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Category : Regulatory Basis

Regulations in the Netherlands

– Issuing authority: the competent body

• The RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority) is responsible for issuing dispensations for abnormal loads.
• The applicant may be the transport company or the shipper — what matters is that the request is complete and includes all required information.

– Application procedure

Preliminary route study
Before submitting the request, the planned route must be analysed. This makes it possible to check constraints (bridges, narrow passages, traffic conditions, one-way systems, local restrictions).

Fill in the application form
The RDW provides an online (or downloadable) form to apply for a short-term exemption (one-off exemption) or, in some cases, a longer-term exemption.

Submit the application
Submission is done via the RDW portal, with all necessary information: vehicle/convoy description, dimensions/weights, nature of the load, route, dates, and, where applicable, plans or diagrams.

Processing time
The permit can usually be granted within a few working days, provided the file is complete.

Compliance with operating conditions
Once the exemption is granted, the operator must comply with all conditions: designated route, permitted time windows, safety requirements, escort vehicles if needed, restrictions depending on weather or road conditions.

– Types of exemptions / permits

The RDW may issue:

• A one-off / short-term exemption — for a specific journey.
• In some cases, longer-term or recurring permits — depending ...

🔗 Netherlands – National portal

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Regulations in Luxembourg

– Standard Limits in Luxembourg
Maximum values allowed (without special authorization):

Overall width: 2.55 m — (up to 2.60 m for refrigerated / temperature-controlled vehicles).

Maximum height: 4.00 m.

Length:
• Single vehicle / trailer: 12.00 m.
• Articulated vehicle (tractor + semi-trailer): 16.50 m.
• “Road train” / long combination (truck + trailer(s)): 18.75 m.

Total weight / vehicle combination: Generally 44 tonnes for a standard combination.
Exceptions: For a five-axle single vehicle, the maximum gross weight may be increased to 50 tonnes, subject to specific technical requirements.

Axle load / driving axle load: Legislation defines axle-load limits (and correct load distribution), which are assessed when applying for an authorization.
Source: transports.public.lu

According to Luxembourg legislation (as amended) and the official portal “Transports – Exceptional Transport”:
Any vehicle or convoy exceeding the “standard” legal dimensions or weight must be subject to an authorization request.

For example:

For convoys exceeding 44 tonnes, or five-axle vehicles intending to operate at 50 tonnes, an authorization must be requested, with supporting documents (registration certificates, conformity documents, load distribution charts, etc.).

For any “exceptional vehicle” (vehicle whose design or load exceeds standard limits), an authorization is required even when the vehicle is stationary if its circulation is planned.

– Specific featur...

🔗 Luxembourg – National portal

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Regulations in France

– Definitions and triggering criteria
A transport is considered exceptional as soon as one of the standard dimensional or weight thresholds is exceeded.
• Length: > 16.50 m — or > 20 m depending on the category.
• Width: > 2.55 m
• Weight / GVW / GCW exceeding standard limits, or a combination exceeding 44 tonnes (depending on configuration).
• May involve indivisible loads, special machinery, oversize equipment, etc.

Depending on these characteristics, the transport may fall into Category 1, 2 or 3 of exceptional convoy classification.

Procedure depending on the category
• Category 1 (“slightly out of standard limits”)

• If the convoy exceeds standard limits only moderately, a simple prior declaration is sufficient.
• This declaration can be submitted online via the official service “Mon transport exceptionnel.”
• If online access is not possible, a paper form (CERFA) may be completed and sent by mail.
• Once validated, the carrier receives a receipt of authorisation (commonly known as an APL — Autorisation de Portée Locale). This receipt allows circulation for up to 3 years.

• Category 2 or 3 (genuinely oversize convoys)

• In these cases, an individual authorisation is required.
• The application must be submitted via “Mon transport exceptionnel” or using the paper form CERFA n° 15625*03.
• The request must be addressed to the prefecture of the departure département (or the département of entry into France for inbound tra...

