Abnormal, or indivisible, loads may be carried on vehicles on the public roads provided the carriage is undertaken in line with a section 44 permit (section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 1988).
These rules allow the carriage of ‘abnormal indivisible loads’ which exceed the weight and/or dimension limits contained in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, the Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998 and also a variety of unusual vehicles, such as items of engineering plant or military vehicles, whose design and function prevents compliance with construction and use regulations, to be used on public roads in certain circumstances.