Heavy Haulage in Colchester

Colchester Road Haulage offers Heavy Haulage solutions to those in Colchester, Essex and around the surrounding areas.

• Versatile
• Precise
• Dependable

Heavy Haulage in Colchester

Heavy loads come through Essex all the time, many of them arriving at Felixstowe and heading inland, others leaving factories and yards around Colchester for projects elsewhere in the country. Our heavy haulage in Colchester moves loads that weigh more than an ordinary lorry can legally carry: heavy plant, steel, tanks, transformers, large machines and precast concrete. We handle the planning, the notices and the movement itself.

All of our vehicles run under a goods vehicle operator licence. When a load goes over normal weight limits, the law requires advance notice to the police and to the highway and bridge authorities on the route, and in some cases an escort. We tell you what applies to your load before you book, so there are no surprises later.

The weight limits

The legal maximum for a normal artic carrying a load is 44 tonnes gross. Go beyond it and the movement comes under the Special Types rules, which split loads into categories by weight: up to 50 tonnes, up to 80 tonnes and up to 150 tonnes. Each category has its own vehicle rules and notice period. A load over 150 tonnes needs a special order, which takes longer to arrange. The weight per axle matters too, which is why we need an accurate figure before quoting.

What we move

• Heavy plant, cranes and tracked machinery
• Structural steel and fabricated sections
• Transformers and switchgear
• Storage tanks and process vessels
• Precast concrete units
• Large machines arriving through Felixstowe

Planning the route

We plan every heavy route from start to finish. That means checking bridge weight limits, weak culverts, tight junctions and roadworks, and avoiding town centres where a long trailer will struggle. The A12 and A120 carry plenty of heavy traffic, but the last few miles to a farm, quarry or new build site are often where the real planning happens. If a bridge cannot take the load, we find another way or seek approval from its owner. We also agree the time of the move with the authorities, which can mean an early start or a night run.

Heavy loads from Felixstowe

A lot of heavy freight for Essex arrives by sea. Transformers, machines and steel come through Felixstowe on flat racks, in open top containers or as break bulk cargo, and then need a heavy road movement to reach their final site. The road leg needs the same notices and route checks as any other heavy load, and the timing has to fit the port's release and storage deadlines. Send us the weight, dimensions and expected release date as soon as you have them, so the notices can go in before the load is ready to leave the port and you avoid paying for extra days in port storage.

Choosing the trailer

A heavier load needs more axles to spread its weight, and more axles mean a longer combination. We choose a trailer that keeps each axle within its limit, then check that it can get into and out of both sites. Tall loads may need a low deck to stay under bridges.

Related services

For loads that are wide or oversize as well as heavy, our abnormal load transport in Essex covers the notification and routing requirements. Tall plant and tracked machines are often better on a low loader, hired with a driver. For machinery movements within standard road limits, our plant machinery transport in Colchester is the simpler option, and our machinery movers in Colchester look after moves between business premises.

Areas covered

Our heavy loads travel to and from Colchester, north Essex, Chelmsford, Braintree, Witham, Clacton, Harlow, Basildon, Southend and Felixstowe, and between Essex and the rest of Great Britain.

Why use our heavy haulage service

• Weight category and notice period confirmed up front
• Routes planned around Essex bridges, culverts and narrow roads
• Trailers chosen to keep within axle limits
• Notices sent to the police and highway and bridge authorities on time
• Night moves and escorts provided if the police or highway authority call for them

Frequently asked questions

How far ahead do I need to book?

For the lighter heavy categories, at least two clear working days are needed for the notices. For the heaviest category, five clear working days. Book as soon as your dates are firm.

Can you collect heavy loads from Felixstowe?

Yes, once the load has been released. Send us its weight and dimensions as early as possible, because heavy loads from the port need the same notices as any other.

What if the load is heavier than expected?

An underestimated weight can make the vehicle illegal and the notices invalid. Please give us a confirmed weight from the manufacturer, a drawing or a weighbridge.

Do you lift the load on and off?

Not for the heaviest items. Loads in this weight range are normally lifted by a crane hire firm or the site's own equipment. Tell us what is booked and we will coordinate with it.

Can a heavy load wait overnight before delivery?

Sometimes the timing of the notices or the crane means a load has to wait. If that is likely, raise it when you ask for a price so we can discuss the options.

Get a heavy haulage quote in Colchester

Send us your load's weight, size and both addresses. We will come back with the category, the notice needed and a price. Call us or use the contact form.