Transport by a vehicle or a vehicle combination, having either no load or an indivisible load, exceeding at least one of permitted dimensions (width, length, height) or total mass or permitted axle loads, is allowed only if an abnormal road transport permit for such transport has been issued.

A public road where traffic signs limit movement of vehicles exceeding the size, total mass and/or axle load limits may be trafficked by abnormal vehicle, having either no load or indivisible load, only if abnormal road transport permit had been obtained prior to journey.

An abnormal load transport permit may be issued:

– if a vehicle or a load is indivisible (a simple disassembly of vehicle parts or the load cannot adjust the total mass, axle loads or dimensions with the required limits); or if the transport of a vehicle or a load is not possible by other transport means; or if the costs of arrangement and transport by other means are complex and unreasonably high.

– in other emergencies caused by extraordinary circumstances and cost efficiency; if necessary conditions for protection of roads, road safety and traffic capacity may be met during the transport.

If an abnormal transport inspection authority finds noncompliance to any requirements set out in the permit or in the Ordinance on abnormal road transport, such abnormal transport will be determined as not allowed and without a valid permit.

The authority issuing abnormal transport permit will set out special requirements for transport in order to enable road safety, protect road assets and manage flows of traffic; and will determine the charges for abnormal load transport.

Ordinance on abnormal loads/road transport – see here and here.

REGISTER OF HAULIERS IN ROAD TRANSPORT IN CROATIA

Abnormal load vehicles are divided into five categories (which are outside the normal total mass/weights, dimensions and axle loads usually allowed).

Abnormal Transport Category I

is a transport by a vehicle , having either no load or an indivisible load, not exceeding gross 44 tons on up to 5 axles, or gross 48 tons on a minimum of 6 axles, and/or 3 m width and/or 4.2 m height and/or 23 m length, within allowed axle loads or axle loads designated by traffic signs.

Abnormal transport Category II
is a transport by a vehicle, having either no load or an indivisible load, exceeding 44 or 48 gross tons but not exceeding 60 gross tons; and/or more than 3 m but not more than 3.5 m of overall width and/or more than 4.2 m but not exceeding 4.5 m height, and/or more than 23 m but not exceeding 30 m length, and/or exceeding axle load by up to 20% over legally permitted or designated by traffic signs.

Abnormal transport Category III
is a transport by a vehicle, having either no load or an indivisible load, exceeding the limits of permitted total mass and/or dimensions and/or axle loads, for abnormal transport of Category II.

Abnormal transport Category IV
is a transport by vehicles without load, registered for road transport, whose total mass exceeds the legal permitted overall mass, or those that have overall mass that exceeds permitted axle loads (mobile cranes, engineering plants etc.).

Abnormal transport Category V
is a transport by unladen vehicles, when the vehicle exceeds allowed dimensions for Category I of abnormal transport, or exceeds the dimensions designated by a traffic sign (agricultural machinery).

One-off permit is issued for each single abnormal load transport of vehicles in Categories I, II, III or IV, and is valid for 30 days after the date of issuance.

Depending on characteristics of a vehicle and the load, the permit may be issued for abnormal load movement in a convoy of vehicles including maximum of 3 vehicles or 3 groups of vehicles.

Likewise, the permit may be issued for a vehicle procession by vehicle categories II and III, given the advance route, loads and number of each single transport within an abnormal transport procession.

Annual permit is issued to a haulier for abnormal transports in categories I, IV and V, if those transports exceed dimensions, overall weight/mass and axle loads determined for Category I of abnormal load transport. Annual permit will remain valid for 365 days and shall provide all data on all vehicles included in transporting of abnormal loads.

NOTE: The authorities may determine the time sequence for abnormal transport in Category II and III, in cases of very complex abnormal load transports. In such cases the permit will not be valid for 30 days from the date of issuance.

