Welcome to the Heavy Transport Association

The Heavy Transport Association (HTA) is the only specialist Trade Association for the heavy/abnormal load industry. Members include abnormal load hauliers, truck/trailer manufacturers, route surveyors, permit agents, consultants, abnormal load escorters, ferry owners, infrastructure owners/managers, equipment manufacturers and abnormal load officers. HTA members are consequently a highly specialist group of operators with very different needs over other sectors of the transportation industry. New members are always welcome. For more information on membership, please visit our join page.

The Association was originally formed in 1983 and its operator members specialise in the movement of abnormal loads. HTA Members meet at quarterly General Meetings. Due to geographic spread of membership, meeting venues generally alternate between the North of England and the South Midlands. The HTA is a member of ESTA (The European Association of Abnormal Road Transport and Mobile Cranes) and has held the Presidency for 3 years.

The Heavy Transport Association website provides news and information that affect the sector as well as 24hr online access to current and archived information. Much of the HTA site content is private to Members of the HTA and require a member login in order to access. The HTA welcomes eligible new members; to apply to become a member of the HTA, please visit our join page.

The HTA was initiated by a group of heavy haulage operators struggling to cope with less than clear regulations regarding the movement of abnormal loads. It seemed apparent that enforcement authorities/police officers were not happy to have abnormal loads on the roads, and so the operators decided that something had to be done. Initial meetings were informal and then as news of the meetings spread, more and more operators wanted to attend. This was back in 1983.

The objectives of the HTA initially focused heavily on issues relating to STGO and Special Order movements. Recently the focus is on promoting the professional and trade interests of escort drivers. Members of the HTA actively participate in meetings and workshops organised by Highways England and the HTA is regularly consulted by HE when guidance is formulated on abnormal load movements and self-escorting.

The objectives of the Association were, and remain to date, to promote the professional and trade interests of all its members.

Feel free to browse our 30 year anniversary Yearbook.

New Chairman for the HTA

David Purslow, a long-standing committee member of the HTA for over 10 years, has taken on the role as the new HTA Chairman. David, who has previously been on the RHA Heavy Transport committee and represented the industry in a number of liaison groups, will be bringing over 30 years’ experience in the heavy transport industry with him.

“I’m delighted to be appointed as the HTA’s new Chairman and I hope that the association can continue what we're doing well, as well as focus on what our members want and how we can improve our services for the industry,” he said.

Outside of the HTA, David works as the General Manager – Group Operations for ALE, a leading global heavy transportation and lifting contractor.

HTA Vision

HTA, the association of choice for professional Heavy Haulage Operators and Escort/Pilot car Operators and Managers.

HTA Core Values

Advise: We advise our members to ensure they operate safely and within legislation.

Represent: We are committed and work hard to represent our members at a national and local level. We lobby Ministers and Members of Parliament, we attend liaison meetings, respond to consultations and write and publish articles in a wide range of trade publications.

Develop: We develop and introduce new National training standards, we develop industry best practice and we develop relationships with other like minded trade associations and bodies.

What HTA Membership Delivers

Lobbies and campaigns on behalf of members about the things that matter to them
Keeps abreast of UK Legislation – the HTA has access to legal advice via the Secretariat so that any issues arising are dealt with in a timely manner
Keeps abreast of EU legislation. The HTA is the UK Member of ESTA, the leading European association for the abnormal load transport and mobile crane rental industry so can have insight into Operations and the possibility of networking with large European haulage companies.
Provides e-news: Regular updates on what’s happening and members e-news on the website
Produces quarterly issues of Heavy Talk – the HTA journal to keep members up to date
HTA approved centres provide Training services for Escort Drivers and Escort Managers leading to certificates of competence awarded by City & Guilds
Produces official HTA Yearbook in collaboration with Media Partners, Nimble Media Limited
Holds quarterly member meetings – get the information you need to help you deal with the things affecting you
Provides Representation at Industry Liaison Meetings
Members receive a free subscription to HeavyTorque, a dedicated quarterly magazine providing news and technical articles on a wide range of key topics in the heavy haulage industry
Provides legal advice and guidance

News

GMP Embargo - 14 May 2019

The HTA received an email on the 27 February 2019 which gave notification of a blanket movement embargo imposed by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) on all abnormal loads during peak periods. The embargo is for all categories of abnormal loads yet mobile cranes up to and including 5 axle are excluded. STGO CAT1s are embargoed even though they weigh significantly less than mobile cranes.