Each year, many areas in the US and Canada implement temporary special weight limits and restrictions on roads and highways during the winter and spring months. These temporary measures are referred to as “frost” or “thaw” laws and are implemented on an “as needed” basis. During the months of March through June, some jurisdictions will reduce speed limits and legal axle weights to protect our road structures. The commercial carrier must comply with these restrictions to avoid penalty and or the cost of having to reduce axle weight.

Why Are There Spring Thaw Weight Restrictions?

These temporary restrictions are designed to reduce damage to our roadways at the most vulnerable time of year when there’s excess moisture present. Safer roads means safer driving for everyone.

While road building technology has significantly improved, our roadways are still susceptible to increased damage when there’s excess moisture present. The most common occurrence is potholes formed on the weakened top layer of the road. Many of us have probably hit a pothole at one point and can attest to how uncomfortable and/or damaging they can be. Excessive weight from overloaded vehicles can also cause the road to bend or deform.

When Are Seasonal Weight Restrictions In Place?

Always check with your local department of transportation before you go. In general, most frost laws will begin around March 1st and can last until June or July. This can vary by year and depends on what the temperatures were during the winter months in that area.

What Are The Penalties For Not Reducing Axle Weights?

Monetary penalties can be quite expensive for failing to abide by these temporary restrictions and vary by region. However, the more costly consequences to disregarding the frost laws include vehicle downtime, performance, and road safety. If caught, the carrier will be forced to pull over and arrange for the excess weight to be removed or adjusted and will receive negative remarks on their safety rating. Damaged roads also cause excessive damage to the carrier’s vehicles as well as all other vehicles on the roadways, causing an increased likelihood of accidents.

What Are The Spring Thaw Weight Restrictions In My Area?

Spring weight restrictions vary widely by state and province and are often posted on short notice. Before your next trip, be sure to check out the list below for more information on the thaw laws for your region!

Spring Thaw Dates

1) British Columbia: Spring thaw dates differ by region

2) Alberta: Weather dependent subject to thaw depth readings

3) Saskatchewan

• South: March 15 – June 15
• North: April 1 – June 30

4) Manitoba

• Zone 1A: March 1 – May 29
• Zone 1B: March 6 – May 31
• Zone 2: March 6 – May 31
• Zone 3: March 12 – June 10

5) Ontario

• Schedule 1 Highways: March 1 – April 30
• Schedule 2 Highways: March 1 – May 31
• Schedule 3 Highways: March 1 – June 30

6) Quebec

• Zone 1: March 8 – May 7
• Zone 2: March 15 – May 14
• Zone 3: March 22 – May 21

7) New Brunswick

• South: March 1 – May 16
• North: March 8 – May 23

8) Nova Scotia: No Longer in Effect

9) Prince Edward Island: No Longer in Effect

10) Newfoundland: N/A

Canada Frost Laws 

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Northwest Territories
• Nunavut
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

US Thaw Laws

• Idaho
• Iowa
• Maine
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New York
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Vermont
• Washington
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Today business and trade is a global affair. The competitive field has expanded and more and more companies seek out business relationships that will give them an edge over their competitors. Supply chain relationships can make or break your business.

Working with unknown third parties can come with a risk to your company. Supply chains are complex thereby increasing the risk of companies working with one or more entities that are involved in illegal unethical practices. These practices can include corruption, fraud, money laundering, human trafficking, drug smuggling, slavery and environmental damage.

What Is Due Diligence

Due diligence is essential before you conduct business with a third party internationally. Due diligence is concerted efforts taken to investigate a potential third party. Third parties in today’s modern supply chain include anything from suppliers, distributors, agents, advisors, consultants and can even include customers. Due diligence should include everyone up and down the supply chain. 

Investigation Tips

The goal of due diligence is to discover any corruption risks associated with any third party in your supply chain. Before conducting business with a third party internationally you should conduct some initial investigation into the third party to determine if you want to proceed with doing business with them at all. Initial investigation should include references, import/export experience, financial standing, and awareness of Canadian importation rules.

1. Request And Vet A Company Profile

Request a complete company profile. You can provide them with one of yours. You can then check the information in the company profile from other sources. Treat this like a job screening for a potential employee. 

2. Utilize Screening Tools

Perform a due diligence screening by conducting the most simplest database risk assessment. Credit and business background information can be found at:

• Dun and Bradstreet Reports - For Canadian Companies
• EDC Export Check Reports - For international/non-Canadian information

3. Conduct An Internet Search

Performing an internet search on a company can sometimes reveal potentially adverse information. Open source reviews can lead to further investigation of local civil and criminal litigation, bankruptcy and insolvency.

4. Review References 

Take the time to look at references submitted and in addition take a look at the local intelligence about the third party. From this you can assess their reputation. 

Once you have risk-assessed your third party and they present little to no risk, you can then make a decision to include them in your supply chain. Continue to monitor their risk as this can change over time.

The current complexity of today’s supply chains means that many companies still have no idea what risks exist for them as a consequence of someone in their supply chain. Companies should always investigate all third party contacts before working with them. Due diligence on your supply chain can be very time consuming. There are a number of consultants and companies that can assist in setting up your company’s due diligence program and subsequent monitoring system if you find this is too overwhelming to do yourself.

If you have ever been involved in the movement of a special project or event of epic size, then you know first hand the amount of time that goes into planning and logistics.

Add the customs and documentation preparation for crossing international borders and it becomes very perplexing.

With numerous shipments crossing at separate times and the tight time lines with events, the last thing you need is an inexperienced customs broker and freight forwarder on the job.

When it came time for the Province of British Columbia to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) took no chances and placed all their trust on a customs broker and freight forwarder who had the flexibility and proven skills to pull it off.

Pacific Customs Brokers was appointed the designated customs broker while their sister company PCB Freight Management was appointed the designated freight forwarder to the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC).