The external readiness of oversized cargo does not yet mean readiness for transportation. Problems may arise during loading, placement on the platform, securing or the passage of the route, which is why it is advisable to check non-standard cargo before dispatch.
Unlike standard cargo units, large equipment may have complex geometry, protruding elements, a displaced centre of gravity and limited lifting and securing points. That is why not only the condition of the object itself is assessed but also its compatibility with the transport and the loading equipment.
A pre-shipment survey makes it possible to identify such problems before transportation begins. It records the actual condition and the conditions of preparing the cargo, and the results are supplemented where necessary by calculations, design documentation and the permits required for the specific route.
Which features of oversized cargo create risks in transportation
When preparing oversized cargo it is necessary to take into account not a single parameter but their combination. The weight, dimensions, centre of gravity, shape and securing points determine how compatible the cargo is with the transport and the chosen transportation scheme.
The actual length, width and height are checked with account of the packaging, the supports, the protective structures and the protruding parts. The weight is assessed together with its distribution across the support zones: the same weight with a different position of the centre of gravity creates a different load on the platform and the securing.
Particular attention is paid to tall, narrow and asymmetrical objects. A displaced or high centre of gravity affects stability, while protruding nozzles, panels, mechanisms and other elements may require separate protection and are not always suitable for lifting or securing.
Before transportation it is advisable to check:
- the actual length, width, height and weight;
- the load distribution and the position of the centre of gravity;
- the support surface;
- the lifting and securing points;
- the protruding and sensitive elements;
- the limitations on lifting, turning and movement.
The surveyor’s task is to compare these parameters with the actual condition of the cargo and the prepared transportation scheme. If the dimensions, weight or configuration differ from the documentation, this may affect the choice of transport, the placement, the securing and the route, which is why the discrepancy is recorded before dispatch.
Checking the actual dimensions and weight
Even a small discrepancy in dimensions or weight can affect transportation. A few centimetres can change the possibility of passing a particular section of the route, and a small difference in weight can change the distribution of the load across the axles and supports.
The manufacturer’s data and the design documentation do not always coincide with the actual configuration. Packaging, temporary supports, protective structures and protruding elements can increase the transport envelope, which is why the real condition of the cargo must be checked before dispatch.
When measuring, the following are taken into account:
- height – from the road or platform to the highest point of the entire transport structure;
- width – including the side projections and the additional elements installed;
- length – with account of the supports, protective structures and the position of the cargo on the platform;
- weight – with the packaging, supports and other elements involved in transportation;
- load distribution – with account of the centre of gravity and the location of the supports.
Where there are discrepancies between the documentation, the sender’s data and the actual measurements, they must be recorded and clarified before transportation begins. The cause may be a different configuration of the object or a different measurement method, but the transportation scheme must take into account the actual parameters of the specific shipment.
It is also important to record the conditions of measurement: the position of the cargo, the support surface, the packaging and the points at which the extreme dimensions were determined. The data obtained are then compared with the capabilities of the chosen transport, since sufficient load capacity or platform length do not by themselves guarantee an acceptable load distribution and placement of the cargo.
The route as part of the survey: can the cargo physically pass the entire way
For oversized cargo the route is determined not only by the points of departure and delivery. Roads, bridges, turns and sites must correspond to the actual dimensions, weight and manoeuvring characteristics of the transport combination.
The first limitation is height. The transport envelope includes not only the cargo itself but also the platform, the frame, the cradles and other elements. The resulting height is compared with the restrictions on bridges, overpasses, flyovers and other sections of the route.
Width and length determine the possibility of passing narrow sections and performing manoeuvres. For long platforms it is necessary to take into account the trajectory of the trailer on turns, the overhang of individual parts and the space required for turning or changing lanes.
When assessing weight, not only the restrictions on total load capacity are taken into account but also the distribution of the load between the axles. This is particularly important on bridges and other engineering structures, where the permissible parameters depend on the specific transport configuration.
In multimodal transportation the entire logistics chain is checked. The road section, the terminal, the vessel or the rail platform have their own requirements for dimensions, weight, loading and securing. A problem at any stage may require the whole scheme to be changed.
The route is assessed with account of the actual parameters of the cargo. A change in the transport height, the position on the platform, the type of transport or the stowage scheme requires the relevant restrictions to be checked again.
The main groups of restrictions:
- height and width restrictions;
- turns and difficult manoeuvres;
- permissible load on bridges and other structures;
- the condition and geometry of the road infrastructure;
- the capabilities of terminals and transshipment sites;
- access immediately to the place of delivery;
- changes in the transportation scheme if restrictions are identified.
