ARE YOU THINKING OF TRANSPORTING HEAVY LOADS? DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT READING THIS

Due to the series of regulations and standards with which the movement of such goods must comply depending on the type of transport, it is considered a challenge in the transportation industry.

Continuing with the series of types of freight transportation, today it is time to analyze the transportation of heavy cargo: What is considered heavy cargo? What are the means of transportation? What challenges does the industry present?

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What is it?

We refer to heavy cargo when we talk about the merchandise to be transported that is distinguished by its weight and/or volume, either within national territory or in international territory.

Due to the nature of the merchandise, they cannot be moved in conventional cargo units, but they have specialized vehicles and conditions for their transportation.

Construction, mining and manufacturing are three of the sectors that most demand this type of transportation.

Some examples:

• Cranes, engines or tractors
• Agricultural and construction machinery
• Containers
• Large refrigerators
• Hydraulic forklifts

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What are the means of transport?

Heavy cargo goods can be transported by air, sea and land. However, the conditions to which the goods must adhere depend to a great extent on the means of transportation to be used.

It is advisable to have the advice and experience of a company specialized in the transportation of heavy cargo that can help the user to define the most optimal route as well as the means of transportation that best suits the needs of each trip.

The most used mode of transportation is road transport. Despite having obstacles such as road infrastructure, it is used due to its flexibility and long range such as industrial, commercial and construction zones. For longer distances, it is often combined with rail or maritime transport, known as multimodal transport.

For those international trips where there are no railroads connecting the countries of origin and destination, maritime transport is the most used.  Thanks to its low cost compared to other modes of transport and its large cargo capacity without limitations in terms of weight restrictions on bridges, sea transport is one of the main options for heavy cargo goods.

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What challenges does the industry face?

Road infrastructure: Routes such as roads and bridges must be adapted to support the weight and dimensions of the vehicles.

Regulatory compliance: Rules and regulations vary from country to country, and sometimes these regulations do not meet the needs of the growing industry.

Safety: The risk of accidents increases due to the dimensions of the vehicle and the goods. Sometimes it is necessary to have the support of 1 or 2 auxiliary vehicles to indicate caution due to excess dimensions.

This sector is fundamental to the global economy and presents constant challenges that challenge the innovation and collaboration of companies, authorities and carriers to provide a solution to the current demand.

It is crucial to implement technological and environmental solutions that ensure the sector continues operating efficiently.

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