Abnormal Loads & STGO Transport UK

An abnormal load is any cargo that exceeds standard road vehicle dimensions: typically over 2.9m wide, 18.65m long, or 44 tonnes in weight. These loads require special transport arrangements, including advance notifications, route planning, and often escort vehicles. We specialise in moving these challenging loads safely and legally across the UK.

Common abnormal loads include wind turbine components, large industrial machinery, prefabricated buildings, transformers, and construction equipment. Each requires careful assessment of dimensions, weight distribution, and route constraints. We evaluate your cargo and recommend the appropriate transport method, ensuring full compliance with STGO (Special Types General Order) regulations.

Our experience with abnormal loads means we understand the complexities involved: from assessing whether your cargo qualifies as abnormal, to coordinating all necessary notifications and permits, to selecting appropriate equipment and planning routes that accommodate oversized dimensions. This expertise ensures your abnormal load move is handled professionally from start to finish.

STGO (Special Types General Order) regulations govern the movement of abnormal loads on UK roads. Compliance is essential, and we handle all aspects: determining which STGO category your load falls into, submitting advance notifications to local authorities and highways agencies, and coordinating with police forces when required.

Notification requirements vary based on load dimensions and weight. Loads over 2.9m wide or 18.65m long require advance notification, typically 2-5 working days before transport. We handle all ESDAL (Electronic Service Delivery for Abnormal Loads) submissions and coordinate with relevant authorities across all regions the route passes through.

Our compliance team stays current on STGO regulations and maintains relationships with authorities across the UK. We ensure all paperwork is accurate and submitted within required timeframes, preventing delays and ensuring smooth transport. This comprehensive approach means you can focus on your business while we handle all regulatory requirements.

Route planning for abnormal loads is more complex than standard transport. We must account for bridge heights, road widths, overhead cables, traffic signs, roundabouts, and weight restrictions. Our route planning team uses detailed mapping software combined with local knowledge to identify routes that safely accommodate your oversized dimensions.

For very large abnormal loads, we conduct physical route surveys, checking clearance at bridges, overhead cables, and other potential obstacles. We assess access at both pickup and delivery locations, identifying any requirements for temporary removal of street furniture or coordination with utility companies.

Route planning also considers timing: we identify travel windows that minimise disruption and may coordinate with authorities for road closures or traffic management if required. This thorough approach ensures your abnormal load reaches its destination safely while minimising delays and disruption to road users.

Our team understands STGO regulations inside and out, including the different categories of abnormal loads and their specific requirements. We correctly classify your load and ensure all notifications and permits are submitted according to the appropriate regulations. This expertise prevents delays and ensures smooth, legal transport of your abnormal load.

We stay current with changes to STGO regulations and maintain relationships with authorities across the UK. Our compliance team knows what notifications are required for each type of load and coordinates with all relevant parties: local authorities, highways agencies, police forces, and utility companies when necessary.

This regulatory expertise means we can advise you on whether your cargo qualifies as an abnormal load, what category it falls into, and what requirements need to be met. We handle all the complexity so you don't have to become an expert in transport regulations yourself.

Route planning for abnormal loads requires detailed assessment of every potential obstacle: bridge heights, road widths, overhead cables, weight restrictions, and access constraints. We use advanced mapping software combined with extensive local knowledge to identify routes that accommodate your load dimensions safely.

For large abnormal loads, we conduct physical route surveys, checking clearance at bridges and overhead obstacles, assessing access points, and identifying any requirements for temporary infrastructure changes. This thorough approach identifies issues before transport begins, allowing us to adjust routes or arrange necessary support.

Our route planning also considers timing and disruption: we identify travel windows that minimise impact on other road users and may coordinate road closures or traffic management with authorities if required. This comprehensive approach ensures safe transport while minimising disruption.

Permit coordination for abnormal loads involves multiple authorities: local authorities along the route, highways agencies, police forces, and sometimes utility companies. We manage all these relationships and submissions, ensuring every required notification is sent to the right authority at the right time.

We handle ESDAL (Electronic Service Delivery for Abnormal Loads) submissions, which streamlines notifications to highways agencies. Our team knows which authorities need notification for each type of route and load, and we submit all paperwork accurately within required timeframes, typically 2-5 working days in advance for standard abnormal loads.

This comprehensive permit coordination means you don't need to understand which authority needs what information or when. We handle all the paperwork and coordination, ensuring compliance and preventing delays, so you can focus on your business while we manage the regulatory requirements.

Abnormal loads require specialized equipment that can accommodate oversized dimensions and unusual weight distributions. Our fleet includes low loaders for ground-level loading, extendable trailers for wider loads, and specialized configurations for particularly challenging dimensions. We select equipment based on your specific load requirements.

For very large abnormal loads, we can arrange multi-axle configurations and specialized hydraulic systems that distribute weight appropriately and provide necessary clearance. Our operations team assesses your cargo and recommends the most suitable equipment configuration for safe, efficient transport.

All equipment is maintained to high standards and inspected before each abnormal load operation. We ensure securing equipment is appropriate for your cargo type and weight distribution, using industry-standard chains, straps, and specialized tie-down systems to ensure safe transport throughout the journey.

Many abnormal loads require escort vehicles for safety and compliance. Escort requirements depend on load dimensions, weight, and the route being used. We assess each job individually and coordinate appropriate escort arrangements: police escorts for larger loads or private escort vehicles for smaller abnormal loads.

Our route planning identifies all escort requirements, and we coordinate with police forces or arrange private escort vehicles well in advance of transport. We understand when police escorts are mandatory versus when private escorts are sufficient, ensuring compliance while managing costs effectively.

Escort vehicle coordination is included in our service: we handle all arrangements and communication, ensuring escort vehicles are scheduled and briefed appropriately. This eliminates the need for you to coordinate multiple parties and ensures smooth execution on the transport day.

Our drivers and operations team have extensive experience with abnormal load transport, having handled wind turbine components, large industrial machinery, prefabricated buildings, and various oversized cargo across all UK regions. This experience means we've encountered most challenges before and know how to solve them efficiently.

Our drivers receive specialized training in securing oversized loads, navigating routes with height and width restrictions, and working with escort vehicles. Our operations team understands the complexities of abnormal load transport and can anticipate potential issues before they arise.

This combination of experience and training ensures your abnormal load is handled by professionals who understand the unique challenges involved. We use our expertise to recommend the best approach for your specific cargo, providing valuable guidance throughout the planning and execution process.