A couple of things to keep in mind here:
The European lowbed design is different, and appears to be much stronger than a comperable US unit. (this makes it too heavy for US weight laws)
The front of the trailer has been grounded, so the side loading forces are reduced.
Side loading is sometimes a must, and if done properly, as others have said, is acceptable. Most trailer manufacturers here say never do it, but it is a huge liability for them, as it is easy to do structural damage to the trailer if it is done wrong. Especially our lightweight trailers designed for max payload with minimum weight. The old trailers were made with much more steel, and were too heavy to haul very much within the weight laws. That said, they had a far greater actual capacity, but not LEGALLY
The combination has 7 axles total, just in a different configuration than a US unit. Here in CA, we haul a 450 on 7 axles on a regular basis.
The axle weight laws are obviously different in the EU, as well as from state to state here in the US. The Nooteboom trailer has a unique goosneck that aids in wieght transfer to put the right amount on the truck. ( I am not quite sure how it works)
As long as the load is in the right place, there are plenty of axles to carry it. I also think they have 8 tires per axle on the trailer? Nick could tell us. I think some of them steer too!
Ford
34,000 wieght on drivers is with no permit. Rules are different everywhere, but I can permit 46,750 on the drivers here in CA.
Sorry to rant, but Nick took a lot of heat for what is normal to him in his country.
Besides, Owner Operator driver told him it was OK.