Every load exceeding standard dimensions — too wide, too tall, too long or too heavy — can only take to the road with a special permit. The lowbed operator's real expertise is managing this permit process as professionally as the transport itself.
Main Steps of the Process
- Load survey: The load's exact dimensions, weight and centre of gravity; the total envelope calculation together with the vehicle combination
- Route survey: Bridge capacities, underpass heights, tight junctions and urban crossings; an alternative route if needed
- Permit application: Application to the relevant road authority with vehicle, load and route information; duration varies by country and by the extent of the excess
- Escort plan: A pilot vehicle, marking and, where required, an official escort, depending on the degree of excess
- Time window: On many routes oversize transport can only be carried out within certain hours
Common Mistakes
The most expensive mistake is deviating from the approved route: a shortcut that looks small can lead to a bridge with insufficient capacity or an impassable underpass, locking the shipment up for days. The second mistake is optimistically declared dimensions; a discrepancy found in the field invalidates the permit. The third is leaving each country's separate permit regime to the last minute on cross-border transports.
Experienced operators plan the process backwards: the permit and route are settled first, and the loading date is set accordingly. In heavy haulage, haste is the most expensive luxury, even on paper, let alone on the road.