🔗 France – National portal

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Regulations in the Czech Republic

General Principles (Law and Thresholds)
• In the Czech Republic, transport of a “non-standard / heavy or oversized load” requires a special authorization (special road-use permit / “permit for abnormal/oversize transport”).
• Commonly accepted thresholds without a permit (“standard” dimensions) are — for a single vehicle: length up to ~12 m, width 2.55 m, height 4.00 m; for a tractor + semi-trailer combination: length ~15.5–16.5 m, width 2.55 m, height 4.00 m.
• If the vehicle/combination exceeds these dimensions — or if the load is indivisible / out-of-gauge — an application for an “oversize / heavy transport” permit must be submitted.
• The application must include several elements: description of the vehicle(s); convoy diagram (top and side views); planned route; duration / expected period; for legal entities: extract from the commercial register or business license.
• Depending on the route (national road, highway, local road), the competent authority varies.

Competent Authorities by Road Type
• For national highways or sections of national roads — the permit is issued by the Czech Ministry of Transport (in Czech: “Ministerstvo dopravy”).
• For roads located within a single region (kraj) — the competent authority is the “Regional Authority”.
• For local roads (municipal, village, minor roads) — the issuing authority is the local municipality (Municipal Authority).
• In all cases, prior agreement from the relevant ro...

🔗 Ministry of Transport (roads / abnormal-load permits)

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Regulations in Poland

– Permit categories & competent authorities

Polish regulations distinguish up to seven categories of permits, depending on the extent of the exceedance (dimensions, mass, axles) and on the nature of the vehicle/convoy:

I – Slow-moving, agricultural or special vehicles, width ≤ 3.5 m, other dimensions & weights within standard limits — local use / local roads.
Competent authority: Local governor (starosta) or the administration responsible for the specific road.

II – Moderate length, width ≤ 3.2 m; slight exceedance of standard length — transport on public roads (excluding motorways/expressways).
Competent authority: Local governor (starosta), or competent service for customs-related entry.

III – Width up to approx. 3.4 m, height ≤ 4.3 m, length ≤ 15 m (single vehicle) or 23 m (combination) — for national roads.
Competent authority: GDDKiA (General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways) for national routes.

IV – Permit for “moderately oversize” convoys (weight, dimensions) on the national network — width ≤ 3.4 m, height ≤ 4.3 m, axle loads within limits.
Competent authority: GDDKiA.

V – Heavier/longer convoys within the “upper tolerated limits” (up to approx. 60 tonnes in some configurations). “Road authorisation”, but not yet for major exceedances.
Competent authority: GDDKiA.

VI – For specific roads (e.g., dual carriageways): width up to 4.0 m, height ≤ 4.3 m, total weight ≤ 60 t — “authorised oversize” tr...

🔗 GDDKiA (General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways)

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Regulations in Germany

– Legal framework & types of permits in Germany

Transporting a vehicle or convoy exceeding the legal limits of width, weight, axle load, or visibility requires a special permit.
If any of the thresholds are exceeded (width > 2.55 / 2.60 m, height > 4.00 m, length > 16.50 m / 18.75 m depending on vehicle type, axle load > 10 / 11.5 t), the convoy is classified as a “Großraum-/Schwertransport” (oversized / heavy transport) and requires a dedicated special permit.

The main reference regulations are the Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO — Road Traffic Code) and the Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung (StVZO — Vehicle Registration & Approval Code).

Two main types of authorisations

Special permit under § 46 StVO
Required for transports exceeding authorised dimensions or weights.

Exemption under § 70 StVZO
Required when the vehicle or combination itself exceeds registration limits (dimensions, weights, axles) but must remain legally approved for road use.

National portal: VEMAGS — Centralised application system

Most applications are processed via VEMAGS (Verfahrensmanagement für Großraum- und Schwertransporte), the national system for managing oversized and heavy transports.
This platform simplifies applications for routes crossing multiple Länder (federal states). The request is submitted via VEMAGS, which then forwards it to all authorities concerned along the planned route.

Issuing authorities: who delivers the permit?