A survey check does not replace the engineering design of the route, the calculations and the official approvals. Its task is to compare the actual parameters of the cargo and the transport combination with the declared conditions of transportation and to identify discrepancies that require an additional check.
The earlier a problem with the route is discovered, the more possibilities there are to change the platform, the placement or other parameters of the transportation before it begins.
Documents and permits: what must be checked before dispatch
The documents must correspond not only to the declared equipment but also to its actual configuration. Discrepancies in weight, dimensions, completeness of supply or identification data may require the transportation scheme to be changed and delay dispatch.
First of all the name, the number of cargo units, the marking and the serial numbers are checked. The weight, dimensions, position of the centre of gravity and the lifting and securing points are then compared with the actual object. Additional structures or a changed configuration must be reflected in the documentation, since they affect the preparation of the transportation.
The manufacturer’s instructions on slinging, supports, the position of the cargo and the transport securing are checked separately. This information must be available to those who carry out the loading and placement.
The documentation that it is advisable to check before dispatch includes:
- identification data and the specification of the cargo;
- the weight, dimensions and position of the centre of gravity;
- data on the lifting and securing points;
- instructions on loading and transportation;
- documents for the transport configuration;
- route and permit documents, if they are required;
- up-to-date stowage and securing schemes.
Particular attention is paid to how up to date the information is. If the configuration, dimensions, vehicle, position of the cargo or route have changed after the documents were prepared, the relevant data must be checked again.
The surveyor records the availability of the documentation and the specific discrepancies with the actual condition, but does not replace a legal or permit check. If critically important information is missing, the report states which data require clarification and why they matter for the preparation of the transportation.
It is better to check the documentation before loading: at this stage a discrepancy is considerably easier to correct than after the cargo is placed on the platform.
What a preliminary survey identifies
A preliminary survey records the condition of the cargo before loading and the start of transport operations. Dents, scratches, deformations and damage to the coating must be documented in advance so that after delivery the pre-existing defects can be separated from damage that occurred during transportation.
Not only the condition of the equipment is checked but also its readiness for transportation. Protruding elements may require additional protection, supports may prove unstable, and packaging may obstruct slinging or securing. Such circumstances do not automatically mean that damage will occur, but they require a check before dispatch.
The lifting and securing points are assessed separately. Their accessibility, condition and conformity with the intended loading scheme are checked. The presence of a suitable element on the housing does not by itself mean that it can be used for a specific operation.
Supports, frames and cradles are also considered part of the transport system. Their damage or incorrect position can change the stability of the cargo and the load distribution.
The transport platform is also inspected: its dimensions, condition, support zones and securing points are compared with the specific cargo. The technical serviceability of the vehicle as a whole does not guarantee its conformity with the chosen stowage scheme.
Before dispatch it is advisable to check:
- existing damage to the cargo and the packaging;
- the actual dimensions and weight;
- the condition and position of the supports;
- the accessibility and condition of the lifting and securing points;
- the protection of the protruding and sensitive elements;
- the conformity of the packaging with the configuration of the cargo;
- the suitability of the platform for the chosen stowage;
- the conformity of the actual loading with the prepared scheme;
- the availability of the necessary technical data.
Recording the discrepancies between the plan and the actual configuration is particularly useful. If the cargo is stowed differently from what was envisaged, it is necessary to record its real position and to determine whether the change requires the securing or the load distribution to be adjusted.
The report must describe specific observations: what was found, where it is located and what significance it has for the preparation of the transportation. At the same time the fact must be separated from an assumption about the consequences: a deficiency identified is recorded as a circumstance requiring assessment, and not as proof that a particular damage will necessarily occur.
When it is worth involving a surveyor
An independent survey is particularly in demand in the transportation of expensive, heavy, unique or non-standard equipment. It is also useful in multimodal logistics, the transfer of cargo between several parties, complex loading and discrepancies in the initial documentation. The more operations and parties are involved in the transportation, the higher the value of an independent recording of the condition of the cargo before dispatch.
LVS Global carries out surveys of oversized and non-standard cargo: it checks the actual condition, the dimensions, the preparation for loading, the stowage and other parameters affecting transportation. The results of the inspection make it possible to record the initial condition of the object and to identify circumstances that require adjustment or an additional check before transportation begins. If you are facing the transportation of oversized equipment and need to check the readiness of the cargo for dispatch, a survey can be arranged before the loading operations begin.
