Oversized machinery - potential problems when buying
Purchasing oversized machinery is a very engaging and demanding operation. Not only because of the high cost borne by the entrepreneur, but also the advanced logistics of transportation.
The equipment must somehow be transported from the seller to the buyer's company or construction site, and this is not so simple due to the size of the machine. We have prepared a guide in which we suggest what details to pay attention to.
Responsibility for transport
The safe transportation of oversized machinery is always the responsibility of all parties to the transaction: the buyer, the seller, and the transport company. Duties related to, among others, the proper securing of the machine are distributed evenly.
The seller's responsibilities primarily include checking whether the carrier has the appropriate permit for transporting oversized cargo. Together with the buyer, he should check whether the trailer designated for transport has the appropriate number of axles and whether it is in good technical condition.
It is also worth routinely verifying the condition of the tires, as it is such details that determine safety.
Advice
A good idea will be to make a detailed photo documentation of the machine after it has been loaded onto the trailer. This can be very useful in a situation where it turns out that some damage and destruction occurred during transport for which the carrier is responsible.
We check the documents
The seller of the machine must issue and give the buyer a CMR document with the actual weight entered. If for some reason it is understated, the seller is fully responsible for this, so it is worth keeping an eye on this to avoid unpleasant situations.
An alternative to the CMR document is a confirmation of goods issue or a handover protocol.
The company hired to transport the machine must of course provide a pilot and without meeting this requirement the vehicle should not set off on the route.
Remember!
Category 7, which applies to over 60 tons of total weight, is issued only for 1 month.
In conclusion
We want to emphasize that an additional check of all documents and the way of securing the machine will not hurt.
At this stage, you can still verify whether all the data match. The seller should also inform the buyer about the actual weight and dimensions of the machine.
Finally, we also check whether the machine is well secured for transport.
It is necessary to verify the presence of leaks, check for any displacement, disconnect the mass, remove the keys, and secure the doors and flaps with straps.
More detailed information on the rules for transporting oversized machinery can be found on the website of the Main Inspectorate of Road Transport.
