In cargo transportation, an abnormal load is any load that exceeds the standard or ordinary legal size and/or weight limits for a specified portion of road, highway, freeway or other transport infrastructure, such as air freight or water freight. In South Africa, this is known to transportation companies as abnormal cargo. Examples of oversize/overweight loads include construction machines (cranes, front loaders, backhoes, etc.), pre-built homes, containers, construction elements (bridge beams, generators, windmill propellers, industrial equipment).

When transporting heavy haulage in South Africa, the legal dimensions and weights vary between regions within the country. A vehicle which exceeds the legal dimensions usually requires a special permit which requires extra fees to be paid in order for the oversize/overweight vehicle to legally travel on the roadways. The permit usually specifies a route the load must follow as well as the dates and times during which the load may travel.

Abnormal load companies in South Africa understand that when a load cannot be dismantled into units that can be transported without exceeding the limitations in terms of the dimensions and/or mass, it is classified as an abnormal load. Another definition can be summarized as following: an abnormal load is one which cannot be divided into two or more loads for transporting (on roads).

The Department of Transport has extensive rules governing the type of loads that may be moved on our national road network, and these are laid out in the schedule specifying different regulations. Abnormal load transportation companies in South Africa are aware of these regulations and the following are considered when transporting any significantly large load:

1. Warning Indications – the size and type of the abnormal load will influence the warning signage that is needed. For example, flags to identify extremities, flashing lights to increase visibility and speed restriction boards to communicate the speed the vehicle is limited to drive at.
2. Escorts – dependent on the trip and load, either an accompanying vehicle carrying engineers or a traffic officer escort is necessary for abnormal loads. Such escorts would be required to maintain the travelling speed of the load vehicle, and be suitably marked. This is to ensure that abnormal load is transported correctly.
3. Permits – the appropriate permit is dictated by both the geography through which the load will move and the type of freight. The driver is required to have the correct permit available at all times. Permits can become exceptionally complicated when a load is moving across borders as different countries have different requirements. However, abnormal transport companies in South Africa will ensure that all the permits are granted before transportation begins.
4. Insurance – before any permit is granted, the load transporter is required to produce proof that adequate insurance cover is in place for the abnormal load. Cover is typically required to encompass accidental damage to vehicles, 3rd parties and any private or public property, among others.
5. Routes and clearances – it is the responsibility of the transporter to show that the proposed route is suitable for the abnormal load. To this aim, the carrier may be required to, at their own cost, prove that infrastructure, such as bridges, is capable of bearing the intended load.
6. Infrastructure consideration and notification – within South Africa, it is necessary to notify, and obtain permission from Eskom and Telkom for any loads that may impact overhead cabling. These limitations are based on height restriction of 5.8 m (Eskom) and 5.5 m (Telkom) in height respectively. Should an abnormal load surpass these height limitations, the respective organisations will provide escorts to travel with the abnormal load to lift the overhead lines where necessary.
7. Speed limit restrictions – the law prescribes the maximum speed at which an abnormal load can travel. The speed limitations are to ensure the safe transportation of the load, however slow-moving vehicles do congest roads. Once the impact of a load on the traffic patterns has been established, it is useful to notify local communities regarding the times that the vehicle will travel through their areas. Further to this, the speed limitation impacts the transit time of the abnormal load.
8. Embargo’s – dependent on the size and type of load, as well as speed restrictions, the vehicle will be unable to travel on the roads at certain times. Night time travel is usually not allowed without the express permission of the authorities and is usually limited to travel under specific conditions such as within a well-lit metropolitan area. There is generally an embargo on abnormal load transportation on weekends, public holidays and special events. Each province has its own set of embargo times, which can further complicate the transportation of such loads across provincial boundaries.

Jacobs Transport was founded in 1999 and has multiple years of unrivaled industry experience and knowledge. We are the specialists in abnormal load transportation in South Africa and have taken on the biggest and most outrageous types of projects, with a 100% success rate. Be sure to contact Jacobs Transport today for all of your cargo and machine hauling requirements!

