HIGHWAYS AGENCY News
Release (HA06-08) issued by The Government News Network on 14
January 2008
Phase Two of the
Highways Agency's Electronic Service Delivery for Abnormal
Loads (ESDAL) system went live today. ESDAL is a free-to-use
website that will significantly improve the planning, management
and notification of Abnormal Indivisible Load (AIL) movements
around the road network.
Hauliers who wish to find out more about ESDAL and register their
details online should visit the website at: http://www.highways.gov.uk/esdal.
Alternatively, application forms can be requested by emailing a
company name and address to: register@esdal.com or by contacting
the ESDAL Helpdesk on 01642 636789.
Phase Two takes a huge leap forward encouraging hauliers to make
Special Order (SO) applications, for those loads which are very
large, heavy and/or wide, online.
The Phase Two system entered Pilot Trials in September 2007 with
a selected group of organisations and feedback from the industry
on Phase Two has been very positive. All parties involved in the
movement of Special Orders will now be able to enjoy the benefits
of ESDAL, reducing the administrative burden on our customers and
modernising the procedures for managing abnormal loads.
A further two phases will be introduced to the website in due
course. These will streamline the process for the police and
relevant authorities who ensure that the proposed route is
suitable, taking account of the impact on traffic and the bridges
to be used, to manage notifications.
The ESDAL service is free and requires no third party software.
The website has been developed for the Highways Agency by Serco
Integrated Transport and is designed for all parties involved in
moving of abnormal loads.
Note to Editor
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department
for Transport. It manages, maintains and improves the network of
trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary of State.
2. The Highways Agency is responsible for authorising the largest
and heaviest categories of abnormal loads on roads throughout
Great Britain, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport.
If a load exceeds 6,1m wide, 30m long or 150,000 kilos in gross
weight, it requires a Special Order. Final agreement for a route
rests with the structure owner, and the arrival of ESDAL will not
change responsibilities or legislation.
3. The four phases of ESDAL delivery are:
Phase 1: Information Website
Hauliers will be provided with a route planning system showing
contact details of all structure owning authorities and police
forces who need to be notified of AIL movements. The haulier will
be able to log in, sketch a route on the multi-scale maps, and the
system will then identify who needs to be notified.
Phase 2: Special Orders Routing System
Will help to process special orders more efficiently for hauliers
by providing the Highways Agency AIL Team with a system that has
improved data and routing software. In conjunction with the
necessary updates to the Hauliers, Police and Structure Owners
Portals, Phase Two development also involves the creation of a
brand new and unique Special Order Routing Tool (SORT) desktop
facility. This enables the Highways Agency's Abnormal Load
Team to assist with the efficient processing of Special Order applications.
Phase 3: On-line Notification
Hauliers will be able to use a "virtual postal service"
to notify all AIL movements to the relevant infrastructure owners
and Police by web, e-mail or fax. The system will store each
notification and proposed route, and enable the appropriate
agencies and authorities to assess the route through their ESDAL interfaces.
Phase 4: AIL Movements Portal
Extending the functionality available in phase 3 by providing an
assisted route-planning tool encouraging hauliers to use standard
or pre-qualified routes.
4. To use the site, hauliers need to complete an ESDAL
registration form which can be downloaded from the website, or
obtained by sending your company name and address to: register@esdal.com.
5. For more information, visit the website at http://www.highways.gov.uk/esdal
Issued by the Highways Agency Press Office. For further
information please contact 020 7081 7443.
Out of hours the Highways Agency Duty Press Officer can be
contacted by phoning 020 7081 7443