Oversize / Overweight Permits in New Brunswick
New Brunswick Oversize/Overweight Regulations
According to New Brunswick law, any load exceeding the following weight and size limits is considered an oversized/overweight load:
Legal Size Limit:
Width:
- 8′ 6.36″ (2.6 m) (from the outside points of the widest extremities, excluding safety devices)
Length:
- Single unit (straight truck) – 41′ 0.13″ (12.5 m)
- Vehicle combination (tractor semi-trailer, truck and pony trailer, truck and full trailer, B-Trains) – 75′ 5.51″ (23.0 m) (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)
- B-Trains on highways with a GVW rating of 62,500 kg – 82′ 0.25″ (25.0 m) (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)
- Rear overhang – 6′ 6″ (2 m)
- Front overhang – 3′ 3″(1 m)
Height:
- 13′ 7.39″ (4.15 m)
Legal Weight Limit:
- Maximum GVW: 137,789 lbs (62,500 kg)
- Steering axle: 12,125 lbs (5,500 kg)
- Single axle: 20,062 lbs (9,100 kg)
- Tandem axle: 39,683 lbs (18,000 kg)
- Tridem axle: 57,320 lbs (26,000 kg)
- Four axles: 74,957 lbs (34,000 kg)
For more details, please see:
New Brunswick Single Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits
A general seven-day single-trip permit is issued for non-divisible oversized and overweight loads exceeding the legal limits. It covers one movement from point A to point B during the running times specified in the permit. You may need to request a return trip permit.
For more details:
New Brunswick Annual Oversize/Overweight Permits
Brunswick provides annual OSOW permits that allow for unrestricted movement for up to 365 days.
Annual and Quarterly permits are issued for:
- extreme dimensions, including widths not exceeding 4.72 m, overall length not exceeding 32.0 m, and maximum height on chassis not exceeding 4.5 m.
- vehicles transporting single-piece loads that exceed the axle group or gross masses prescribed under NB Regulation 2001-67.
For more details:
New Brunswick Wide Load Requirements
All vehicles/loads wider than 8′ 6.36″ (2.6 m) require an oversized permit issued by the New Brunswick Department of Transportation.
Oversize Load Flag Requirements:
All sides and extremities of oversized vehicles and loads must be marked with bright fluorescent red or orange flags 40 cm x 40 cm minimum (16 in. x 16 in.) at the extremities of all overwidth and overlength loads.
Oversize Load Banner Requirements:
“D” signs must be legible at least 125 m (410 ft.) and be displayed as follows:
On the front and rear of the vehicle when the width exceeds 3.05 m (10 ft.).
- On the rear of the vehicle when transporting overlength loads.
- On the rear of the vehicle when a rear overhang exceeds 200 cm (6 ft. 6 in.).
- On the front of the vehicle when a front overhang exceeds 100 cm (3 ft. 3 in.).
- Escort vehicles must be equipped with either a “D” sign or a lighted sign box which must be visible to approaching traffic:
- From the FRONT when leading an overdimensional vehicle or load.
- From the REAR when following an overdimensional vehicle or load. “D” sign or lighted sign box are only to be displayed when an oversize move is in progress.
Oversize Load Sign Requirements:
“D” signs or lighted sign boxes are to be constructed according to the diagrams on the NBDOT website.
For night travel only, reflective tape is required on both sides of the front overhang exceeding 100 cm (3 ft. 3 in.) and the rear overhang exceeding 200 cm (6 ft. 6 in.).
Oversize Load Lighting Requirements:
During nighttime transportation or in poor visibility conditions, flashing amber lights, visible from a distance of 150 m (492 ft.), are required on extremities of loads exceeding 3.65 m (12 ft.) in width or 27.5 m (90 ft.) in length, on front overhangs exceeding 100 cm (3 ft. 3 in.).
360º amber warning lights are required on the roof of the vehicle conveying the load and on the roof of the escort. The minimum visibility is 300 m (984 ft.) in all directions. 60 to 90 flashes per minute are required. More than one light may be required to provide 360º visibility around the vehicle. The minimum mounting height is 1.5 m (5 ft.) from the highway.