The time may come when you notice your manufacturing business has outgrown your facility. This may mean a facility expansion or new construction to improve infrastructure or modify production areas. Perhaps even a complete plant relocation will be necessary. In any of these events, it is crucial to ensure the safe relocation of your valuable production machinery. Whether you’re transporting existing or brand new industrial equipment, it is important to select an experienced heavy equipment mover for the job so that your industrial machinery is safely transported, relocated, and installed.

There are many reasons why moving and rigging heavy equipment can be complex and may often present extra challenges for any business. Facilities are complex structures that contain many intricate systems, moving parts, and heavy machinery. Moving any of these parts without proper planning or expertise can be disastrous. In order to prepare for facility relocation, new facility construction or retrofitting, there are many issues to consider. The following potential issues are examples of situations to be aware of:

• Modifications: New equipment and conveyor configurations may need on-site modifications for full installation even in new machinery installations.
• Customization: Established manufacturing facilities may be challenged when consolidating existing equipment from multiple locations due to needed customization and constraints in the existing building structure.
• Installation: Manufacturer differences in production equipment, conveyor connections, and system controls may create installation issues.
• Equipment damage: Damage to production equipment may occur during the dismantling phase if industrial equipment movers are not familiar with your business or do not have the required expertise.
• Delays: Equipment installations may be delayed if machine movers do not install equipment promptly, causing excessive downtime.
• Hidden fees: Some firms may charge hidden fees, such as extra travel costs, which can be avoided by selecting a firm with a proven track record for speed and successful installation.

Jacobs Transport will use the same level of care and expertise to relocate your production equipment short moves across town or longer moves across the country. No matter the distance of your move, we can provide complete design and installation of production systems from concept to optimum output. With the ability to adapt equipment to your new site or complete structural modifications to improve utilization of an existing facility, we ensure the most creative solutions for all industrial applications.

Jacobs Transport has a group of certified rigging, crane and forklift operators is fully trained to handle your equipment moves. Safety of the equipment and safety of all site personnel is always a top priority and carefully managed in every equipment move and installation.

Our years of equipment moving experience within industrial facilities has also trained us to look for the most cost-effective approach that will limit the impact to existing production areas and often requires the use of compact hoisting and rigging equipment. The ability to remove and install equipment within limited aisle and building clearance not only saves manufacturing downtime, it also significantly decreases the overall project costs by reducing the amount of building and existing equipment modifications necessary to gain access for the new equipment.

Jacobs Transport is committed to servicing your industries specialized transportation needs. We are specialists in the field of moving delicate, over-sized and challenging items both nationally and across border. Utilizing state of the art technology and employing highly skilled industry professional personnel has allowed Jacobs Transport to tackle some of the largest projects our country has ever seen, such as the movement equipment for the SABC during the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

We are industry leaders in the field of machine moving and rigging, having surfaced various sectors over the years, we are able to guarantee the safety and integrity of your equipment. We ensure that all of our abnormal load transportation jobs are conducted in an efficient and legal manor, ensuring the safety of others on the road as well as the safety of our own staff and your machine equipment!

Since 1999, Jacobs Transport has been revolutionizing the large goods transportation industry, we are dedicated to delivering our services in a timeously and professional manner each time. Jacobs Transport offers our clients a complete service of machinery rigging and machine movement operations across a vast range of various industries. We can take on any scale of projects, from disassembly, to reassembly, as well as the transportation required in-between!

Each and every industry has its own range of industry specific machinery that may require the skills of a machinery moving and rigging company, no job is too large for us here at Jacobs Transport and we will be able to assist your next machine move with ease!

These are some of our machinery rigging & transport services that we have to offer at Jacobs Transport:

• Machinery Moving
• Machinery Rigging
• Relocation Services
• Crane Services
• Heavy Machinery Hauling
• Rigging
• Logistic Services
• Packing and Crating

Our aim at Jacobs Transport is to offer a value service to our clients, we are multi versed and can attend to any industries requirements. We are a team of trained professionals and will be able to cater to all of your large machinery moving requirements as well as any and all machinery rigging requirements. Be sure that your next move and or rig, is in the hands of the industry professionals!

