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: January 17th, 2025Raw Forest Products freeze up period
The Raw Forest products freeze up period is in effect for the following areas:
ZONE 2A
North of a line drawn as follows:
1.Highway 17 – from the junction of Highway 101 easterly along Highway 101 to the Quebec border including Highway 101.
Zone 2B
South of a line drawn as follows:
1.Highway 17 – from the junction of Highway 101 easterly along Highway 101 to the Quebec border.
North of a line drawn as follows:
1.From the North shore of Lake Huron at Sault Ste. Marie extending along the north Shore of Georgian Bay to Port Severn including St. Joseph Island and Manitoulin Island.
2.Hwy 400 at Port Severn to Highway 11 at Severn Bridge
3.Highway 11 at Severn Bridge to Highway 35 at Minden, then northerly along and including Highway 35 to Highway 60.
4.Easterly on and including Highway 60 to Cache Lake, then from Cache Lake in a straight line to Highway 17 at Pembroke
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, 2025 to April 30, 2025.
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, 2025 to May 31, 2025.
None at this time
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, 2025 to June 30, 2025.
None at this time.