Electronic Service Delivery for Abnormal Loads

Legislation requires that vehicles and load movements that exceed standard dimensions need to be pre-notified to police, highway and bridge authorities. The system which simplifies this process of notifying abnormal load movements is the 'Electronic Service Delivery for Abnormal Loads' (ESDAL) 

ESDAL - Registration 

You must register to use the Electronic Service Delivery for Abnormal Loads' (ESDAL) to notify authorities if you plan to transport very large items by road. 

Before you start 

You will need to complete an online registration form for each person in your business who will use the system. 

Using ESDAL you can: 

• Plan your route 
• Notify the police, highways and bridge authorities of your abnormal indivisible load (AIL) movements around the road network 
• Get advance notice of any possible route problems 
• Save vehicle details and routes for future use 

The ESDAL system is password protected and only you can see your company’s information. 

Only your route information will be passed to the relevant authorities. 

ESDAL Help Desk 

You may contact the ESDAL Help Desk by any of the methods below:

Email -  esdalenquiries@highwaysengland.co.uk 

Telephone: 0300 470 3733 

Highways England  

Great North House  
20 Allington Way  
Darlington  
DL1 4QB  

Notifying the authorities  

Depending on the load you are moving and your route, you may need to give advance warning to: 

• The police 
• Highway authorities 
• Bridge and structure owners like Network Rail 

You can use Highways England’s Electronic Service Delivery for Abnormal Loads (ESDAL) to: 

• Plot your route 
• Notify the police, highways and bridge authorities of your abnormal load movements around the road network 
• Get advance notice of any possible route problems 
• Save vehicle details and routes for future use 

If you do not use ESDAL you must fill in an abnormal loads movement application form 

Give advance notice 

You must allow time to get the necessary clearances from the police, highway and bridge authorities. For example, a Special Order application must be completed 10 weeks before the scheduled date of the move. 

Application and notification forms 

Downloadable forms to be completed when seeking approval or to provide notification of an abnormal loads movement can be found at the link below.

Abnormal load movement’s application and notification forms
Form - 28 August 2018 

Register Abnormal Load trailers to use abroad 

The two most important aspects of using abnormal loads abroad i.e. trailer and registration certificate information can be downloaded at the links below. The dates beneath each link are when the guidance or form was either updated or introduced:

You must register your abnormal load trailer before you can drive through some countries in Europe. 

You also need to obtain an abnormal load trailer keeper’s certificate if you wish to use the trailer abroad. You need to keep the certificate in the vehicle and show it at border crossings.

Guidance 

Guidelines, information and best practice for moving abnormal loads can be downloaded at the links below:

Lighting and marking for abnormal loads vehicles code of practice

A guide to Overhanging loads

Using abnormally large or heavy vehicles on the road  
Updated - 27 September 2018

Where practical, economic and environmentally desirable the largest abnormal loads should be moved by inland and/or coastal water to reduce the impact caused by moving these loads by road. Guidance -Updated 3 May 2019

Preferred routes for Abnormal Loads (Map and Grids) 

Map and preferred route details when planning the movement of extremely high and heavy abnormal loads - Updated 12 July 2012.