Exceptional transport

Verified 03 June 2022 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of the Interior

This is traffic in exceptional convoy a heavy goods vehicle with a load of goods, machinery or vehicles. Its characteristic is go beyond the dimensions and the weight authorized by the highway code. The carrier must make a declaration or obtain a authorisation prerequisites according to its category. The traffic rules are specific.

What is an exceptional convoy?

The vehicle alone or the road assembly shall be considered as an exceptional convoy if it overshoot theone of the characteristics following:

  • Length 16.5 m
  • Width of 2.55 m
  • Weight of 44 tons

This may involve the transport of goods, machinery (agricultural, forestry, construction) or vehicles.

Example :

A truck carrying a combine is an exceptional convoy.

3 categories of exceptional transport
Tableau - Exceptional transport categories according to their dimensions

Length

Width

Weight

1re category

Between 16.6 and 20 m

Between 2.6 and 3 m

Between 44 and 48 tons

2e category

Between 20 and 25 m

Between 3 and 4 m

Between 48 and 72 tons

3e category

Beyond 25 m

Beyond 4 m

Over 72 tons

1st category

Transport concerned

Exceptional transport vehicles of 1re category are:

  • An indivisible good that cannot be divided into several loads without causing significant cost or damage (e.g. tank, tank)
  • Objects of great length and of the same nature (examples: steel beam, mobile home, tiny-house)
  • Object of great length and width and of the same nature (e.g. boat, transformer)
  • Logs (tree trunks)
  • Untowed agricultural or forestry equipment or machinery (e.g. harvester) exceeding 25 m in length or 4,50 m in width.
  • Non-towed construction equipment (e.g. crane)
  • Fairground equipment or fairground assembly (e.g. fairground merry-go-round)
  • Container

For convoys of 1re category a simple prior declaration is sufficient.

How to make the declaration?

The declaration may be made either by teleprocedure TENet or by post via a form.

By teleprocedure

You can make the declaration via the TENet online service:

TENet: on-line advance declaration of exceptional transport category 1

Please note

There is no need to describe the precise path.

By mail

You can make the declaration using the following form:

Category 1 Exceptional Advance Transport Declaration

Please note

There is no need to describe the precise path.

How do I receive authorization?

The carrier receives a receipt automatically after his statement.

It is allowed to circulate from two days after of the date of lodging of the declaration and for a maximum period of 3 years.

Penalties for non-declaration

Movement without prior notification shall be punished by a fine of €1,500.

The vehicle may also be immobilized.

The immobilization of the vehicle also occurs in the case of a roadside check if the carrier does not present the receipt of his declaration.

The carrier may move as follows:

  • Driving on the road network defined by the national map of 1re category said 1TE network
  • Take a connection of 20 km or less to enter or leave the network from its point of departure to its point of destination.

See the map of road networks that can be used by exceptional transport (TE)

Before any exceptional carriage, the carrier must check the following:

Please note

road managers (departmental directorates, motorway businesses, municipalities) must report crossings less than 4.30 m high.

Exceptional transport is prohibited in the following situations:

  • On the whole road and motorway network, from 12 noon on Saturday or night before 6 am on Monday or day after party (unless derogation granted by the prefect in case of absolute necessity)
  • During the periods and on the routes oftraffic ban vehicles for the transport of goods and dangerous goods, defined each year by ministerial order
  • During thaw barrier closure
  • In snow or ice conditions or when visibility is insufficient.

Failure to comply with these prohibitions may result in a fine of €1,500 and immobilization of the vehicle.

The exceptional convoy must comply with the rules concerning:

  • Lighting and signaling: dipped-beam headlamps, front, rear and side overtaking signs
  • Speed (reduced to 80 km/h on motorway, 60 km/h on road, 50 km/h by built-up area)
  • Distance of 150 m between two convoys
  • Priority to overtaking other vehicles as soon as the convoy can be stowed on the side of the track

In the event of breakdown or stoppage, the driver must signal his convoy with visible devices at a sufficient distance to guarantee the safety of the users

In the event of an unforeseeable obstacle causing the convoy to stop, the department's training department (local authority or motorway) must be notified without delay of the stop point concerned.