• Vehicle signage
• List of roads serving as priority routes for abnormal transport
• Escort vehicle signage
• Template Form on compliance to special conditions for escort vehicles
• Template Statement on haulier’s competence for abnormal transport
• Template shipping certificate
• Template Decision on appointment of an attendant for abnormal transport
• Template Statement of responsibility of the applicant

Escorting requirements, the type and number of escort vehicles, and requirements for traffic police are determined on a case-by-case basis, in order to arrange safe movement of abnormal loads.

The escort of abnormal transport is required only for the route segment strictly identified in the permit, and is conducted by at least one escort vehicle positioned to the front of the abnormal load, or to the rear of the abnormal load vehicle if it moves along a motorway.

On motorways and dual carriageways carrying one-way traffic:

• a single simple escort vehicle is required for abnormal load transports exceeding 3-3.5m width maximum and/or 23-30 m length or for those transports that will move below the speed of 50 km/h;
• a single simple escort vehicle is required for abnormal load transports exceeding 3.5-4.5m width maximum and/or 30-40m length;
• one escort vehicle with the roof sign and one single simple escort are required for abnormal load transports exceeding 4.5 m width and/or 40 m length, and if it is expected that the traffic will be stopped during the movement of abnormal transport.

On all other roads:

• a single simple escort vehicle is required for abnormal load transports exceeding 3m-3.5m width maximum and/or 23m-25 m length or for those transports that will move below the speed of 30 km/h;
• a single simple escort vehicle and an escort vehicle with the roof sign is required for abnormal load transports exceeding 3.5m-4m width maximum and/or 25m-30m length;
• at least two escort vehicles with roof sign are required for abnormal load transports exceeding 4m- 4.5 m width maximum and/or 30m-35 m length;
• at least two escort vehicles with roof sign are required for abnormal load transports exceeding 4.5 m width maximum and/or 35 m length.

The type of abnormal load and the specific route/stretches of the road may require more complex escort and the police escort vehicles as demanded by individual police department responsible for the route. The scope and manner of traffic police escorts shall be determined by the police department, based on the written consent issued, and within 5 days after the submission of such request by the authority which issued the permit.

Vehicle route (itinerary) must include the following information:

• abnormal load transport itinerary with identification of public roads included in the route and all parking and other road surfaces along the planned route that may serve as stopping points, with a corresponding map included;
• timeline/schedule of the planned transport with a list of vehicle stops on parking and other road surfaces along the route;
• the description, the location and scheduled time of special manoeuvring of a vehicle or handling of vehicle loads;
• description of special measures to be taken during the transport (partial or total closure of a public road because of abnormal transport with scheduled time of transit; planned accommodation of devices and utility lines within the area above the pavement and similar actions required to prepare the route ahead);
• traffic management plan in cases of alternate traffic flows controlled by traffic lights and similar, diversion of traffic to detour roads and similar.

LIMITATIONS OF ABNORMAL LOAD TRANSPORT – INTERRACTIVE MAP

The permit may be issued only if the following costs have been paid prior to issuance:

• the costs of technical processing of the application;
• the charge for abnormal load transport;
• other costs related to the permit issuance.

The administrative fee for issuing a decision on the application for abnormal loads permit in international road traffic is paid in revenue stamps in the amount of HRK 85.00 / EUR 11,28, and, according to the same decision, an additional HRK 35.00 / EUR 4,65 per tariff code 17 of the Regulation on the Administrative Fee Tariff (Official Gazette 92/2021) for each additional towing vehicle or trailer. The fee can also be paid through payment order and is attached to the Conclusion on the collection of administrative costs and abnormal loads fees.

Payment information

• State Budget – IBAN: HR12 1001 0051 8630 00160 
• Model: HR64 
• Reference number: 5002-38108 – OIB (personal identification number) of the administrative fee payee
• Remittance information: enter the Conclusion number from the application

The criteria for calculation of charges for abnormal load transport and costs of technical processing of the application for individual category of abnormal load transport are shown in the following table:

The overall cost of the abnormal load transport and all the components in the cost will be shown in the Decision.

If all conditions for issuance of the permit have been met, the permit will be issued within 30 days after the receipt of the application and shall be delivered through the application.