French regulations
for outsize loads

The regulations in France regarding the outsize load have been changed recently. The updated reviews of the French standards will be available in this page in a short time.

The transports are considered to be outsize for their length, their width and/or their weight.
The transport that is outsize for one dimension only can be composed by several pieces of the same kind, with the condition that the other dimensions and the weight are compliant with the road code.
A transport that is outsize for two dimensions (width and length) can be composed by several pieces of the same kind, with the condition that the weight is compliant with the road code.

The vehicles subject to authorisation for outsize loads are those vehicles exceeding the following dimensions:

Lenght	16 M 500 tractor/semitrailer 18 M 350 Truck/trailer 18 M 750 for most recent trucks/trailers
Width	2 M 500 2 M 550 for the most recent vehicles
Height	4 M 000
Weight	38,00 tons for 4 axes vehicles 40,00tons for 5 axes vehicles

In France the transports are classified in 3 categories according to their dimensions:

1 CATEGORY PERMANENT AUTHORISATION
Validity 1 year: map of France, drawing of the roads with track up to 7 metres and C.P.T.E.* 2001 for road network
(according to permission and exclusively for E.C. or French subjects).

Lenght	< 20 M 00
Width	< 3 M 00
Height	< 45 T 00

2 CATEGORY AUTHORISATION
Valid from 3 to 6 months, up to 1 year

Lenght	20 M a 25 M 00
Width	3 M a 4 M 00
Height	45 T a 70 T 00

3 CATEGORY AUTHORISATION
Valid from 3 to 6 months, up to 1 year

Lenght	> 25 M 00
Width	> 4 M 00
Height	> 70 T 00

Escort

				<= 72 TON	72 <TON < 120	>120 TON
Width of the vehicle (l. in metres)	Length of the vehicle (l. in metres)	First category convoy	Second category convoy	Third category convoy and total travelling mass lower or equal to the maximum mass limit of the second category	Third category convoy for total travelling mass or for loads per axle and of a total mass lower or equal than 120000 kg	Third category convoy for total travelling mass or for loads per axle and of a total mass higher than 120000 kg
l <= 3	L <= 20	Nothing			Main vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle
l <= 3	20 < L <= 25		Nothing		Main vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle
l <= 3	25 < L <= 30			Main vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle + escort (a)
l <= 3	30 < L <= 40			Main vehicle + back protection vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle + escort (a)
3 < l <= 4	L <= 25		Main vehicle		Main vehicle + back protection vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle
3 < l <= 4	25 < L <= 30			Main vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle + escort (a)
3 < l <= 4	30 < L <= 40			Main vehicle + back protection vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle + escort (a)
4 < l <= 4,5	L <= 25			Main vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle + escort
4 < l <= 4,5	25 < L <= 30			Main vehicle + back protection vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle + escort
4 < l <= 4,5	30 < L <= 40			Main vehicle + back protection vehicle (b)	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle (b)	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle + escort
l > 4,50 e/o L > 40	l > 4,50 e/o L > 40			Main vehicle + back protection vehicle + escort	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle + escort	Main vehicle + back protection vehicle + escort

a) During a temporary period of six months starting from the application date of this order, the accompaniment service will be composed of a main vehicle and an escort.
b) During a temporary period of six months starting from the application date of this order, the accompaniment service will be composed of a main vehicle, a back protection vehicle and an escort.

TIME RESTRICTIONS
It is forbidden to circulate on Sunday and public holidays, as well as on Saturday and the day before public holidays starting from 12,00 AM till the next day 6,00 AM.
Circulation on day and night for all the transports of 1st category, except for particular cases.
Authorisation for night circulation of certain transports, with particular limitations in certain areas or urban zones.

Information about the regulations of the following countries are available:
Italy - Spain - France