading and unloading in the prescribed manner, draw up a route and issue all accompanying documents.

What vehicles are used?

Special vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, as well as containers with the required dimensions and carrying capacity parameters are used for transportation. Long cargoes, in most cases, are transported on open platforms.

You can transport small-sized, but heavy loads using road trains, tractors and low loaderssemi-trailers. In some cases, truck cranes of increased carrying capacity are included in the work.

Shipping restrictions

Transportation of oversized and heavy cargo is subject to some restrictions. They concern not only movement, but also parking. For example, prohibited:

• Drive faster than the speed limit on the oversized cargo permit.
• Perform movement in conditions of insufficient visibility.
• Drive in bad weather.
• Move along the roadside.
• Perform transportation in case of failure of load securing.
• Proceed to transport if the load is loose and dislodged from its original anchorage.
• Carry cargo that exceeds the vehicle manufacturer's limits.
• Carry cargo that limits the driver's view or makes driving difficult.
• Carry cargo that blocks lights, such as reflectors.
• Carry cargo that damages the road surface, raises dust or makes extraneous noise.
• Stop in areas not designated as parking spaces.

Throughout the entire route, the driver's duties include strict control of the placement of the load, its condition and fastening. At the slightest violation of the requirements of the instructions, the driver must immediately eliminate it, and if this is not possible, stop moving along the route.

Worth considering: if bulky cargo is transported to another country, there may have their own rules and regulations that will also have to be observed.

Permits and fines

Permission for the transportation of oversized cargo must be obtained in the settlement designated as the starting point of the route. The documentation indicates not only the full route, but also the dimensions of the cargo being transported, as well as the axle load.

It is forbidden to transport goods, the dimensions of which exceed the maximum allowable, without the appropriate permission. Otherwise, you can earn a serious fine. For individuals, its size is 2.0-2.5 thousand rubles, and legal entities face a much higher pen alty - 400-500 thousand. In addition, you can lose your license for up to six months.

Escort of oversized cargo

Transportation of bulky goods may require escort by special vehicles with flashing beacons. This is especially required for long loads, more than 24 meters long and 4 meters wide. Requirements for the movement of the accompanying vehicle: it must move ahead of the cargo vehicle, at a distance of 10-20 meters, while not obstructing the view of either it or oncoming vehicles.

Escort is required in any case for cars moving with partial occupation of the oncoming lane. At the same time, the dimensions of the transported goods do not play a role.

Official rules and regulations

So, deliver bulky andheavy loads must be subject to special rules. They are assigned a whole section of traffic rules at number 23 - “Carriage of goods”. In addition, it is necessary to follow the requirements of the instructions for the transportation of these goods by road. However, it is the Rules of the Road that play the leading role. In the event of an emergency on the road, it is from them that the court will be repelled in the first place.

Regardless of the speed specified in the permit, you must not exceed the speed limit for transporting heavy loads. For motor vehicles it is 60 km/h. If the car is moving on the bridge, you can not drive at a speed higher than 15 km/h.

In addition to obtaining permission from RosAvtodor, in some cases it is also necessary to obtain special approval for crossing railway crossings. It takes between two days and two weeks to process all this documentation.

SDA does not establish any restrictions on the maximum weight of a car with a load. It all depends on the maximum load on the axle, as well as the quality of the road surface. However, the rules clearly state that a load is considered heavy if its weight, together with the car, is more than 38 tons. For cargo exceeding a mass of 44 tons, it is required not only to obtain a permit, but to develop a special project.

As you can see, in order to transport bulky cargo, you need to take into account many rules and carefully prepare. That's why most people trust thisprocedure to competent carriers with many years of experience.