The competent authority is generally:...

🔗 Germany – National Portal

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Regulations in Spain

Competent Authority

DGT – Dirección General de Tráfico
• For national roads and routes outside concessioned highways.
• The DGT issues the permit via its provincial offices or through its online portal.
• Official portal: https://sede.dgt.gob.es/es/tramites-y-multas/vehiculos/transporte-excepcion

Explanations & Remarks
• The reference authority for exceptional transport on the national network is the DGT.
• For routes under national competence (weight, dimensions, sensitive infrastructure, etc.), it may be necessary to address the request — or coordinate — with the Ministry via the “Ministerio de Fomento.”
• For complex convoys, a specialized private service provider (escort, permits, logistics) such as GLOBALPILOT S.L. or IStS Ibérica can facilitate the procedure — particularly useful if convoys exceed standard dimensions, cross multiple autonomous communities, or require escort.
• In practice, the applicant must provide a complete dossier: vehicle registration/technical sheet, convoy dimensions, load description, route, insurance, etc. This aligns with “abnormal load” standards — generic / specific / exceptional permit — depending on convoy size/weight.

Limits & What to Verify Next
• This list is not exhaustive: Spain has numerous concessioned highways, regional concessions, provincial or local administrations — each may have its own procedures or requirements.
• For complex routes (tunnels, bridges, mountainous areas, urban zon...

🔗 Spain – National portal

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Regulations in Italy

What is an “exceptional transport” in Italy — triggering criteria

According to the Italian Highway Code (articles 61 & 62 of the Codice della Strada), a transport is considered “exceptional” as soon as it exceeds at least one of the “standard” thresholds:

• Length: > 16.50 m (tractor + semi-trailer), or > 18.75 m depending on configuration.
• Width: > 2.55 m (or 2.60 m for refrigerated vehicles).
• Height: > 4.00 m.
• Total weight: for a 5-axle combination or more, when exceeding 44 tonnes (or according to vehicle type and technical conditions).

If your vehicle or convoy exceeds any of these criteria, it is considered “special” and requires prior authorization.

Types of authorization and validity

Exceptional transport authorizations in Italy may take several forms depending on the frequency of transport:

• Single-trip authorization — valid for a single journey.
• Multi-trip authorization — for several defined trips (same route / cargo type) over a period of several months.
• Periodic / permanent authorization — valid for one year (or as specified), but limited to indivisible loads exceeding standard dimensions; not always applicable for overweight loads.

Required documents & supporting evidence

The application must include:

• Vehicle registration certificate (or, for foreign vehicles, a technical sheet authenticated by the provincial MCTC office).
• Complete description of the vehicle/convoy and cargo: dimen...

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Regulations in Belgium

– General framework & scope of application

• In Belgium, a transport is considered “exceptional” as soon as a vehicle or convoy exceeds the standard limitations in terms of dimensions or weight.
• For example, the “standard” limits are: maximum width 2.55 m, height 4 m, “standard” length for a truck or semi-trailer, and 44 tonnes for a 5-axle combination.
• If these limits are exceeded, a specific authorization (“exceptional transport / oversize load / abnormal load”) is required.

– Authorization application procedure

The procedure depends on the region (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels-Capital Region, etc.), but the main steps are as follows (example for Wallonia / Brussels):

Where to apply

• In Wallonia (and generally throughout Belgium), applications are made via the online WebTEUV platform (formerly WebTeuv).
• For the Brussels-Capital Region (cases under Brussels Mobility), applications can also be sent by registered mail to:
Brussels Mobility – Vehicles & Freight Department, Place Saint-Lazare 2, 1035 Brussels.

When / processing time & fees

• Applications must be submitted sufficiently in advance to allow for proper processing.
• Fees vary depending on the transport category:

Category 1 or 2 exceptional vehicles: €33

Category 3 or 4: €53
• Standard processing time (if the file is complete) is approximately 5 working days.

Documents / information required

As with all exceptional transports, the request must include at leas...

🔗 Belgium – National, cross-regional portal

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