What Counts as OOG Freight? Examples of Complex Logistics Projects
Moving oversized cargo is never simple—but it’s often necessary. Think wind turbine blades, massive industrial machines, or huge steel beams. These are all examples of OOG freight. Put simply, OOG freight (Out-of-Gauge) is cargo too big or heavy for standard means of transport. It needs special handling, equipment, and careful planning—whether it’s going across the country or overseas.
You might also hear the term project cargo. While it often includes OOG freight, it refers to large, complex shipments that are part of bigger projects—like building power plants, specialised factories, or other infrastructure. Project cargo typically involves multiple shipments (lots) consisting of different types and sizes of cargo, managing tight deadlines, and coordinating different transport modes to ensure smooth and safe handling from beginning to end.
What is OOG Freight?
OOG freight is cargo that doesn’t fit in a regular 20-foot or 40-foot container. It’s either too tall, too wide, too long, or too heavy. When talking about sea freight, instead of standard containers, OOG shipments are loaded onto flat-rack containers, open-top containers, as BBK on so-called “flatbeds” made out of flatracks, or on breakbulk vessels.
Common examples of OOG Freight:
- Wind turbine parts (nacelle, body, and blades)
- Industrial generators and transformers
- Heavy machinery (dump trucks, excavators, mining machinery, etc.)
- Large boats and yachts
How Do You Transport OOG Freight?
There are many ways to move OOG freight, depending on where it needs to go.
Sea Freight
For international shipments, sea transport is a popular choice. While specialised breakbulk vessels are the best option for the largest units, “smaller” cargo is often transported on flat-rack and open-top containers, or roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ships over long distances.
Road Freight
On land, OOG freight travels on heavy-duty trucks and specialised trailers, like low-bed, multi-axle, or SPMT trailers, built to handle heavy, oversized loads.
Did You Know?
- In situations where OOG cargo is urgently needed, we can charter specialised aircraft capable of loading huge and heavy pieces—and arrange delivery within a few days.
- Thanks to strong railway connections across Europe, we sometimes arrange OOG pieces (with not-so-awkward dimensions) via rail. This can be a highly competitive option for certain destinations.
- Europe benefits from a dense river network—especially in the central region—allowing cargo to travel by barge inland from one end to the other. This method is often used when cargo is too large for road transport, barging it to a nearby river port before final delivery.
What Makes OOG Freight So Challenging?
Moving OOG freight isn’t just about loading it onto a truck or ship. It comes with a few unique challenges:
- Permits and regulations: Every country (and sometimes each region) has laws about moving oversized cargo that constantly change and evolve. Special transport permits are often required.
- Route planning: Not every road or bridge can handle a heavy or wide load. When a route is problematic, we adapt it to allow safe transport—this may involve dismantling street furniture (traffic lights, road fences, lights, signs) or reinforcing existing bridges to support the cargo’s weight.
- Special equipment: Cranes or more specialised equipment—such as jacking and skidding systems—may be required to load, unload, or position the cargo.
- Risk management: Because of their size and weight, OOG cargo is more vulnerable to damage if not handled properly.
Why Work with an Expert?
Moving OOG freight involves a range of challenges that require careful planning and execution to avoid delays, extra costs, or damage to cargo. Experts who understand the challenges of transporting out-of-gauge cargo have the resources to mitigate risks and ensure seamless transportation.
Additionally, partnering with a reliable freight forwarder can simplify the entire process and provide peace of mind—knowing that experienced professionals are handling all aspects of the shipment.
Examples of OOG and Complex Logistics Projects
Handling OOG freight often means finding creative solutions for oversized and complex shipments. Here are two real-world projects that showcase what’s possible when experience, strategy, and teamwork come together.
Delivery of 194 Aircraft to 85 Air Force Locations Across India
One of our most ambitious projects was delivering 194 aircraft from the Pipistrel factory to 85 different airfields across India. This wasn’t just about moving planes—it was about overcoming challenges, from navigating congested metro areas like Mumbai and New Delhi to reaching remote places like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and even locations deep in the Himalayas.
Key highlights:
- Door-to-door delivery, including remote and rugged regions
- Chartered vessels where no regular shipping lines existed
- Creative overland transport where roads were minimal or nonexistent
- Aircraft shipped in containers for easy local assembly
Oversized Plastic Tank Transport from Hungary to Overseas
In another complex job, we handled the transport of oversized plastic tanks from a factory in Hungary to an overseas destination. These tanks were far too large for standard containers, so we needed a carefully planned strategy from start to finish.
What we did:
- Collected the tanks using specialised trailers, handling all permits for oversized road transport
- Delivered them to the Port of Koper in Slovenia
- Loaded the tanks directly onto the vessel, bypassing container use altogether
- Secured them for safe transit, thanks to our Sea Freight and Project Cargo expertise
Conclusion
OOG freight may be oversized, but with the right planning and the right partner, it doesn’t have to be a headache. Whether by sea or road, moving large and complex cargo is what we do best.
