Heavy or abnormal loads on the highway

Our Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Policy was developed to balance the needs of local communities and the requirements of lorry operators. For the recommended routes and restrictions for freight companies please see the Advisory freight map.

The centre of Cambridge is restricted by rising bollards. For recommended access points for Cambridge city centre please refer to the Cambridge City Centre map below. For information on gaining access in to the city and necessary permits please read Parking in Cambridge historic city centre.

Public weighbridges

To find a public weighbridge near you, you can use the GOV.UK weighbridge finder or see our list of Cambridgeshire weighbridges with addresses below.

Heavy goods vehicle parking

There is insufficient parking capacity in Cambridgeshire to accommodate the amount of HGVs passing through the county. Lorries parking in laybys and other county roads can cause a disturbance to local residents.

HGV drivers can find suitable locations for overnight parking by using the interactive truck stop search application.

A record will be kept of all incidents reported and this could be used to inform the Traffic Commissioner and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency of any repeat offenders.

Concerned about HGV traffic?

HGVs have an adverse effect on road surfaces, structures and underground services. They can cause unnecessary air and noise pollution in residential areas and can create serious safety hazards for other road users and pedestrians, in particular children.

HGV Watch is a new scheme backed by the Police but lead by local volunteers. Volunteers undertake high-visibility roadside operations to educate HGV drivers that they are travelling through weight, height or width restricted routes in local towns or parishes. Any vehicles seen using those restricted routes can then be reported. These reports will enable the police to communicate with the haulage companies involved and send advisory letters to confirm that their vehicles have been observed and that this could have led to prosecution.

HGV Watch is not enforcement – it is about raising awareness of weight, height and width restrictions within communities and about educating drivers.

For more information please contact hgvwatch@cambs.pnn.police.uk.

HGV Covenant

The HGV Covenant is a County Council supported agreement between local communities and Commercial Vehicle Operators to reduce noise, pollution and increase safety.

Originally created by 'Community Roadwatch' in December 2015 and adapted for local use by the County Council in February 2016, the document has been developed for the benefit of local parishes and community groups who were concerned by the impact lorries and other large vehicles were having on their villages.

Local parishes and community groups are free to use the document as a template and tailor it to meet their specific requirements in discussion with local Hauliers. The Covenant, which Hauliers are invited to sign, sets out an agreement covering what communities will expect from haulage companies and their drivers and what they will do in return.

Please return your completed HGV Covenant form to:

Policy and Regulation Team
Cambridgeshire County Council Highways Service
Vantage House
Vantage Park
Washingley Road
Huntingdon
PE29 6SR

You can also email your form to policyandregulation@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

List of companies signed up to the HGV Covenant

Bridge information

Transporting animal feed

If you are a haulier that transports animal feed you will need to be registered. For more information go to our animal feed registration page.