Oversize Pilot Cars and Escort Vehicles Requirements:
On 2-lane highways:
- At the front of loads exceeding 3.65 m (12 ft.) in width.
- At the front and rear of loads exceeding 4.88 m (16 ft.) in width.
- At the rear of loads exceeding 27.5 m (90 ft.) in length.
On multi-lane divided highways:
- At the rear of loads exceeding 3.05 m (10 ft.) in width for nighttime travel only.
- At the rear of loads exceeding 3.65 m (12 ft.) in width.
- At the rear of loads exceeding 30.0 m (98 ft. 5 in.) in length.
On all highways:
- At the front of loads with front overhangs exceeding 3.05 m (10 ft.)
- At the rear of loads with rear overhangs exceeding 3.05 m (10 ft.)
Additional requirements:
- When proceeding at a speed greater than 50 km/h, escorts must maintain a distance of not more than 300 m (984 ft.) or less than 250 m (820 ft.) from the vehicle conveying the load.
- When proceeding at a speed of less than 50 km/h, escorts must maintain a distance of 150 m (492 ft.) from the vehicle conveying the load.
- Escort vehicles are limited to 2 axles and a maximum GVW of 8,000 kgs.
Note:
- Additional escort requirements can be specified in the permit.
- One week prior to moving loads exceeding 4.88 m (16 ft.) in width or 30 m (98 ft.) in length, the permit holder must notify the nearest detachment of the RCMP (or municipal police where applicable) and abide by police direction for traffic control as required.
New Brunswick Wide Load Restrictions
All loads wider than 8′ 6.36″ (2.6 m) are subject to the following restrictions:
Oversize Holiday Restrictions:
Travel is prohibited after 3:00 p.m. the day before official holidays or after noon on holidays. Travel is allowed from sunrise to noon on holidays.
Oversize Legal Travel Times Restrictions:
As a rule of thumb, travel is allowed during the daytime (from sunrise to sunset), from Monday to Friday. Sunrise and sunset times are determined by the National Research Council for the vehicle’s location and are accessible via their website.
Weekend and holiday travel:
- Unrestricted weekend and holiday travel: The same conditions for Monday to Friday apply to weekends and holidays.
- Restricted weekend travel: Travel is prohibited after 3:00 p.m. on Friday and afternoon on Saturday and Sunday. It is allowed from sunrise to noon on Saturday and Sunday.
Load specifications and travel conditions:
- Up to 3.05 m in width, 30.0 m in length, and 4.27 m in height: Nighttime travel and unrestricted weekend and holiday travel are allowed on all highways.
- Up to 3.65 m in width, 30.0 m in length, and 4.27 m in height: Nighttime travel on multi-lane divided highways only, with unrestricted weekend and holiday travel on all highways.
- Up to 4.88 m in width, 30.0 m in length, and 4.88 m in height: Weekend and holiday travel on all highways is restricted.
- Up to 5.49 m in width, 30.0 m in length, and 4.88 m in height: Weekend and holiday travel is restricted to multi-lane divided highways only.
- Loads exceeding these dimensions: Nighttime, weekend, and holiday travel are not permitted.
Additional restrictions:
- Nighttime travel is forbidden for any vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) exceeding 62,500 kg or for vehicles under this weight that require traffic control.
Oversize Road and Bridge Restrictions:
All vehicles, including driven and towed, must comply with posted bridge weight limits.
You must operate at the lowest practical speed when crossing bridges if your vehicle’s weight exceeds the legal requirements.
As for the oversize road restrictions, they include but are not limited to the following:
- driving through work zones that are under construction
- neglecting warning signals when driving through work zones
- not giving traffic priority to law enforcement, emergency vehicles, etc.
Oversize Seasonal Weight Restrictions:
- Spring weight restrictions for truck traffic are set to commence at 00:01 (AST) on Monday, March 4th, in Southern New Brunswick and at 00:01 (AST) on Monday, March 11th, in Northern New Brunswick.
- These restrictions will remain in effect until 23:59 (AST) on Sunday, May 12th, in Southern New Brunswick, and until 23:59 (AST) on Sunday, May 19th, in Northern New Brunswick.
