We have all been there, driving down the highway, enjoying the crisp spring air, when suddenly we are jarred from our reverie by a sudden and unexpected dip or bump in the road. Potholes. This time of year always seems to be the worst for them, and for many people, the why is something of a mystery. Is it the rain? The snow? What is it about early March and April that seems to demand the earth open up and send our tires to splitting? 

What you are experiencing is what’s referred to as ‘spring thaw,’ and you might be surprised to learn that these potholes have a significant amount of litigation surrounding them that could very easily affect your imports. And, we hear you asking - how can commercial vehicle road restrictions impact your freight deliveries? In today’s post, we are going to talk about this perennially relevant freight topic, and what it means not only for the tires of your car when you’re on the road, but for your carriers and your logistics network as well.

What is ‘Spring Thaw”?

Simply put, the spring thaw is the period between winter and spring when it is still cold enough to freeze at night but warm enough for the water to melt during the day. Water pools in the microcracks of the road, and when it freezes, it expands outward, pushing the concrete bit by bit over days. This is how the spring thaw affects roads and highways - the roads weakened by this constant push and pull break down even further as vehicles roll over them, adding additional pressure on the burgeoning cracks. Eventually, the cracks expand enough that they form into the potholes we all know and hate. 

Before you begin to feel guilty or hold yourself and your Mini Cooper accountable for the degradation of the roads, it’s not typically passenger vehicles that are responsible for the bulk of the damage to these roads. That falls to large-scale commercial vehicles, like the ones carriers use to move goods from place to place. 

For this reason, regional laws prohibit where large commercial vehicles can go during this period of spring thaw, and this can impact your logistics chain if you aren’t prepared. 

Roadways and Restrictions

Every March, various regions in both Canada and the US put spring thaw weight restrictions and limits on commercial transport vehicles on certain roadways. Different regions handle it differently, but most places administer the restrictions on a road-by-road basis and prohibit commercial vehicles from driving on those specific stretches for the duration of the thaw. 

The best way to avoid overweight trailer penalties for trucking companies is to know what you’re getting into before you leave, but determining where it is affected can be a bit of a scavenger hunt for the uninitiated. Most places offer the details on their transportation department websites. For example, BC Highway’s road restrictions are delivered via an email subscription service, and the Washington Department of Transportation does the same while maintaining a list of currently affected roads. 

Of course, it is worth noting that there are significant penalties for being overweight on these roads, and it is easy to get caught because commercial transport vehicles must report to regulatory inspection locations anyway.

Once a carrier is found to be overweight, costs quickly add up. Overloaded trailers will need to have a third-party crane or forklift remove part of the load, at the carrier's expense, and that removed portion of the shipment will now have to wait at the scale location until it can be recovered and delivered. Add to that a veritable snowball of fees, penalties, and delays, not the least of which come from the scale itself, which will likely impose a hefty fine of its own, and it is obvious that this is a circumstance to be avoided. 

Fortunately, all it takes to avoid these charges is to plan accordingly. 

Freight Management Tips for Spring Thaw

It’s important to remember that not every region has the same rules and regulations. For example, Quebec maintains three ‘thaw zones’ that each have their own limits and durations. Those limits and durations would differ not only from each other, but from the limits in, say, Saskatchewan. Meaning that in the course of a journey, a load that could be too heavy for one area might find that it’s exactly right for another along the same route.

It’s not overly complicated, but it can be a bit tricky to get exactly right without assistance. The best thing you can do to avoid additional charges and penalties is work closely with a freight manager. Not only will they work to help you understand what you are getting into on the roads ahead, but they can also help you plan your carrier’s route. 

Then, once the goods are on the road, they can help you troubleshoot any potential issues that the carrier might face and report the solution to you. Like with every element of trade, working with a skilled expert, like the ones you’ll find at PCB Freight Management, can make all the difference - especially when challenges arrive. 

For assistance dealing with spring thaw or any ground freight issues, you are encouraged to explore what our team at PCB Freight Management can do for you. We offer a wide range of support for both importers and carriers year-round, including during the spring thaw!