Abnormal Loads
Heavy Haulage Driver
A heavy haulage driver transports oversized loads such as transportable houses or machinery using specially designed trailers. Some oversized loads are required to be accompanied by a pilot vehicle operator.
Heavy Truck Driver
A heavy truck driver drives heavy trucks, requiring a special licence, to transport bulky goods or materials. They may specialise as livestock transporters, log haulers, multi-combination drivers and tanker drivers.
Abnormal Loads - Industry Guidelines
Code of Practice: Lighting and marking for Special Order, VR1, STGO and C&U loads (561KB PDF)
- A brief guide to overhanging loads (92KB PDF)
- Notice requesting a Local Highways Authority to secure the removal of an obstruction (40.5KB DOC)
- Water preferred policy: Guidelines for the movement of abnormal indivisible loads (561KB PDF)
- Code of Practice: Lighting and marking for abnormal load self escorting vehicles incorporating operating guidance (500KB PDF)
- Aide Memoire for notification requirements (86KB PDF)
Transporting abnormal loads
1. Abnormal loads
An ‘abnormal load’ is a vehicle that has any of the following:
- a weight of more than 44,000 kilograms
- an axle load of more than 10,000 kilograms for a single non-driving axle and 11,500 kilograms for a single driving axle
- a width of more than 2.9 metres
- a length of more than 18.65 metres
If you are responsible for transporting abnormal loads, you’ll need to follow regulations for notifying the authorities.
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Pilot Vehicle Operator
A pilot vehicle operator accompanies trucks carrying oversized loads above the length or width regulated by the transport department. Pilots warn other road users that an oversized load is ahead or oncoming and, when required, clear the way for the oversized load, or prevent other road users from overtaking or interfering with the cargo. Pilots in some states and territories may also have the power to direct traffic.
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In South Africa Certain vehicles and loads cannot be moved on public roads without exceeding the limitations in terms of the dimensions and/or mass as prescribed in the Regulations of the National Road Traffic Act (Act 93 of 1996). Where such a vehicle or load cannot be dismantled without disproportionate effort, expense or risk of damage, into units that can travel or be transported legally, it is classified as an abnormal load. When the movement of an abnormal load is considered to be in the economic and/or social interest of the country, a special permit may be issued to allow it to operate on a public road for a limited period. Permits are normally issued by the Provincial Road Authorities and, if necessary, input is obtained from local and metropolitan authorities.A permit is needed to transport abnormal loads and vehicles. The requirements for a permit depend on the size and nature of the load or vehicle. The conditions applying to a permit are stipulated on the permit itself and may include traffic assistance. Permits are available from the Department of Transport and Public Works, Law Administration Division. Applications can be made personally or through a consultant but must be made before 12 noon on the day before the vehicle or load is transported. Applications made after that will be considered the following day.Applicants must complete two copies of the abnormal load/vehicle permit application form as well as the sketch page on the back to the form. Tariffs are determined by considering the dimensions and mass of the vehicle. Quotes can be requested from the Law Administration Division helpdesk.  |
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 In England The Construction and Use (C&U) Regulations provide the basic law by which normal motor vehicles and trailers (up to a maximum of 40 tonnes) are built and operate on the road. The movement of large or heavy loads and cranes that exceed dimensions set down by the Regulations is permitted, provided they follow the Special Types General Orders (STGO). These are generally referred to as Abnormal Loads. For more detailed guidance on the regulations follow the pdf link 'Abnormal Loads - A Brief Guide to the Law'.An abnormal load can potentially go on any road provided the haulier complies with the law including weight limits. Some roads are more suitable and used more often, such as A Class Roads.Before a haulier can move an abnormal load he must notify the Police. In addition, if the gross weight or axle weights exceed those specified on the C&U regulations he must inform the Highway Authority and all bridge owners along the proposed route. (e.g. Network Rail). The law requires the haulier to give a minimum of two clear days notice to the Police, Highway Authority and Bridge owners before moving the load. The notice period for loads over 150 tonnes, 6.1 metres wide or 27.4 metres long is different and hauliers moving such loads need special orders from the Department of Transport, For full details of the notification requirements for large and heavy loads, and to download the appropriate forms please see the official website for the Department for Transport. |
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In the United States an oversize load is a truck tractor with an attached trailer with an over-dimensional object (the load) on it. Usually, an oversize load is more than 13' 6" high, 8' 6" wide and 80' in length. The load could be a modular home, manufactured home, control room,crane,construction tractor, boat, and must be non-reducible (cannot be reduced to legal dimension).An oversize load can be identified on the highway with a yellow sign with black letters OVERSIZE LOAD on it, on both the front bumper of the truck, and on the rear end of the load. It is often required that these loads be flagged at the protruding edges, or that the truck itself have a flashing strobe light to add to visibility.With over 3.5 million oversize loads on US highways, some states require that certain oversize loads have certified Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operators (P/EVO) to protect the motoring public and the oversize load. The purpose of a P/EVO is to safely escort an oversize/overweight load from its starting location to its destination without damaging the load, motorists, highways, roads, control devices, signs, wires, cables or property. |
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 An overweight load is an oversize load which usually weighs more than 80,000 pounds. Many states have adopted the Federal Bridge Formula to determine legal weight on a group of axles.Both the size and weight of an oversize load is regulated by the State the oversize load is moving in. This is done by requiring the hauler to obtain an oversize/overweight permit before traveling on their highways, to assure that the load will not travel through any unsafe construction zones, which may have reduced lane widths, cross any bridges that were not made to handle over 80,000 pounds, or hit any overpasses if they are overheight. |
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 http://www.abnormalloads.co.za/ |
 
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 http://www3.hants.gov.uk/trafficmanagement/abnormalloads.htm |
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 http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/topics /vehicles/cargo_securing_loads/index_en.htm |
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