Specialist freight for heavy machinery, oversized equipment, and pallets over 500 kg. FTL, crane trucks, and abnormal load transport across Portugal and Europe.
When cargo exceeds standard pallet limits (500 kg or 220 cm height) or requires special handling equipment, standard parcel and groupage services are no longer suitable. Cargosender arranges specialist heavy freight: crane trucks (hiab), low-loader trailers, abnormal load convoys, and heavy-lift forklift handling at origin and destination.
Hiab/crane trucks for loading and unloading heavy machinery where no forklift is available at origin or destination.
Oversized and over-height cargo transported on low-loader or extendable trailers. Abnormal load permits arranged.
Heavy machinery and equipment insured for full replacement value during transport. Claims managed by our freight team.
Oversized loads require route surveys to check bridge heights, road widths, and permit requirements before departure.
Weight, dimensions (L×W×H), loading equipment at origin and destination.
Our freight team assesses the route for any abnormal load requirements.
If needed, abnormal load permits applied for. Minimum 3 days lead time.
Crane truck or low-loader arrives. Professional loading and secure restraint.
Heavy freight is priced per tonne or per vehicle (FTL). Overweight loads requiring special permits carry additional fees.
Crane trucks (hiab), forklifts, and specialist lifting equipment add to the base freight cost.
Abnormal load routes require surveying and police escort permits. Rural or restricted access locations add cost.
Heavy goods vehicles have higher diesel consumption. Surcharges of 15–25% of base rate apply.
Abnormal load permits from the Portuguese road authority (Infraestruturas de Portugal) take 3–10 business days to process.
Heavy freight booked 2 weeks in advance avoids urgency premiums and allows permit applications to be processed without rush fees.
Multiple oversized items going to the same region can share a low-loader — splitting the base rate.
Having a forklift or overhead crane available at origin and destination eliminates crane truck charges.
Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and specialist trailers have higher fuel consumption than standard curtainsiders. Diesel surcharges for heavy freight are typically 18–28% of the base rate — slightly higher than standard road freight. These are included in your quoted rate.
In Portugal, a vehicle carrying a load that exceeds 4m width, 4.2m height, or 22m length requires an exceptional transport permit from Infraestruturas de Portugal. Police escort may also be required for the widest loads.
A standard articulated truck in Portugal and the EU has a maximum gross vehicle weight of 44 tonnes (with five axles). Loads exceeding 24 tonnes payload require specialised multi-axle trailer combinations and permits.
Use the quote form above. Enter origin, destination, weight, and dimensions to see live carrier prices in seconds.
Yes. All services include door-to-door collection. Choose your pickup date during checkout.
Yes. A tracking link is sent to your email when the carrier scans the label at collection.
Contact our support team. We investigate with the carrier and keep you updated. Compensation may apply on express-guaranteed services.
Bookings can be cancelled before collection for a full refund. After collection, changes depend on the carrier's in-transit policy.
Machinery, oversized freight, and pallet loads over 500 kg. Crane trucks and abnormal load capability.