Big trucking jobs take big planning. You can’t move a grain silo down a 400-series highway without expecting to fill in a little paperwork – make that, a lot of paperwork. Safety is paramount when it comes to moving heavy loads, for both the carriers and the general commuter traffic that has to share the roadways. That’s why permits are required for all heavy haul carriers in Ontario.
The Process Involved for Permitting Heavy Haul Loads
Heavy machinery transport companies recognize the importance of permitting when it comes to moving overweight, oversized, and oddly shaped loads being move via ground transport. Such government issued permits allow truck-trailer combinations to transport loads down highways and, when required, urban roadways on their way to their eventual destinations. All professional heavy equipment hauling companies can apply for permits that allow them to move such loads across North America. In some instances, when travelling across provincial, regional, municipal, or state jurisdictions, several permits may be required to ensure legal transport in each area. Each permit must include a comprehensive routing plan that must be strictly adhered to; unless there is serious reason to deviate from such a route, heavy machinery transport companies that fail to comply could wind up being heavily fined, especially if something goes wrong. We’ve all seen pictures of trucks wedged under bridges on roads they never should have been travelling – those companies learned the hard way!! Thankfully, there is an easy process that heavy haul carriers in Ontario can follow:
- It all starts with submitting proper documentation. Heavy equipment hauling companies in Canada can apply to various departments by submitting requests via mail, fax, online or in person. Details must be clearly laid out, including the exact weight, load dimensions, weights per axle and the route planned for the trip.
- Heavy haul carriers in Ontario should be aware that legal load limits can change along the route. In Alberta, for example, the overall maximum length allowed without a permit is 23 metres, while the maximum width is 2.6 meters and the maximum on-steer axle is 6,000 kgs. In Nova Scotia, loads exceeding 3.5 metres in width and 24.99 metres in length are not allowed to move 3:00 pm Friday until Monday morning. Understanding and accounting for such variations along the way is critical to being in compliance and adhering to all local safety protocols along the way.
- Type of oversize permits vary. Generally speaking, there are annual permits, project-based permits, and single-trip oversize permits. Annual permits often cover an entire fleet of trucks for a single company and have set limits for dimensions and weight that can be safely carried. Project-based permits allow heavy equipment hauling companies and other carriers to move similarly-sized loads across a pre-determined area. This is ideal for industrial construction where many oversized loads of the same dimension are being transported to a job site. Single trip permits are most commonly issued for one-time loads moving through a pre-determined jurisdiction
Companies requiring an oversized permit should always be careful to provide accurate and timely information when applying. That makes it easier for 3PL providers like NATS Canada tasked with moving such loads to complete the job safely and legally. For all your shipping needs, look to Canada’s best 3PL provider: NATS Canada.