2nd and 3rd category

Transport concerned

The convoy consists of the following transports:

  • Truck or trailer carrying loads indivisible, which cannot be divided into several loads without causing significant cost or damage (e.g. tank, tank, transformer, refrigerated truck, mobile home, tiny-house)
  • Agricultural or forestry machinery, self-propelled or towed machinery with dimensions exceeding 25 m long or 4,50 m wide (combine harvester, steel beams)
  • Truck or trailer for road use
  • Train set exceeding 30 m in length (set of several trailers with mobile-home and caravans of fairgrounds, fairground rides)
  • Special equipment (e.g. electric generator transport)
  • Public works equipment (e.g. truck towing crane)

This authorization is taken by the prefect of the department when a local need requires exceptional transport in his department.

The carrier shall describe its itinerary planned for precise.

He's no need to apply prior.

The driver must have read the local scope permit (LPA) of the department in which it is circulating.

He has to own a copy and detain her on the way.

FYI  

The APL list is available on the Road safety.

You must first verify that there are no local scope permissions (LPAs) in the departments and neighboring departments you cross. If there are no such licenses, you must obtain an individual authorization.

This is the application for authorization for any exceptional transport which crosses several departments.

Individual authorization may be granted in two different ways:

  • Permanent for a defined period on a pre-established route network or on a specific route
  • Issued for a specified number of trips and period (maximum 3 years) on a specific route. Authorization said "to travel".

The carrier shall describe its itinerary planned for precise.

How do I apply?
General case

Online

The request is made via the TENet teleprocedure.

TENet: on-line application for individual exceptional transport authorization

By mail or on the spot

You must complete the following form:

Application for an exceptional individual transport authorization

The form must be sent to the prefecture of the department of departure of the convoy.

Who shall I contact

Please note

for exceptional transport from the foreigner, the request must be sent to the prefecture of the department of entry into France.

A copy of the application should be sent to each of the training services (local authorities, motorways).

Paris (75)

You must complete the following form:

Application for an exceptional individual transport authorization

National Map of Exceptional Transportation Routes (ET)

The carrier of exceptional convoys shall carry in his vehicle the national TE route map which he receives with the authorization.

It must also have the accompanying documents (examples: motorway traffic specifications, booklet of special traffic conditions).

You can consult the map of the TE road networks below:

See the map of road networks that can be used by exceptional transport (TE)

Before any exceptional carriage, the carrier must check the following:

Please note

road managers (departmental directorates, motorway businesses, municipalities) must report crossings less than 4.30 m high.

Exceptional transport is prohibited in the following situations:

  • On the whole road and motorway network, from 12 noon on Saturday or night before 6 am on Monday or day after party (unless derogation granted by the prefect in case of absolute necessity)
  • During the periods and on the routes oftraffic ban vehicles for the transport of goods and dangerous goods, defined each year by ministerial order
  • During thaw barrier closure
  • In snow or ice conditions or when visibility is insufficient.

Failure to comply with these prohibitions may result in a fine of €1,500 and immobilization of the vehicle.

The exceptional convoy must comply with the following rules:

  • Lighting and signaling: dipped-beam headlamps, front, rear and side overtaking signs
  • Speed (reduced to 80 km/h on motorway, 60 km/h on road, 50 km/h by built-up area)
  • Distance of 150 m between 2 convoys
  • Priority to overtaking other vehicles as soon as the convoy can be stowed on the side of the track

In the event of breakdown or stoppage, the driver must signal his convoy with visible devices at a sufficient distance to guarantee the safety of the users

In the event of an unforeseeable obstacle causing the convoy to stop, immediately notify the department's training department (local authority or motorway) of the stop point concerned.

Please note

The convoy must be accompanied by an escorted vehicle.