NOSRETI transports anything that is longer, wider, higher or heavier than normal

NOSRETI can look back on a history that dates back 60 years. The company has built upon the tradition of CSAD Special Transport Ostrava and is still located there today. A month ago, a new chapter in its history began: NOSRETI became part of the leading provider on the European market, the Universal Transport Group. “Over the many decades since the company was founded, we have indeed transported a broad range of loads: from agricultural, construction and military technology to planes, trams, buses and assembly lines or leisure boats,” Managing Director, Ales Havlasek explains. “We have also transported gigantic generators and transformers as well as other heavy loads with extraordinary volumes.”

And what is the maximum weight of a load that NOSRETI can transport? The response to this particular customer question is often accompanied by a wink: “Well, you can transport almost anything; it's just a question of the price.” Recently the company transported heavy-duty loads weighing in at almost 400 tonnes. That is equal to around 67 fully grown African bull elephants. The comparison with elephants is no coincidence: a few years ago NOSRETI took an adult giraffe to a zoo.

The company has been relying on Mercedes-Benz vehicles for some years now. It owns two heavy-duty Actros semitrailer trucks which pull a modular heavy-duty THP semitrailer produced by Goldhofer. The other three towing vehicles are used for transporting lighter loads. The company chose technology bearing the three-pointed star following their positive experience with the Actros. “The Arocs is however ideal for our sector. They are simply reliable, strong, high-performance vehicles and we can rely on them even when completing the most difficult transport jobs,” Ales Havlasek continues.

– Petr Gelnar, head of the department for route planning at NOSRETI Specialtransport

Many factors must be taken into account during preparation. Key issues are, for example, clearance levels and the load capacity of bridges, current road blocks and other obstacles and restrictions. Route planning is not easy in the summer months in particular as numerous road blocks must be taken into account. “We can’t disregard the weather forecast either; for example when storms, heavy rain or snow are forecast. We need to be ready for all challenges from Mother Nature,” Gelnar continues.

The notorious sluggishness of administration also makes life difficult for the people at NOSRETI when planning the route. Before a gigantic load can be sent on its ways along a difficult route, all of the necessary permits must be clarified and procured in a lengthy process. The approval of all road authorities along the transport route is needed – and their response can go one way or the other. If an application is refused, there are then two possible courses of action: either a substitute route or a return to the negotiation table in order to continue discussion with those responsible.

Sometimes the approval process is further complicated by road wear and tear or the worsening condition of bridges. Or to be more precise: if you have driven over a bridge ten times, that doesn't mean that it will be possible an eleventh time. The physical wear on the bridge may have worsened in the meantime and then the load’s weight is simply too high. “Only when we have all of the permits, do we contact the Department of Transport,” says Gelnar. “As the highest authority, they provide us with approval for special use of the roads.”

The three-month long permanent authorisation, usually for loads of up to 48 tonnes and a width of 3.5 metres is somewhat easier. With regard to these loads it is clear that their weight will not endanger any bridge constructions because they are not extremely heavy. Three-month approvals are granted for transporting loads on motorways and trunk roads. In the main, these are required for military and agricultural machines.

Often support is required from other official institutions in order to put heavy-duty or special transport loads onto the road and ensure that everything runs smoothly. Thus working together with energy experts from the Czech rail company or telecommunication providers is part of their everyday routine as these must switch off or disassemble overhead cables. They often have to work closely with the police whose flashing blue lights lend importance to the transportation convoy and ensure that other road users afford them the necessary consideration. Transporting the giant stator for the Mochovce power station also required working together with the police. Their help was required because the parameters of the load were larger than those that do not require a police escort.

Can anything unexpected or surprising happen during special transport operations? The head of route planning nods his head in agreement. “If we are transporting machine parts weighing 160 tonnes and which are seven metres wide, it's actually funny when a fair with a carousel and a bouncy castle appears overnight on a route that was checked and authorised beforehand,” Petr Gelnar tells us with a grin. “Even though at the time it is a real problem for our project team that has to be solved immediately.”

Fortunately this was the only difficulty road traffic presented on the journey. The transport that arrived in Pilsen just before midnight on Sunday, passed through the gates of Slovakia’s Mochovce nuclear power station on Friday of the following week at three in the morning. The Stator with its 184 tonnes was finally at its destination. At NOSRETI everyone was duly satisfied: as usual, the vehicle team and the whole project team had worked excellently!

Photos: MediaTrust