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Oversized Transport – over-dimension safely and permitted to the destination

An oversized transport is required when the load exceeds the permissible standard dimensions – from over 2.55 m width, 4 m height or 16.5–18.75 m length. Such over-dimension transports require a permit; Speed Logistics handles authorisation, route checking and escort, and the lead time is one to three weeks.

Packed project cargo on a low-loader

An oversized transport is required when your load exceeds the legally permissible standard dimensions – typically from more than 2.55 m width, 4 m height or, depending on the vehicle combination, 16.5 to 18.75 m overall length. Such over-dimension transports require a permit: without a road-traffic authorisation, a checked route and, where applicable, escort vehicles, not a metre may be driven. Speed Logistics takes over exactly this complete package.

Decisive for your scheduling is the lead time: from application to the granted permit, depending on route and federal states, usually one to three weeks pass. We therefore start the procedure immediately after your release and plan the trip so that permit conditions, night-run windows and your desired deadline fit together.

When is a transport an oversized transport?

Decisive are the limits of standard transport: 2.55 m width (2.60 m for refrigerated bodies), 4 m height and, depending on the combination, 16.5 to 18.75 m length. Anything above is a permit-requiring oversized transport. If overweight above 40 t is added, the rules of heavy haulage apply; where needed we combine both in one procedure so that you do not have to coordinate two parallel applications and two service providers.

Typical over-dimension loads

Among the most frequent goods are roof trusses and steel-construction structures, vessels, silos and apparatus from plant engineering, precast concrete elements for building and civil engineering, agricultural and construction machines with attachments as well as extra-long components such as masts, girders or pipeline segments. Each of these loads brings its own challenges: lateral overhang with trusses, tipping risk with tall silos, sensitive surfaces with precast elements. We select equipment and securing means accordingly and align the loading with your plant or construction site.

Permit, route checking and escort

  • Authorisation procedure: application per federal state and for every transit country along the route
  • Route checking with GIS support: comparison of the planned route with bridge heights, clearance widths, roundabouts and construction sites before application
  • BF3/BF4 escort vehicles: depending on the official condition, including a variable message sign system; police escort we coordinate where it is required
  • Time-window management: many over-dimension routes are only cleared at night or outside peak traffic times

Equipment and load securing

Depending on the load we deploy low-loaders, semi low-loaders, flatbed or telescopic trailers that adapt in length to the load. Before the trip we clarify the centre-of-gravity position, lashing points and the crane or forklift situation at the loading and unloading site. The load securing is designed for the over-dimension and documented – precisely for wide or tall goods the key to a complaint-free inspection en route. Where needed, a banksman accompanies the critical passages, for example narrow village throughways or the last mile to the construction site.

Process and international oversized transports

You send us the dimensions, weight and the loading points; we check feasibility and route and prepare a fixed-price offer – you receive the first response within a few hours. Tell us also your desired and excluded dates, for example company holidays or crane availabilities, so that the permit windows are applied for accordingly. For cross-border over-dimension transports we coordinate the permits of all transit countries and, for non-EU destinations such as Türkiye or Central Asia, additionally handle the complete customs clearance. So the oversized transport remains, across borders too, a project with a single person responsible.

When does a transport require a permit?
CriterionStandardOversized transport (over-dimension)Heavy haulage (overweight)
Widthup to 2.55 mover 2.55 m
Heightup to 4.00 mover 4.00 m
Lengthup to 16.5–18.75 mabove
Weightup to 40 tover 40 t (up to 200 t)
Permitnone1–3 weeks lead time5–21 days lead time

Frequently asked questions: Oversized Transport

From which dimensions does an oversized transport require a permit?

As soon as the standard limits are exceeded: 2.55 m width, 4 m height or – depending on the vehicle combination – 16.5 to 18.75 m length. It becomes clearly critical from over 4 m width or height and over 22 m length. Then a permit, a checked route and frequently escort vehicles are mandatory.

How long does the permit for an oversized transport take?

Usually one to three weeks, depending on the number of federal states driven through, the route complexity and the authorities' processing times. Speed Logistics submits the applications immediately after your release and aligns night-run windows and conditions so that your target date remains achievable.

How is the route for an over-dimension transport checked?

Before the application we compare the planned route, GIS-supported, with bridge heights, clearance widths, roundabouts and current construction sites. So we apply only for routes that are actually driveable – this avoids official rejections, laborious follow-up applications and thus lost weeks in the entire permit procedure.

When do I need escort vehicles or police escort?

That is set by the permit authority as a condition, depending on width, length, route and traffic situation. Usual are BF3 escort vehicles, and for larger dimensions BF4 with a variable message sign system. Where police escort is required, we take over the complete appointment coordination with the responsible offices along the route and show the costs transparently in the offer.

What is the difference between an oversized transport and a heavy-haulage transport?

The oversized transport concerns over-dimensions – too wide, too tall or too long. The heavy-haulage transport concerns overweight above 40 t gross weight. Many loads are both at once; then we combine permit, special equipment and escort in one joint procedure with only one responsible contact.

Does Speed Logistics also carry out oversized transports internationally?

Yes. For cross-border over-dimension transports we coordinate the permits in every transit country along the route. For non-EU destinations such as Türkiye or Central Asia we additionally handle the complete customs clearance – on request door to door, from EXW to DDP, with continuous dispatch support.

Which mistakes in route and scheduling delay an oversized transport?

Delays arise above all from routes not GIS-checked that are officially rejected and require follow-up applications, from an underestimated permit lead time and from missing desired or excluded dates such as company holidays or crane availabilities. Speed Logistics compares the route GIS-supported before the application and aligns night-run windows and conditions with your target date.

Why are over-dimension routes checked GIS-supported in advance?

Before the application the planned route is compared with bridge heights, clearance widths, roundabouts and current construction sites. So only actually driveable routes are applied for – this avoids official rejections, laborious follow-up applications and thus lost weeks in the entire permit procedure.

Request oversized transport

Contact our dispatch team – fixed-price quote within hours, available 24/7.