Heavy haulage specialists can manage quite a few transport situations, but when you have a unique transport need, it takes some planning ahead. Loads that are more than 2.9 metres wide will need to be carefully considered. Here are a few things to look at before you book wide load transportation services.

1. Will You Need a Crane?

For very large loads, it may not be possible to simply move them onto the trailer. You’ll need special equipment, as even forklifts may not be sturdy enough for the job. Should you need to use a crane, even a small one, keep in mind that you’ll have to have a crane at each end of the trip; one to lift the object onto the trailer and one to lift it off and into place.

2. Getting Permission

If you have an abnormal load, or one that is wider than 2.9m or longer than 18.65m, you’ll need special permission to haul it. The police will need to be notified of the movement two days ahead of time, but if the load is very large, you’ll also need to get permission from Highways England’s Abnormal Loads Team. Should you plan to move to another country, you’ll have to check with the authorities in that country, as well.

3. Marker Boards Added

Anything over 305mm on either side of the trailer will require marker boards to be fitted to the front and rear of the vehicle. This lets other drivers know that your load is wider than normal and will help prevent potential issues.

4. Do You Need an Attendant?

If the overall width is between 3.5m and 4.3m, you’ll need the marker boards, as well as an attendant. This is essentially a pilot car that will drive ahead and ensure the road is clear enough to pass through with the wide load. It prevents potential accidents but is also a little slower. The attendant doesn’t have any authority to stop or affect other vehicles on the road but it will warn them to be careful of the wide load.

5. Consider a Professional Haulage Service

It requires a lot of planning and paperwork to prepare for transporting an abnormal load. If you want to make things easier, you can simply hire a professional haulage service. They already have the trailers necessary, as well as experienced drivers and pilot cars. Be sure to ask if you need to get the relevant permissions or if they will handle this for you.

Are you planning to haul a wide load somewhere? Contact TW Bowler Ltd. to find out how we can help you! We’re the perfect experts for the job.