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Multi-axle assembly carrying a heavy industrial piece
Special transport and Project Cargo

Heavy transport: heavy haulage and exceptional loads

Indivisible pieces of tens or hundreds of tonnes, with axle load calculations, heavy haulage permits and approved routes settled before departure

In dual-lane configuration
200 t+
Axles, by tonnage
6–14+
With a hydraulic gantry
~1000 t
  • Axle load calculation
  • Bridge approvals
  • Heavy transport permit
  • Escort and traffic police
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Check the heavy transport thresholds

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Heavy haulage · Europe

Heavy transport, heavy haulage and exceptional loads

We provide heavy transport, heavy haulage and exceptional load services for heavy cargo and overweight freight. We carry indivisible pieces of tens or hundreds of tonnes through heavy lift and multi axle solutions.

As a heavy transport operator and heavy lift contractor, we configure modular trailers, SPMT and high-power tractor units, with heavy haulage permits and approved routes.

Heavy transport threshold
40 t
Permitted axle load
10–11.5 t
Axles per assembly
6–14+
  • Axle load calculation
  • Bridge checks
  • Heavy haulage permit
  • Modular, SPMT, hydraulic gantry
Precast concrete beams loaded on trucks for heavy transport
Heavy haulage / exceptional loads

Why choose us for heavy transport and heavy lift

Three things we settle before a piece of several hundred tonnes takes to the road.

Heavy lift and overweight cargo capacity
Hydraulic modular trailers and SPMT configurable for hundreds of tonnes — heavy lift solutions for heavy industrial cargo and overweight freight transport.
Load calculations and multi axle
For every heavy load we calculate the weight distribution and axle pressure (multi axle heavy transport) and verify bridge capacity for a safe journey.
Heavy haulage permits
We obtain the heavy haulage permit, the approved routes and the escorts required, as a heavy transport operator domestically and internationally.

How we work

The process of a heavy or exceptional transport

Five stages, from the technical data of the piece through to erection.

  1. 01

    Technical data of the piece

    You send the weight, the dimensions and the centre of gravity.

  2. 02

    Calculation and structural survey

    We verify the axle distribution and the capacity of the bridges.

  3. 03

    Heavy haulage permit

    We obtain the exceptional transport permit and the approved route.

  4. 04

    Equipment coordination

    We allocate SPMT, multi-axle or hydraulic gantry, plus escorts.

  5. 05

    Delivery and erection

    Delivery to the final point, with a full project report.

Industries served

Industries we provide heavy transport and heavy haulage for

Each industry has its own page, with the equipment and permits that suit it.

What we carry

The pieces and equipment we move as heavy haulage

Any indivisible piece beyond the legal weight thresholds gets the right calculation, equipment and permit.

Transformers and generators
Grid transformers and industrial generators of tens or hundreds of tonnes, with multi-axle and escorts.
Industrial presses and production lines
Hydraulic presses, machine tools and complete production lines, carried as indivisible pieces.
Mining and steelworks machinery
Industrial mills, furnaces and heavy extraction equipment, with SPMT or hydraulic gantry.
Reactors and industrial columns
Reactors, distillation columns and heavy autoclaves, moved to the applicable safety standards.
Heavy wind components
Nacelles and wind tower sections of tens of tonnes, coordinated with multi-axle and police escorts.
Steel structures and precast bridges
Beams, steel trusses and precast bridge segments, with a route capacity calculation.
Heavy military equipment
Armoured vehicles and heavy military hardware, moved with confidentiality and dedicated escorts.
Locomotives and wagons
Heavy rolling stock, carried on multi-axle trailers with a dedicated route survey.
Heavy marine equipment
Large maritime components and equipment, handled with a hydraulic gantry or crane.
High-tonnage agricultural machinery
Combines and heavy agricultural machinery, carried domestically and internationally with dedicated equipment.
Prefabricated industrial modules
Volumetric modules and heavy prefabricated structures, carried complete or in components.
Any indivisible piece over 40 tonnes
If the piece cannot be dismantled or divided, we assess it individually and propose the right heavy lift solution.

Transport engineering

How we plan a heavy transport

Every heavy load starts with the technical data of the piece: weight, dimensions, centre of gravity and lifting points. From those we calculate the weight distribution across the axles (multi-axle heavy transport) and verify whether the bridges and road structures on the route can take the load — a compulsory step before applying for the heavy haulage permit.

For very heavy pieces we coordinate heavy lift solutions through our specialist partners: hydraulic modular trailers, SPMT with 360° steering or a hydraulic gantry for vertical handling. The choice of equipment depends on the tonnage, on access at the loading and unloading points and on the route restrictions.

Specialist equipment

The equipment we use for heavy transport

We choose the equipment according to tonnage, centre of gravity and access at the loading point.

  • Hydraulic modular trailer

    3 to 4 axles, for loads of tens of tonnes.

  • SPMT

    360° steering, hundreds of tonnes per module.

  • Multi-axle (6–14+ axles)

    Optimal weight distribution along the route.

  • Hydraulic gantry

    Vertical handling, up to roughly 1000 tonnes.

  • High-power tractor unit

    Traction and braking for exceptional loads.

Legal framework

When cargo counts as heavy or exceptional transport

The standard European thresholds refer to the total mass of the vehicle combination plus the cargo. Above those values you need a heavy haulage permit, an approved route and, where applicable, escorts.

