Where Project Freight Starts
Most shipments fit inside a 40 ft trailer or a 40 ft high-cube container. When they don't, you are in project freight territory. That covers anything where standard road, sea or air services run out of room or capacity, such as:
- Out-of-gauge (OOG) cargo — wider, taller or longer than the standard container.
- Heavy plant — bulldozers, cranes, generators, transformers.
- Industrial equipment — production lines, large machinery, prefabricated structures.
- Time-critical multi-modal deliveries — when air freight can't take the weight and sea freight can't take the time.
Each of these has its own constraints, and the job of a project shipping team is to fit them together into a workable plan.
The Project Lifecycle
A project shipment typically goes through these stages:
1. Route Survey
Before any cargo moves, we look at the route. That means physical checks for road clearance, bridge heights, low overhangs, restricted urban areas and any seasonal closures. For oversized loads, the route can be the longest single constraint.
2. Permits and Escort
Oversized loads require permits from the relevant transport authority — both in origin and destination, and any country in between. Permits define the allowed travel times (often night-only or weekend-only) and the required escort vehicles.
3. Lifting Plan
How does the cargo get on and off the trailer? For most project freight this is more complicated than a forklift. We organise the lifting equipment — cranes, side-loaders, gantry systems — at both ends and any change-over points.
4. Multi-Modal Execution
A single project shipment can use multiple modes:
- Road from origin to port
- Sea or short-sea to destination port
- Road from destination port to site
Each leg has its own scheduling constraints, and the team coordinates them so the cargo arrives on the right day for the lifting equipment that has been booked.
5. Daily Reports
Once the project is in flight, daily progress updates keep stakeholders informed. For high-value or time-critical projects, this matters more than the freight rate itself.
Common Project Categories
Some examples of the project shipments we handle:
- Industrial machinery moving between manufacturing centres.
- Construction equipment to civil engineering sites.
- Renewable energy components — wind turbine sections, solar farm equipment, transformer units.
- Prefabricated structures — modular buildings, large tanks, processing units.
What to Tell Us When You Enquire
For project shipments, we need more detail than a standard quote request. Useful information:
- Cargo description and a photo if possible
- Exact dimensions (length × width × height) and weight
- Origin and destination, including site access details
- Required delivery window
- Any restrictions (handling, route, security)
The earlier the conversation starts, the better the plan. Use the form on our contact page to begin.