During this period, heavy vehicle operators and freight forwarders should keep in mind that authorized axle load limits are reduced on all public roads.
For more details:
New Brunswick Wide Load Limits
Everything wider than 8′ 6.36″ (2.6 m) requires a permit to be moved on public roads.
Maximum Load Limits Until a Trucking Permit Is Required:
Wider than 8′ 6.36″ (2.6 m) (from the outside points of the widest extremities, excluding safety devices)
Axle Weight Limits:
Legal axle weight limit:
- Steering axle: 12,125 lbs (5,500 kg)
- Single axle: 20,062 lbs (9,100 kg)
- Tandem axle: 39,683 lbs (18,000 kg)
- Tridem axle: 57,320 lbs (26,000 kg)
- Four axles: 74,957 lbs (34,000 kg)
The maximum permitted axle weight limit:
- Per-axle weight depends on the axle configuration and the type of permit
- Maximum GVW: 137,789 lbs (62,500 kg)
Oversize Tire Regulations:
The province is divided into four zones, monitored for changing weather. Winter weight zones open or close based on monitoring. Winter Weight Premiums:
- Zone 1: Jan 9 – Feb 27
- Zone 2: Jan 23 – Feb 13
- Zone 3: Jan 3 – Feb 13
- Zone 4: Under review
- Studded tires allowed Oct 15 – May 1. Tires must be pneumatic rubber, tread depth 1.6 mm. Mandatory winter tire regulations only for school buses.
- Overall, tires must be in normal operating condition, properly inflated, and feature the minimum legal tread depth.
New Brunswick Trip Permits (IRP Permits)
Commercial Trip Permits exempt non-resident-owned vehicles registered in their home province or state from local registration. Eligible upon application and fee payment, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles can issue these permits. They allow commercial vehicles to operate on provincial highways for five consecutive days, as specified on the permit.
New Brunswick Fuel Permits
Interjurisdictional carriers with qualified motor vehicles entering New Brunswick need a valid International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) license and decals or single trip fuel permits to cover the New Brunswick Gasoline and Motive Fuel Tax. Carriers not based in New Brunswick and without an IFTA license must get single-trip permits, as must New Brunswick-based carriers re-entering the province without the license. These permits are specific to each vehicle, last for seven days (extendable on request), and must be carried in the vehicle throughout travel in New Brunswick.
New Brunswick Specialty Permits
The need for special permits may arise from your load’s nature, size, and weight.
Oversize Permits for Pre-manufactured Homes and Modular Units:
Single-trip permit: Extreme width including eaves not exceeding 5.50 m; overall length not exceeding 32.0 m; maximum height on chassis not exceeding 4.88 m.
Annual and quarterly permit: Extreme width including eaves not exceeding 4.72 m; overall length not exceeding 32.0 m; maximum height on chassis not exceeding 4.5 m
Amber Light Permits:
Vehicles escorting oversized loads shall be equipped with roof-mounted amber warning lights.
Loading Zone Permits:
A loading zone permit may be issued for using commercial loading zones by non-commercial delivery vehicles.
For more information about specialty permits:
Oversize/Overweight Load Fines in New Brunswick
Oversize and overweight fines in New Brunswick depend on the weight exceeding the maximum legal requirements.
- 3-axle vehicle overloaded by 4,000 lbs: Fines range from $338.50 to $672.50.
- 6-axle vehicle overloaded by more than 10,000 lbs: Fines range from $786.50 to $1,568.50.
- 7-axle vehicle overloaded by more than 20,000 lbs: Fines range from $1,006.50 to $2,008.50.
Oversize/Overweight Permits Costs in New Brunswick
The cost of New Brunswick OSOW permits varies depending on the load type, nature, and excessive weight and size. It starts at about $60 for a single-trip permit and may exceed $1,000 for an annual one.
You may also be charged an application fee for processing and handling your permit request.
For more details:
Trucking Permit Service
Express Permits provides a full spectrum of trucking permit services, assisting motor carriers in obtaining the appropriate oversize and overweight permits, coordinating with authorities, and ensuring compliance with state regulations, saving valuable time, effort, and potential penalties. You can rely on us regardless of your load’s type, nature, and destination.