Total mass becomes heavy transport above 40 tonnes, or 44 tonnes for intermodal containers, at which point the heavy haulage permit is compulsory. The axle load must not exceed 10 to 11.5 tonnes per axle: beyond that threshold the distribution calculation applies and, where needed, a multi-axle trailer.

An indivisible piece has no fixed weight threshold and is assessed individually, with heavy lift, SPMT or hydraulic gantry solutions. On routes with structures such as bridges and viaducts, a capacity check is compulsory before the route is approved.

The values are indicative and vary with the legislation of each country crossed. We confirm them precisely for your route and your piece during the survey stage.

Send the technical data of the piece

Thresholds and consequences

  • Total mass

    Value40 t

    Heavy haulage permit required.

  • Intermodal container

    Value44 t

    A separate threshold for container combinations.

  • Axle load

    Value10–11.5 t

    Distribution calculation and, where needed, a multi-axle trailer.

  • Escorts

    Value~80 t

    Escorts compulsory, with traffic police at high tonnages.

  • Indivisible piece

    Valueno fixed threshold

    Individual assessment, with heavy lift, SPMT or hydraulic gantry.

Advantages

Why choose Load Your Cargo for heavy transport and heavy lift

The difference is not the size of the truck, but how much of the project is our responsibility before the piece moves at all.

  • Weight distribution calculation

    We verify axle pressure and bridge capacity before confirming the route.

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  • Access to SPMT and hydraulic gantry

    Through our specialist partner network, we coordinate heavy lift equipment for hundreds of tonnes.

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  • Heavy haulage permits

    We handle the whole process of obtaining the exceptional transport permit and the approved route.

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  • Multi-axle and escorts

    We configure trailers with 6 to 14+ axles and police escorts where required.

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  • European partner network

    Local partners for permits, escorts and terminals in every country crossed.

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  • CMR insurance included

    CMR cover for every heavy transport, including high-value equipment.

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  • Fair pricing

    Rates optimised through a solid network of transport partners, with no compromise on safety.

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  • Commitments honoured

    We commit contractually to the delivery deadlines agreed and stay accountable throughout the project.

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  • Dedicated project manager

    A single point of contact for every stage, whatever the complexity of the transport.

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  • Real-time tracking

    Full visibility over the transport, from departure through to delivery at destination.

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  • Full licences and authorisations

    Transport and forwarding licences, in line with national and European legislation.

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  • Confidentiality and partnerships

    We work with industrial contractors and heavy equipment operators, respecting the confidentiality of the project.

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The right-hand column describes what an ordinary road shipment usually covers. The comparison is between two ways of working, not between companies.

Related services

If the problem is dimensions rather than weight

Cargo can exceed the dimensions without being heavy, or the other way round.

Why us

Why work with us?

We are more than a transport provider — we are your long-term logistics partner.

24/7 Support

Our team is available around the clock to respond to any urgent transport situation.

Fast Response

We provide quotes and transport confirmations as quickly as possible, without bureaucracy.

Insured Transport

All our shipments are fully insured, giving you peace of mind regardless of type or distance.

Fair Pricing

Transparent and competitive rates, without hidden costs or unpleasant surprises on the invoice.

Complete Service Package

From pickup to delivery, we manage all logistics for you with full responsibility.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about heavy haulage

Heavy transport and overweight cargo call for modular equipment and precise calculations. Here are the answers that matter.

What is the maximum tonnage you can carry and which trailers do you use?

With hydraulic multi-axle modular trailers and SPMT units we can run transports from 50-60 tonnes up to several hundred tonnes, and above 200 t in a dual-lane configuration. Depending on the piece we use low-bed, semi-low-bed trailers or couplable hydraulic modules, sized according to the weight and the load distribution.

Which trailer suits my machine (low-bed, multi-axle, modular)?

The choice depends on mass, loading height and weight distribution: low-bed for tall machinery, because it preserves the height envelope, multi-axle or modular for high tonnages, because it spreads the load across many axles, and semi-low-bed for the trade-off between the two. We recommend the right configuration from the technical data of the piece.

How is the axle load calculated and why does it matter for permitting?

Every additional axle spreads the mass over a larger area, so that the legal axle load limits and the bearing capacity of the bridges are respected. The axle load calculation determines the number of axles required, the trailer configuration and the bridge approvals, which is why it is the essential technical step before permitting.

What tonnage limit applies to crossing bridges and how do you check capacity?

At high masses, generally above ~80 t, and at sensitive structures you need approvals from the bridge administrator, sometimes based on a capacity calculation. Through the route survey we verify the bearing capacity of every structure along the way and, where necessary, propose alternative routes or temporary reinforcement.

From what mass do escorts and police involvement become compulsory?

As a rule escorts become compulsory above a total mass of roughly 80 tonnes, and at very high tonnages or in sensitive areas the traffic police get involved too, with an imposed schedule and route. The number of escort vehicles and the exact conditions are set by the transport permit.

How much does a high-tonnage transport cost and what drives the price?

The price depends on the special equipment required (the number of axles, SPMT modules), the distance, the permitting fees per road administrator, the escorts, any lifting operations and the time the equipment is tied up, plus infrastructure works if they are needed. Every heavy transport gets an individual quote, after the piece and the route have been analysed.

Ready to ship your cargo?

Our team will get back to you in under 2 hours with a personalized quote — no bureaucracy.

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