A company aiming to manage heavy cargo transportation requires a comprehensive understanding of local conditions, encompassing not only the roadways but also the relevant laws. It's essential to have hands-on experience and the necessary technical resources. Such transports are always unique and non-standard. The safety and security of all participants in road traffic must be prioritized, along with the prevention of damage to the road, transport markings, and other roadside installations (like advertising billboards, telecommunication lines, and electrical cables).
The process of preparing for heavy loads can span from several weeks to months. The initial step post-order assignment involves selecting an appropriate method. The company utilizes its own fleet of vehicles, or potentially subcontractors. This is followed by the preparation of the route, or multiple routes that are apt for a specific transfer. This also involves detailed route research, complete with comprehensive photo documentation.
Subsequently, the company cooperates with other entities involved in this type of transportation. These can include telecommunications and energy companies whose cables, stretched out above the road, could pose obstacles to transportation. For heavy-duty cargo, it sometimes becomes necessary to interrupt power delivery and detach cables. Specialized assembly companies are engaged for the disassembly and reassembly of road markings, operating under the supervision of a communication administrator.
It's crucial not to overlook the role of accompanying vehicles, whose deployment is obligatory for larger transports. The company either secures these vehicles itself or reaches out to a specialist company that holds a license for accompanying oversized and excessive costs.
The transportation of heavy loads requires a route that has been approved by the appropriate authorities, a process that can span several weeks. One of the key factors assessed by road agencies is the weight burden on bridges. If the load is exceptionally heavy and there's no alternate path, bridges may need to be strengthened with special supports to prevent them from collapsing under the weight of the cargo. Regular inspections and measurements of bridges are conducted as their load-bearing capacity tends to diminish over time.
Height is another dimension that can pose challenges. The clearance under highway bridges typically ranges from 5 to 5.2 m. For newer structures, it can be as high as 5.5 m, but some underpasses may only allow for a height of 4.7 m. Consequently, transport companies handling heavy loads must identify a route that will not present any height-related issues.
Width is yet another factor to consider. The lanes on 3rd class roads are 2.5 m wide, while those on 1st and 2nd class roads, as well as highways, are 3 m wide. If the heavy cargo has a width of 8.5 m, for instance, all road signs and barriers, including those on bridges, must be removed to facilitate passage.
In these situations, police involvement is indispensable. Some road sections must be entirely shut down by the police as there are no alternate paths for other vehicles to bypass the cargo. As a result, it's crucial to ascertain the precise number of escort vehicles required to seal off all road entrances. The transport speed is usually also capped, with a maximum of 30 km/h for larger transports.
Many clients are unaware of the complexities involved in transporting heavy loads. It demands weeks of planning, the removal of various road signs, the strengthening of multiple bridges, and the addition of extra detour kilometers. The distance between the loading and unloading points is typically 100 km, but the most suitable route can stretch this to 300 km. The smaller the turning point, the more kilometers need to be disassembled and reassembled. As a result, a client's cost estimate can greatly differ from the actual costs. In most instances, up to two-thirds of the costs are for permits and equipment.
The cost of transporting extremely heavy loads is also dictated by the specific time when the transportation can occur, typically during the night when road traffic is low. However, staff are paid at a higher rate during these hours due to night tariffs.
However, if the customer wishes, we can arrange such freight transport together with our partners.
