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France

France has a road network with a total length of 1 030 010 km. 8 500km of 11 163km french highway network belong to the private sector. The use of French road and highway network for abnormal goods transport is free for all trucking companies (French and foreigners). 
For normal goods/size transports users are subject to a charge.

In France, the provisions for the official registration of transports apply to Category 1 (maximum width 3 meters, length up to 20 meters and weight up to 48 tonnes).

The application must be sent by post or by e-mail to the responsible departments of the Starting department or, in the case of transports from abroad, the relevant border, by means of the form Cerfa N ° 15624 * 01 ("Déclaration préalar de transports exceptionnels") Departments. The convoy may begin two weekdays after receipt of the approval, provided that the prefecture in charge of the region in question has not objected. Also two days before the passage of heavy transporters, they must be reported to the responsible road authorities.

Penalty for non-registration

In the event of an infringement, a fee of 135 EUR will be charged. If a heavy transport is not registered, the penalty can be up to 1500 euros and the vehicle can be decommissioned. The latter also applies in the event that in the case of inspections the receipt certificate issued by the authorities can not be presented for the purpose of obtaining the permit.

Since March 1st 2017, the heavy transport  for five country-wide road networks is authorized in departmental jurisdiction, depending on the category and weight. This permit is limited to convoys with a maximum weight per axle of 12 tonnes and a distance between the axles of at least 1.36 meters.

Avarage fee in €/km:

 2 axles  2 axles  3 axles and more
 ≤ 3,5 t  > 3,5 t  ≤ 44 t
 0.1386  0.2055  0.2790

 

 Abnormal loads/goods are divided into three different categories:

Category Length (meter) Width (meter) Max. rolling volume (kg)
First category  L ≤ 20  l ≤ 3  M ≤ 48 000
Second category  20 < L ≤ 25  3 < l ≤ 4  48 000 < M ≤ 72 000
Third category  L > 25  l > 4  M > 72 000

 

 

 

Max Height = not specified (shipper takes responsibility for damages if height > 4,00m !)

Different categories require different kinds of authorization:

Authorization On the network On a specific itinerary  
Frequency Permanent Permanent Per journey
First category
  • On the national network: traffic allowed on all the network of the national map for the first category
  • Traffic allowed on all or a part of the county road network of the first category
  • For an unlimited number of journey between a point of departure and a destination
  • For a limited number of journey between a point of departure and a destination
Second category
  • On the national network: traffic allowed on all the network of the national map for the second category
  • Traffic allowed on the county road network for the second category
  • For an unlimited number of journey between a point of departure and a destination
  • For a limited number of journey between a point of departure and a destination
Third Category
  • Never
  • For an unlimited number of journey between a point of departure and a destination
  • For a limited number of journey between a point of departure and a destination

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every authorization has a limited duration, provided by the competent authority.
Since 2012. the escort should be totall pivate.

Escort
 Width l (m)  Length L (m)  first
 category		  Second
 category		  Third Category
 M ≤ 72 t		  Third category
 72 t < M ≤ 120 t		  Third category
 M > 120 t
 l ≤ 3  L ≤ 20  No escort     guide vehicle guide vehicle + 
back safety vehicle
 l ≤ 3  20 < L ≤ 25    No escort   guide vehicle guide vehicle + 
back safety vehicle
 l ≤ 3  25 < L ≤ 30     guide vehicle guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle		 guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle +
Escort
 l ≤ 3  30 < L ≤ 40     guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle		 guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle		 guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle +
Escort
 3 < l ≤ 4  L ≤ 25    guide vehicle   guide vehicle + 
back safety vehicle		 guide vehicle + 
back safety vehicle
 3 < l ≤ 4  25 < L ≤ 30     guide vehicle guide vehicle + 
back safety vehicle		 guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle +
Escort
 3 < l ≤ 4  30 < L ≤ 40     guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle		 guide vehicle + 
back safety vehicle		 guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle +
Escort
 4 < l ≤ 4.5  L ≤ 25     guide vehicle guide vehicle + 
back safety vehicle		 guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle +
Escort
 4 < l ≤ 4.5  25 < L ≤ 30     guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle		 guide vehicle + 
back safety vehicle		 guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle +
Escort
 4 < l ≤ 4.5  30 < L ≤ 40     guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle		 guide vehicle + 
back safety vehicle		 guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle +
Escort
 l > 4.5  L > 40     guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle +
Escort		 guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle +
Escort		 guide vehicle +
back safety vehicle +
Escort
source: Autoscorte frejus, http://www.autoscortefrejus.it/ted_norm_francia.htm

source: Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung e.V.
http://archiv.vv-suedbaden.de/docman/laenderinformationen/frankreich/download-6.html