Seasonal Loads
Under the Highway Traffic Act, the province enforces reduced load restrictions on trucks to protect Ontario's highways during spring thaw, when road damage is most likely to occur.
Last Updated: May 27th, 2026Raw Forest Products freeze up period
The Raw Forest products freeze up period is no longer in effect, for all areas.Restriction on permits
All annual and project overweight permits are not valid on any highways unless otherwise specified on the permit during:
- March and April in Southern Ontario
- March, April and May in Northern Ontario
For purposes of this restriction, the province is divided, west to east, by:
- A line formed by the Severn River to Regional Rd. 169
- Regional Rd. 169 from Washago to Hwy. 12
- Hwy. 12, from Regional Rd. 169 to Hwy. 7, north of Sunderland
- Hwy. 7, from Hwy. 12 to Regional Rd. 7B at Carleton Place
- Regional Rd. 7B to Hwy. 15
- Regional Rd. 29 to Arnprior
Single trip permits, for moving of overloads on highways not designated in Schedules 1, 2 and 3, may be issued, but are subject to axle controls established by the Ministry of Transportation.
Reduced Loads
Schedule 1
Pursuant to the Highway Traffic Act, the ministry will impose reduced load limits for those designated parts of the King's Highways listed in Schedule 1, when appropriate, between March 1, 2026 to April 30, 2026.
Schedule 2
Pursuant to the Highway Traffic Act, the ministry will impose reduced load limits for those designated parts of the King's Highways listed in Schedule 2, when appropriate, between March 1, 2026 to May 31, 2026.
Effective May 29th, 2026 @ 4:00pm
When signs are posted, the following Highways will have a Reduced Load Limit for their ENTIRE length:
525 553 580 603 605
609 641 642 647 665
671 673 804 810 811
Hwy 7057 - Willard Lake Road
Hwy 7059 - Longbow Lake Road
Hwy 7104 - Ellek Road
Hwy 7125 - Rockeries Road
Nungessor Street
Effective May 29th, 2026 @ 4:00pm
When signs are posted, the following Highways will have a Reduced Load Limit for these listed locations:
HIGHWAY NUMBER LOCATION
Highway 516 30.2 km north of Jct. 642 east to Hwy. 599
Highway 527 0.1 km north of Jct. of Hwys 811 and 532
Highway 594 Hwy 502, west to Hwy 17
Highway 596 1 km north of Hwy 17A, north to its end
Highway 599 62 km north of Hwy 17, north-easterly to end of Hwy 599
Highway 601 1.6 km north of Hwy 17 (west leg) to 5 km north of Hwy 17 (east leg) (Dryden Airport)
Highway 657 0.8 km east of Hwy 105 easterly to its end
Schedule 3
Pursuant to the Highway Traffic Act, the ministry will impose reduced load limits for those designated parts of the King's Highways/Roads listed in Schedule 3, when appropriate, between March 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026.
Effective May 29th, 2026 @ 4:00pm
When signs are posted, the Highway/Roads within the following Territories will have a Reduced Load Limit:
SAULT STE MARIE AREA
Dalmas
Devon Landing
Esher Como Healy
Hawk Junction
Kettle Lakes
Sultan
NEW LISKEARD AREA
Anima Nipissing
Bayly Marter
Beauchamp
Biscotasing
Blueberry-Munro
Bourkes
Bryce
Cane
Cairo & Alma Twp.
Crystal Lake
Eby-Grenfell
Foleyet
Gogama
Henwood
Horwood
Ingram
Lebel (Harvey) Kirkland
Lebel (King) Kirkland
Lorraine Twp.
Marquis
Marter
Mattagami Twp.
Ossian
Otto
Pacaud & Catharine
Robillard
Rainbow Lake Road
Savard
Sheraton & Macklem
Star Lake
Watabeag
KENORA/DRYDEN AREA
Aubrey East
Bigstone Bay
Blindfold Lake
Britton
Ena Lake
Eton
Ghost Lake
Gordon Lake
Inglis Lake
Ingolf
Kendall Inlet
Kenricia
Laclu
McCallum Point
McConnell Lake
McIntosh
McKenzie Portage
Melgund
Minaki
Mutrie
Pellatt#2
Pickerel Lake
Redditt
Red Pine Ridge
Rowell
Rugby
Rush Bay
Sherwood Lake
Southworth
Spruce Lake
Storm Bay
Tannis Lake
Van Horne
Wabigoon Redvers W.
Wabigoon Southeast
Wainwright
War Eagle
Zealand #1
Zealand #3
COCHRANE AREA
Brower
Casgrain
Coppell/Kendall/Way
Departure Lake
Doyle
Driftwood
Dunning
Fournier
Frederickhouse
Hallebourg
Hanlan
Hunta
Indian-Sand Lake
Kitigan
Nellie Lake (Aurora)
Norembega
Tunis
West Riverside