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What is Considered Irregular Freight?
Irregular freight refers to shipments that do not conform to standard dimensions, weights, or packaging requirements. It can include oversized items, unusually shaped items, fragile goods, hazardous materials, or difficult-to-move items with special handling requirements.
Irregular items encompass a broad spectrum, ranging from oversized furniture and fragile antiques to peculiar-shaped goods and unconventional equipment. Things that could fall under “irregular”, are generally items with irregular dimensions and weight (IDW), meaning they don’t fit standard weight and dimension regulations, and often don’t fit on most parcel companies' conveyor belts.
Parcel services such as Royal Mail, Yodel, Evri and DPD do not take parcels exceeding 30kg in weight or over 2.5m in length.
Here’s a selection of items that could fall under the broad irregular freight category:
- Furniture: Sofas, recliners, dining tables, wardrobes, and other large pieces of furniture.
- Antiques and Artwork: Paintings, sculptures, delicate ceramics, and antique furniture pieces.
- Musical Instruments: Heavy Instruments like pianos, organs, and large and fragile instruments like harps and double basses.
- Appliances: Items such as refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, and air conditioners.
- Exercise Equipment: Treadmills, elliptical machines, weight benches, and other bulky exercise equipment.
- Industrial Machinery: Heavy machinery, such as generators, compressors, and industrial boilers.
- Automotive Parts: Engines, transmissions, exhaust systems, and other car parts.
- Construction Materials: Irregularly shaped items like construction beams, pipes, and large building panels.
- Medical Equipment: X-ray machines, MRI scanners, hospital beds, and other high-value medical equipment
- Outdoor Equipment: BBQ grills, patio furniture, lawnmowers, and gardening tools.
- Specialty Items: Unique or custom-made items such as oversized sculptures, event props, stage sets, and exhibition displays.
How Can I Transport Irregular Freight?
Opting for a courier service with trained professionals who possess a deep understanding of these items recognising that each one requires a tailored approach is key to ensuring their safe and efficient delivery is key.
Due to the nature of irregular freight being large, heavy, bulky, or otherwise difficult-to-move, your best option is to take on the services of a dedicated courier specialising in the movement of irregular freight, such as Speedy Freight.
How Can I Find a Reliable Courier for Moving Irregular Freight?
Entrusting your consignments to a reliable and trustworthy logistics company specialising in the movement of oversize and irregular consignments can help take a load off your mind (and hands).
With so many courier options to choose from, there are several things you can look out for to ensure you’re making the right decision. You’ll want to look for a dedicated courier with good reviews, expertise in handling oversize and irregular goods, and who have the right vehicles for the job at hand.
What To Look for When Selecting a Courier for Irregular Items
A Trusted and Experienced Courier
When it comes to understanding the reliability of a courier service, reading reviews is a great place to start. These reviews will offer insight into the workings and professionalism of the company in question, from customers who may have similar load requirements and experiences.
For instance, any prospective client considering Speedy Freight can easily and immediately access a wealth of client reviews online to assure them that they are making the right choice. At Speedy Freight we regularly ask our clients for reviews to make sure the information always stay up to date.
A Dedicated Courier Service
Sharing a delivery vehicle with other companies’ goods can be a potential hazard when transporting large and oddly shaped items.
Not only can your items come into contact with other clients’ belongings (an increased risk due to their size and potential to cause expensive or irreparable damage), but your service may also be delayed due to other delivery or collection obligations held by the courier.
It’s best to choose a dedicated courier service for your large items. A dedicated service means that your items will never be co-loaded, and your which means that the courier service in question can best uphold its commitment to you with no compromise.
Speedy Freight provides a dedicated courier service for every client, meaning that your load is transported as efficiently and safely as is possible.
A Courier with a Varied Fleet
What are the dimensions of your item? What is the nature of the item? Is it breakable or valuable? These are the key things to consider when you are selecting which courier to use for your irregular items.
Speedy Freight has access to a fleet of dedicated courier vehicles, over 4,000 strong. We know that ‘irregular’ doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone, so whatever size vehicle it is that you need, we’re here for you.
Our smaller vans are perfectly suited to smaller goods, whilst our medium-sized options (like our Luton vans) can handle a little more thanks to their 2-metre width. If large items really large, however, we’re still able to cater: our 12- and 18-Tonne trucks are ideal for those bulkier cargoes, whilst our Artic Trucks are up to any transport job.
Specialist Vehicles
Sometimes loads aren’t just large; they require specialist vehicles to transport them. This may be the case if you require the transportation of large items such as steel beams, or perhaps even the transportation of parts of bridges.
In this case, Speedy Freight’s access to a fleet of over 4,000 vehicles means we can provide transport to suit any requirements you may have for the movement of your large items.
For instance, in the case of oversized items, a hiab may be necessary: a form of loader crane, which is ideal for use in wet terrain, to be fully immersed in water, or rough ground.
Where flexibility is required, as well as strength, a semi-low loader is required: a flexible model with adjustable wheels and lowerable legs to support its undercarriage if the tractor unit is removed.
Range of Services
Speedy Freight offers a range of services to move large and irregular items, such as delivery crews, two man delivery, and a white glove delivery service.
For large and irregular items that fall under the ‘abnormal# category, Speedy Freight offers a dedicated abnormal load delivery service. An abnormal load is the term for cargo that fits a set of criteria, such as weighing over 44,000kg and have a width of over 2.9m.
Speedy Freight work closely with local authorities, police forces and specialist services to ensure we are always within safety and legal protocols to transport such loads. If this is more to your requirements, we’re here to provide!
We have experience in all industries and can scale our services to your evolving and expanding needs.
Wondering Which Courier Service You can Use for Irregular Items?
Get in touch with your local Speedy Freight branch today to discuss your requirements and a member of our team will be more than happy to design your bespoke solution for your irregular items—no matter what they are.
