What does a route survey actually cover?
A route survey confirms the piece can physically reach the berth and the final site: road widths, turning radii, overhead clearances, bridge and pavement load capacity, and any structures that must be temporarily moved. The useful output is a documented route with measured constraints and named alternatives.
Written by Raja Torain. Published 2026-08-19, last reviewed 2026-08-24.
The survey output should be a documented route with measured constraints and named alternatives, not a general assurance that the move is possible.
Where the site itself is the constraint — a plant yard, a narrow gate, a soft pad — the survey has to include the final placement, including crane setup and ground bearing pressure.
What I Check First
- 1.Does the survey cover the last mile and the final placement, or just the highway leg?
- 2.Are load ratings documented for every bridge and pavement section?
- 3.What is the fallback route if a permit is refused?
In practice
Surveys have stopped moves at bridge height and turning radius far more often than at weight. Running the survey before the equipment is booked keeps the mode decision reversible.
Working out where container stops and breakbulk starts? Out-of-Gauge Threshold Sheet — the dimensions and weights that force the decision
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