Call Jacobs Transport today for all of your long haul or short haul requirements!

Cranes of any type, are the most efficient aid when it comes to meeting any lifting requirement. Mostly designed to lift heavy weight objects, cranes are considered to be simple machines with various attachments like wire ropes, drums, chains and a telescopic boom on the platform.

There are several factors that influence your choice of cranes. For example A mobile crane is used when the site is not easily navigable; in other words, if the location is full of buildings and structure, using a static crane is not at all a feasible idea. This is when a mobile crane is used as they can easily move in small areas. But there are more benefits of using a mobile truck crane. These are:

1. Powerful in terms of strength-Do not underestimate the power of a mobile crane. Although they might be smaller in size than many of the other types of crane, mobile cranes will definitely win the battle when it comes to lifting heavy objects, not one but more than that. This type of crane has the ability to perform multitasking since it can lift more than one heavy object, at the same time. You may be wondering how can such a small crane lift so many heavy objects at one go? Simply because of its improved hydraulic power and multiple axles that help it to lift heavy objects to such great heights. Thus, if you doubt the strength of a mobile crane, think again.
2. Requires less space-From the word ‘mobile’, it is understood easily that this crane is smaller in size and so can fit into smaller spaces compare to other crane types. On the other hand, it is a difficult task for the larger cranes to get in a cramped up space and perform the lifting job. Mobile cranes can easily move in between two buildings, do the job and come out conveniently without much struggle. Grant a small working space and a mobile crane will never disappoint you.
3. Sets up quickly-Since a mobile crane requires less space to function, it also requires less time for setting up. The time needed to set up a mobile crane in a construction site is very brief unlike other cranes like a tower crane. As a result, this crane needs lesser space to stabilize and also helps you to finish your work quickly.
4. Ensures safety-The more mobile and flexible a crane is, the safer it is to use. And this is especially true for a mobile crane. It can easily access a congested site with narrow space and carry heavy objects with ease. Thereby it ensures the safety of the workers on the site and also meets your expectations.
5. An advantage to the construction sites-For any crane hire agency, having a fleet of the latest mobile crane is a must. Not only it provides high flexibility but also can lift heavy weights with ease because of its sturdiness and power. In addition, mobile cranes also reduce pollution rates, is radio controllable and emits less noise. If you want maximum mobile features in a crane, using a mobile crane is your perfect search as it can easily move sideways in a restricted area.

To build a structure of any dimension successfully, choosing the right crane hire company is the key. While searching for the right company can be a difficult task, once you find a suitable company, nothing can stop you from building your dream structure!

It is important to remember that the right crane hire agency forms the strength and backbone of your constructional project. Besides, it also ensures safety while operating the various crane models. Your anxiety and stress are reduced to some extent when you operate a crane from a reputed crane hiring company, which can ensure maximum satisfaction.

Hiring a crane is more convenient than owning one and this fact is commonly agreed by all construction company owners. Given the cost of purchasing and maintaining the cranes, choosing Jacobs Transport would be a wise decision if you want to keep low operational costs while enjoying efficiency.

Jacobs Transport has a range of truck crane to hires and is sure to cater to any of your industry requirements! Our truck cranes are fitted with the strongest and most robust forms of retractable truck cranes, we are able to haul large loads to your desired destination, as well as load and offload your materials with the utmost of caution and professionalism.

Jacobs Transport offers our clients both long distance and short distance hauls, all of our truck crane operators have undergone tedious training to ensure the safety and integrity of our client’s merchandise. We have been around since 1999 and boast years of unrivaled industry experience and expertise. Make sure that the safety and efficiency of your next drop off or delivery is in the hands of professionals.

Call Jacobs Transport today for all of your truck crane hiring requirements!