Oversized cargos

Off-standard (oversized) cargo is a large and/or heavy item that is prevented from haulage in motor van / closed truck or container, i.e. by conventional transport, because of specific parameters or peculiar features thereof (Packer 3d, 3.12.2010).

Among the criteria, whereby a cargo is identified as oversized, shall be its width, length and height. Therefore, if a cargo placed on the road transport vehicle has length, width and height that exceed 20, 2.5 and 4.0 meters accordingly, it shall be by default given a category of the oversized one. Such cargoes may include, for example, sailboats / yachts, monuments or special transport means, in particular farm machinery, i.e. all such oversized items that are prevented from transportation by conventional vehicles (Oversized World, 3.12.2010). It is worth noting that the haulage of the oversized cargoes involves rather wide range of the unique items: from sailboats, day cruisers, excavating machines and combine harvesters to oil rigs, module units, steam boilers and transformers, either of which has specific shape, weight and dimensions (Forwarding Merchant-PRO, 3.12.2010).

Haulage of the aforesaid cargoes by railway or aircraft transport is considered to be rather difficult and expensive process, thus making motor trucking the most available and cost saving method for transportation of the oversized cargoes (Packer 3d, 3.12.2010). So far, main items hauled by motor trucks are as follows:

- Construction machinery and gear – earthmovers, black-top pavers, excavating machines, cranes and beams;

- Farming machinery - field-engine tractors and combine harvesters;

- Commercial equipment – boilers, turbines, transformers, reactors and press shears;

- Mobile plants, etc.

Therefore, services assuming transportation of the oversized cargoes are mainly provided to companies and factories representing petrochemical, mechanical-engineering, defense-oriented, iron & steel, construction and farming branches & industries (SWtrans, 3.12.2010).

Because of significant variety of the oversized cargoes, they are subject to sub-classification. There are several types thereof:

- Heavy load or overweight cargo is a cargo that upon being loaded into motor truck might result in exceeding of either parameter with regard to maximum allowed weight of the road transport vehicle or axial loads specified in applicable regulations.

- Bulky cargo is a cargo that upon being loaded into motor truck might result in exceeding of either parameter with regard to maximum allowed dimensions of the road transport vehicle specified in applicable regulations.

- Long load cargo is a cargo that upon being loaded into motor truck might lap over the tailgate for more than 2 meters.

In view of the foregoing, the cargoes are indentified as heavy load / overweight, bulky and/or long load cargoes, should the weight and dimensions thereof, including the vehicle, be more than:

4 meters – for height

20 meters – for length (if the total length does not exceed 20 m, 2m overhang of the cargo shall be allowed)

2.55 meters – for width

38 tons – for total weight of cargo and vehicle.

To a wide extent, the definition of the oversized cargo shall be understood as a package of requirements applicable to the road transport vehicles, traffic capacity (road paving condition), restrictions as to traffic networks and safety of the oversized cargoes as transportability thereof may be affected by dimensions and carrying capacity of bridges, tunnel sizes, existing railroad crossings, power mains and pole lines, as well as even weather conditions and time of a year.