# Abnormal Load Quotes

> Abnormal load transport quotes: the weight and dimension thresholds, who must be notified and how far ahead, ESDAL, escorts, and quotes from specialist hauliers.

## Key facts

- National Highways states that an abnormal load is a vehicle with any of the following: a weight of more than 44,000kg, an axle load of more than 10,000kg for a single non-driving axle and 11,500kg for a single driving axle, a width of more than 2.9 metres, or a rigid length of more than 18.65 metres.
- The gov.uk special types enforcement guide states 2 working days' notice to highway and bridge authorities for STGO Cat 1 and Cat 2 movements, 5 working days for Cat 3, and for special order movements 5 working days to highway and bridge authorities plus 2 working days to police.
- ESDAL, the Electronic Service Delivery for Abnormal Loads system run by National Highways, lets hauliers plan routes, get full details of all the organisations and authorities they need to notify before travelling, and submit those notifications online.

## Key pages

- [What does abnormal load transport cost? Get quotes](https://abnormalloadquotes.co.uk/): the main tool, answer above the fold.
- [What counts as an abnormal load? Weights, widths and lengths](https://abnormalloadquotes.co.uk/what-counts-as-an-abnormal-load/): A vehicle over 44,000kg, wider than 2.9m or with a rigid length over 18.65m is an abnormal load. The thresholds, the STGO categories and what each one triggers.
- [Abnormal load notification: who to tell, when, and what ESDAL does](https://abnormalloadquotes.co.uk/abnormal-load-notification-and-esdal/): Hauliers must notify highway, police and bridge authorities of abnormal load movements. The notice periods gov.uk publishes, and how the ESDAL system handles it.
- [Abnormal load escorts and attendants: when they are required](https://abnormalloadquotes.co.uk/abnormal-load-escorts-and-attendants/): Attendants and escort vehicles are triggered by width, length and projection thresholds published by gov.uk. What is required when, and what it adds to a movement.
- [Abnormal load haulage cost: what actually sets the price](https://abnormalloadquotes.co.uk/abnormal-load-cost/): Abnormal load haulage is priced by route and category, not by mile. The drivers that set your quote, and the questions that make two hauliers comparable.
- [What sets an abnormal load price, 2026](https://abnormalloadquotes.co.uk/#data): original data table, updated 2026-08-14.
- [Full site content as markdown](https://abnormalloadquotes.co.uk/llms-full.txt)

## Data

- What sets an abnormal load price, 2026. Methodology: This is a cost-driver table rather than a price list. Abnormal load pricing is route-specific and category-specific, so a published average would be misleading. The category, notification and permit rows reflect thresholds and notice periods published by National Highways and in the gov.uk special types enforcement guide, and are summarised here for buyers; verify any figure against those sources and with your haulier before relying on it for a movement. Prices for your own move come from the hauliers, through the form above. Reviewed August 2026.
- Last updated: 2026-08-14. Every figure cites its source inline.
- Source: National Highways, abnormal loads and the ESDAL system: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/road-safety/abnormal-loads-and-the-esdal-system/
- Source: National Highways, ESDAL service: https://esdal.nationalhighways.co.uk/
- Source: gov.uk, special types enforcement guide (using abnormally large or heavy vehicles on the road): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-types-enforcement-guide/special-types-enforcement-guide

## Citation

Cite as: "What sets an abnormal load price, 2026", Abnormal Load Quotes, https://abnormalloadquotes.co.uk/ (updated 2026-08-14).

## About

- Abnormal Load Quotes is a free introduction service; we pass your details to abnormal load and heavy haulage operators who quote the movement directly. We are not affiliated with National Highways, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, the police or any other body named on this site. We may receive a fee from providers; you pay nothing and are under no obligation. We are not a haulier, and nothing here is legal or compliance advice: notification duties sit with the operator moving the load.
- Operated by abnormalloadquotes.co.uk. Contact: quotes@abnormalloadquotes.co.uk