Ever look for one place to find all the spring thaw restrictions and regulations across Canada? Here you go! Courtesy of DSN Chemical Transportation.
What are Spring Thaw Restrictions?
Many roads in Canada’s North are built on a base that freezes solid in the winter. When the warmer weather of spring comes, the road base becomes soft and it takes a few weeks of warm weather for the water to evaporate and for the road bases to firm up again. To prevent damage to these roads provincial governments enact load restriction to lessen the strain on highways. These regulations are often in effect from early March to late May. However, since the regulations are provincial, they differ from province to province and can often be confusing. Here’s a great “cheat sheet” to help in your logistics planning.
| Province | Allowable Weights (Normal) | Spring Load Restrictions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tractor | Trailer | Tractor | Trailer | |||||
| Steering | Drive | Tandem | Tridem | Steering | Drive | Tandem | Tridem | |
| British Columbia | 5500kg | 9100kg | 17000kg (1.2-1.85m) | 24000 kg (2.4-3.7m) | Restrictions imposed onl where needed, overload permits suspended for numbered highways, other highways restricted at 70% or 50% of basic axle weight (steering axle exempted) | |||
| Alberta | 5500kg | 9100kg | 17000kg | 24000 kg (3.05-3.6m) | Not Restricted | 90, 75% or 50% of basic axle weights for secondary road systems. A list of load restrictions on specfic routes can be found here: http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType260/Production/RoadBans.pdf | ||
| Saskat-chewan | 5500 kg | 8200 kg | 14000 kg | 20000 kg | Not Restricted | 6600 kg | 13200 kg | 19800 kg |
| Manitoba | 5500 kg (A1 Hwys) | 9100 kg (A1 Hwys) | 16000 kg (A1 Hwys) | 23000 kg (A1 Hwys) | No restrictions for primary system or gravel roads, steering axle not restricted. Level 1 (beginning of thaw for 14 days A1: 90%, B1: 95%) Level 2 (14 days after level 1 = 65%) | |||
| 5500 kg (B1 Hwys) | 8200 kg (B1 Hwys) | 14500 kg (B1 Hwys) | 20000 kg (B1 Hwys) | |||||
| Ontario | 5000 kg | 10000 kg | 17200 kg | 23000 kg (A1 Hwys) | Primary network not restricted, some restrictions on secondary provincial highways. A complete list can be found here: http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/trucks/load-restrictions.shtml#schedule-1 | |||
| Quebec | 5500 kg | 10000 kg | 18000 kg | 21000 kg to 26000 kg | 5500 kg | 8000 kg | 15500 kg | 18000 kg to 26000 kg |
| New Brunswick | 5500 kg | 9100 kg | 18000 kg | 21000 kg (2.4 to 3m) 23000 kg (3 to 3.6m) 26000 kg (3.6 to 4.8m) | Three restriction levels: All weather highways and most collectors 100%, other highwyasy only allow 75% a complete list can be found here: http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/trans/pdf/en/Trucking/2016SWRListings-e.pdf | |||
| Prince Edward Island | 5500 kg | 6800 kg | 13500 kg | 18000 kg (<3.6m) 19500 kg (>3.6m) | Three restriction levels: All weather highways and most collectors 100%, other highwyasy only allow 75% a complete list can be found here: | |||
| Nova Scotia | Combination of 50000kg + 500 kg/axle, 5 axle semi trailer 41000kg +2500kg per axxle (for Schedule C highways) Other highways 38,500 kg GVW + 500 kg/axle | Not Restricted | 6500 kg | 12000 kg | ||||
| New-foundland | No formal policy 9100 kg single, 12000 kg Tandem | Local roads monitored and restriced as needed | ||||||
Preparation Tips for Canadian Spring Thaw Restrictions:
Review the regulations, plan your shipments and train the people arranging for and booking your shipments. Here at DSN we can help you with shipments that are subject to spring thaw restrictions in Canada. Give us a call to discuss.