Afternoon all, have a trip in a couple of months to Belgium, first time with something ‘odd’. To get the height down I will need to use my low loader which brings the total combination length to 18m. Am I correct in reading that I need a permit for France and Belgium as it is an artic combo over 16.5m? Convoi Exceptionnel marking? Thanks in advance.
Belgium and France are weird, no movements at night and no movements in the daylight. France by day and Belgium by night.
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Wheel Nut:
Belgium and France are weird, no movements at night and no movements in the daylight. France by day and Belgium by night.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That’s interesting to read as I see quite a few convois exceptionnels moving about down here after dark. I asked a workmate who used to transport boats about it and he said it varies depending on the dimensions and nature of the load. You could probably wing it through France as they’re not too hot on artic length enforcement . . . consider for example all the bonneted units pulling 13.6m fridges! Of course if you do get pulled that could prove expensive.
~Craig
Ship out Tilbury - Zeebrugge thereby missing out France might make life a bit easier
Thanks, twice the price however and 8 hr crossing. I’m only going 95km from Calais 
Wally Webb:
Thanks, twice the price however and 8 hr crossing. I’m only going 95km from Calais
95km from Calais!! would definitely wing it
Yes I know what you mean, I don’t want to push my luck in the miracle market though and hopefully this will be the first of many 
Where abouts in Belgium are you going to??
I found this for you, it is in French but at the top it gives you the 3 category dimensions.
Further down it tells you about wether you need escorts or not
There’s a lot of detail so I’m trying to find a better info page
This is the official information page from the the government, again in French, but I am working on it
Let me know what Category you come under then I can direct you to the lower pages, to see if you need a permit, ■■■■■■ and of any restrictions there may be.
One I can tell you about is that you cannot drive the CE between midday Saturday (or day before a bank holiday) right up to 6am Monday (or day after the holiday).
Also CE’s usually use Nationals not the motorway system, unless authorised to do so.
Here you go found this for you:
cerl.fr/en/our-services/spec … avy-loads/
For the basic info, sadly the links send you to the .gouv.fr page I’ve posted above
For Belgium there’s this, click on the region you are going through, again in French, sorry
Thank you very much,
If I’m reading it right I am Cat 1 at 17.7m length.
Going to Ichtegem just off N33 so a very easy run - done it in the van before but never the lorry.
Mazzer2:
Wally Webb:
Thanks, twice the price however and 8 hr crossing. I’m only going 95km from Calais95km from Calais!! would definitely wing it
This^^^as long as height is okay 4.0m less, get the 0400ish boat, down the ramp, light er up and go … Not very professional, but it’s only 100k, gendarmes still be asleep till 0800
biggriffin:
Mazzer2:
Wally Webb:
Thanks, twice the price however and 8 hr crossing. I’m only going 95km from Calais95km from Calais!! would definitely wing it
This^^^as long as height is okay 4.0m less, get the 0400ish boat, down the ramp, light er up and go … Not very professional, but it’s only 100k, gendarmes still be asleep till 0800
They might be, but there’s always the Douanes that drive around 24/7
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
this, never been pulled by the law along there but numerous times by the douanes…
And they , the douanes, don’t just look at your paperwork (CMR’s Delivery Notes etc ) They will look at your card, vehicle documents, licence, et al.
So i you are on a “Convoi Exceptional”, they’ll definitely make sure you conform to ALL the regs.
Thanks very much for all the replies gents, looks like we are sorted for mid-February. I have gone ‘by the book’ as this is the first of several deliveries and the permits last a few years so it’s worth it.
yep, best way ww especially as you say it could be a ongoing run for you.
Wally Webb:
Thank you very much,If I’m reading it right I am Cat 1 at 17.7m length.
Going to Ichtegem just off N33 so a very easy run - done it in the van before but never the lorry.
About 20 mins away from where I live.