There are some things about transportations restrictions you might need to keep in mind when it comes to the transportation of the product. There are frost laws, speed restrictions, and seasonal load weight to consider.
Thaw ways are subject to change based on seasonal conditions. You will always need to make sure this is checked for that to be followed before a heavy load hits the road. Some risks could come with not following these weight restrictions that could come with hefty fines.
Here are 4 things to keep mindful of when you hit the road with seasonal transportation.
1 – Check the weight load limits during transportation.
- These weights and updates need to be checked through the department of transportation and can be subject to change from province to province. If freight is moved from a Langley transport company to Regina transport company, there could be different weight restrictions from B.C. through Alberta and into Saskatchewan depending on the current weather conditions.
2 – What is the process with seasonal weight?
- There is a process that the US and Canada partake in to protect the provincial and state roadways while spring thaw yet also help trucking companies to understand what maximum load weights they are allowed to move. They have a scientific process that creates a balance in the Frost Laws, also called Seasonal Weight restrictions which allows them to protect highway infrastructure as well as optimize trucking operations.
3 – How do temperatures affect things while transporting?
- Some climates drop below freezing temperatures and weight loads transported that have damaged road systems. When these roads are under these low temperatures, they are less flexible, more brittle, and more easily damaged from larger weight loads being transported on them. This weakens the underpinnings that are key to the integrity of the road’s infrastructure.
4 – How much weight reduction or increase varies during seasonal transportation?
- Some places will have you reduce the weights transport can carry by up to 35% depending on conditions. The total speed might also be reduced to lower speeds depending on the roadways’ resistance to bending… otherwise not following this could cause the roadway to deform or bend. Roadways are still flexible as they have three layers laid down. Pavement is the top layer and that is 4-6 inches thick. The second layer is the base layer and the deepest layer is the subbase. Altogether, in total depth, these layers can be a meter or even more.
- In some Canadian provinces and northern states, water in the soil often freezes up to a meter in depth… or even more. This can prevent the water from escaping and Canada could even allow the axle weight of your load to be increased up to 25%. This is because when the base gets frozen, it can actually strengthen the structure of the road. However it is the opposite in the spring… while it is thawing, the gross weights and the axle weights could drop as much as 35%.
Don’t get caught off guard. Having respect for the roads is key to good transportation and that lack of respect could lead to fines, loss of contract or even job loss. It is not hard to keep up to date with your seasonal transportation requirement and the above education could act more like a guide for the seasons for better decision-making while transporting. Be wise and have due diligence before that freight hits the road. If you have any questions, be sure to contact the Department of Transportation here. Happy driving!