Oversize Cargo

Oversize cargo, also referred to as non-standard or overstandard, is cargo whose transfer requires the use of special means of transport and lifting facilities with a capacity adequate for cargo weight. Taking into account the dimensions, weight and shape of oversize cargo, we can divide them as follows:

1.ordinary oversize cargo – all kinds of steel structures, small size industrial machines and equipment, working machines, small tanks and many others. Their weight does not exceed 25 tons, and their dimensions slightly exceed standard parameters allowed in road transport, i.e. length of 15-16 m, width of 3.5-4.0 m and height of 3.0-3.5 m. This type of cargo can be carried by normal road vehicles, that is a truck tractor with a semi-trailer, uncovered, equipped with proper marking equipment and securings;

2.special oversize cargo – this includes, among others, large elements of combustion chambers for power stations, machine components for open pit mining, steel structures, tanks for food industry and breweries. With their large dimensions, these cargo pieces often happen to have relatively small weight. Therefore, there is no adverse effect on the road surface, but there are restrictions due to the cargo parameters. Some pieces of cargo may be 5 m long, 7 m wide and 6-7 m high;

3.heavy lifts – these include nachines and equipment for civil engineering, boilers, various types of tanks, housings for power plant machines, ship parts (hull sections, superstructures, hatch covers, etc.);

4.rail wagons, tram cars, complete technological lines for metallurgical, automobile, chemical or power engineering industries. The weight of such pieces generally ranges from 70 to 100 tons;

5.heavy compact lifts – machines such as transformers, generators and turbines. Their characteristic feature is a large weight relative to volume. The same refers to industrial presses or marine engine crankshafts. Some of these may weigh 200, even 300 tons. They can be transported by land, where multi-axle semi-trailers are needed for the carriage;

6.spacious cargoes – these include various types of structures, bridge spans, drilling rigs, cranes (fixed and mobile), large diameter pipes, port gantry cranes etc.These pieces of cargo may weigh, say, 900 tons and have a height of 40 metres. Such objects cannot be carried by road; the only way is by sea, sometimes by river;

7.long pieces – mainly include structural components for civil engineering projects, e.g. spans, pillars, gantry crane or wind turbine elements; other type comprises reactors and columns for the chemical and refinery industries; their length may reach 40, even 60 metres, while the other parameters do not exceed standard sizes.

Oversize cargo carriage requires comprehensive transport and forwarding services of loaded or empty vehicles with the weight, axle loads and dimensions (length, breadth, height) exceeding the valuesauthorized in road traffic regulations[10].Such transport may be mainly carried out by land (road and rail) and by water (inland waterway and sea transport). Occasionally, oversize cargo is carried by air.

Remark: This article is from TRANSPORTOVERSIZE.