Wide Load Escorts

Do the guys who ■■■■■■ wide or long loads have to have any special trainning and do the vehicles they use have to carry any special equipment.thank you in advance ianto

I do about 15 - 20 abnormal loads a year for a steel company in the south and the guys I use to ■■■■■■ have not had any special training. You need a good understanding of the loaded vehicle’s needs whilst travelling and be able to convey this to other road users. Its not rocket science but you have to remember that a good percentage of other people on the road can’t understand that a normal truck needs a bit more room than the Ford Fiesta that they’re driving, so when escorting an A load you have to be very patient and prepared for anything.

As for the vehicle escorting, as I understand, there are certain requirements. The company I use have rotating beacons on the van, reflective chevron boards on the front, sides and rear and signs to the effect, “ABNORMAL LOAD ■■■■■■ VEHICLE” to the front and rear also. They use magnetic signs as well that tell you that its either a LONG LOAD or a WIDE LOAD.

No doubt there is some approved training body that would be happy to rinse you out of a few quid and give you some sort of certificate for this, but i’ve also done many an ■■■■■■ and liased with the necessary Police constabularies on the route as well as the Highways Agency, with no official training myself and never had a problem.

Try this link, i’ve always found them pretty useful http://www.myabnormalload.com

Hope that helps!

they have the “power” to stop traffic on fast moving roundabouts/junctions by pulling across all lanes with their strobes on, car driver just drive around them :exclamation: :unamused: :unamused: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

From the way some of them behave, brain removal is a requirement.