What OWC means
Over-weight cargo (OWC) is a load heavy enough that an ordinary truck would breach legal axle or gross vehicle limits. Because the load is indivisible, the answer is not a smaller load but a bigger vehicle: a modular hydraulic trailer whose axle lines spread the weight so no single axle row exceeds what roads and bridges can carry. Many loads are both ODC and OWC — a 765 kV transformer, for example.
HT-1 to HT-13: MoRTH hydraulic trailer compositions
MoRTH's circular dated 27 October 2025 (superseding the January and June 2024 circulars) standardises online permission for single indivisible ODC/OWC loads on modular hydraulic trailers. It defines compositions HT-1 to HT-13, pulled by a three-axle tractor with ballast, and limits the load per axle row to 18 tonnes.
| Composition | Axle rows | GVW | Arrangement |
|---|---|---|---|
| HT-1 | 4 | 72 t | — |
| HT-2 | 6 | 108 t | — |
| HT-3 | 8 | 144 t | — |
| HT-4 | 10 | 180 t | — |
| HT-5 | 12 | 216 t | — |
| HT-6 | 14 | 252 t | — |
| HT-7 | 16 | 288 t | — |
| HT-8 | 18 | 324 t | — |
| HT-9 | 20 | 360 t | — |
| HT-10 | 8 + 8 | 288 t | Turn-table bolster |
| HT-11 | 10 + 10 | 360 t | Turn-table bolster |
| HT-12 | 14 + 14 | 504 t | Girder arrangement |
| HT-13 | 16 + 16 | 576 t | Girder arrangement |
GVW here is the whole combination — cargo plus trailer — so the trailer's own tare has to be evidenced alongside the cargo weight. Bridge-adequacy charts in the circular then decide whether a given span can take that composition.
From the iCargoFinsure app · demo data · see more fragments
What to evidence on an OWC inspection
- Weighbridge slip or manufacturer's certified weight, and the centre-of-gravity marking on the cargo.
- Trailer configuration — number of axle lines, coupling, puller tractor and ballast, photographed and matched to the permit.
- Hydraulic suspension grouping (3-point / 4-point) and level deck before departure.
- Saddles, cribbing and welded stoppers under the load.
- Lashing count and capacity; iCargoFinsure uses IMO CSS Code Annex 13 defaults for MSL (e.g. chain, wire rope, web sling) when the rating isn't stated.
- Route survey and bridge clearance letters for the corridor.
The ODC/OWC checker gives an indicative axle-row count and HT composition from cargo weight and estimated tare.
How iCargoFinsure handles OWC
When the cargo weight (normalised to kilograms) exceeds the 40-tonne screening threshold, the rules engine raises an advisory softlock. It does not block the maker from submitting — only missing documents or zero dimensions do that — but the verdict and reasons are saved onto the inspection and shown to the checker at review. If a permit changes after an override, the job is flagged for re-verification rather than silently passing.
Go deeper
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum load per axle row on a hydraulic trailer in India?
MoRTH limits the load per axle row of a modular hydraulic trailer to 18 tonnes for ODC/OWC permission on National Highways.
What is HT-13?
HT-13 is the largest composition in MoRTH's 2025 circular: 16 + 16 axle rows in a girder arrangement with a GVW of 576 t.
Is OWC the same as ODC?
No. ODC is about dimensions; OWC is about weight. A load can be one, the other or both.
Sources & references
- MoRTH Circular RW/NH-35072/01/2010-S&R(B)PT-2 dated 27.10.2025 — HT-1 to HT-13 load compositions and bridge adequacy.
- MoRTH Circular RW/NH-35072/1/2010 dated 24.01.2013 — OWC/ODC movement guidelines.
- IMO Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code), Annex 13 — MSL of securing equipment.
- Industry note — hydraulic axle trailers, 18 t per axle