Federal & State Regulations | Oversize/overweight permits - New Brunswick

When a Permit Is Required

Operators of vehicles that exceed the legal size and weight limits must obtain a special permit from the Department of Transportation in Fredericton prior to making any movement in New Brunswick.

The legal limits do not apply to fire apparatus, road machinery or to implements of husbandry incidentally moved upon a highway. A permit is not required for poles or pipes being transported on a pole trailer unless the material exceeds 24 metres long.

Application Procedure

Single trip, quarterly, and annual oversize/overweight permits are available. Single trip permits based on the number of axles are also available. Non-conforming permits may be issued for unique vehicle combinations or for combinations that are not in compliance with New Brunswick size and weight limit regulations.

Annual permits may be issued for carriers using single-wide tires.

Applications may be made on the Internet, by phone, or by mail.

Scale of Fees

Overweight Permits - Three-Day Permit Gross Vehicle Weight (Kilograms)

Axles	$50	$51	$68	$86	$129	$339	$500
3	Up to 30,500	30,501-33,000	33,001-35,500	35,501-38,000	-	-	-
4	Up to 40,500	40,501-43,000	43,001-45,500	45,501-48,000	-	-	-
5	Up to 48,500	48,501-51,000	51,001-53,500	53,501-56,000	-	-	-
6	Up to 51,500	51,501-54,000	54,001-56,500	56,501-59,000	59,001-64,000	64,001-72,000	Over 72,000
7	Up to 53,500	53,501-56,000	56,001-58,500	58,501-61,000	61,001-64,000	64,001-72,000	Over 72,000
8 & Up	Up to 64,000	-	-	-	-	64,001-72,000	Over 72,000
Any number of axles	Exceeds axle or axle group but not GVW	-	-	-	-	-	-

Oversize Permits - Three-Day Trip Permit

$50	$86
Overlength or overheight Overwidth to 4.72 m	Overwidth over 4.72 m

Quarterly or Annual Overweight Permits

3-month, $102*
12-month, $339*

Quarterly or Annual Oversize Permits

3-month, $51*
12-month, $170*

*Fees will vary for certain types of movements or equipment used to transport the load(s). Fees may also vary depending on the route travelled.

Single-Wide Tire Permits

Annual Permit - $50

Configuration permits, $50
Modified/Reissued permits, $50
Replacement/Duplicate permits, $50

Insurance Requirements

A permit does not release the holder from responsibility for damages caused as a result of the conveyance of permitted loads.

Permitted Vehicle Limitations

The permit shall be carried in the vehicle or combination of vehicles conveying the load and is subject to inspection and revocation by a Peace Officer.

The size and weight allowed under a permit is usually governed by the clearance and weight capacity of the bridges and overpasses. Generally, oversize/ overweight loads do not exceed 90 feet long, 14 feet wide, 14 feet high, and 130,000 pounds on a three-axle tractor and three-axle trailer.

For single wide tire permits, the tires must have a minimum width of 445 millimetres. The axle may carry up to 7,700 kilograms on highways with a GVWR of 56,500 kilograms or 62,500 kilograms (all other roads, the axle limit is 6,160 kilograms).

Sign requirements

The “D” sign is to be placed only on vehicles transporting overdimensional loads as specified on the Department’s Special Permit and/or Conditions for Movement of Oversize Loads. The sign consists of red vertical stripes on a white background with a white letter “D” in the center of the sign. The sign is to be 300 millimetres high and 2450 millimetres long, using a 200 millimetres high Series E letter “D”. The sign is constructed of specified materials. The sign for an escort vehicle is the same except that it must be 180 centimetres wide.

Signs are required as follows:

Dimension	“D” Sign Requirements
Width	Must be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle when the width exceeds 3.05 metres.
Height	There are generally no sign requirements for overheight loads.
Length	Must be displayed: On the rear of a vehicle transporting overlength loads or when the rear overhang is more than 200 centimetres; and On the front of a vehicle when the front overhang exceeds 100 centimetres.

Flags and lighting requirements

Fluorescent red flags, 40 centimetres by 40 centimetres minimum, must be placed on extremities of all overwidth and overlength permitted loads.

A revolving amber light must be placed on the cab of the vehicle conveying the load. Flashing amber lights are required on the extremities of loads over 3.65 metres wide, 27.5 metres long, or on front overhangs of more than 100 centimetres.

Escort and Flagperson Requirements

Escorts are required as follows:

Dimension	Escort Requirements
Load exceeds 3.65 metres in width	Front escort required
Width exceeds 4.88 metres	Front and rear escorts required (the Royal Canadian Mounted Police must be notified at least one week before moving a load exceeding 4.88 metres wide)
Overheight	There are generally no escort or flagperson requirements for over-height movements.
Load exceeds 27.5 metres in length	Rear escort required
Rear overhang exceeds 3.05 metres	Rear escort required (the Royal Canadian Mounted Police must be notified at least one week before moving a load that exceeds 30 metres in length)

A revolving amber light is required on the roof of all escorts. “D” signs must be displayed on the front of leading escorts and on the rear of following escorts. When the speed of the vehicle and load exceeds 50 kilometres/hour, escorts must maintain a distance of not more than 300 metres or less than 250 metres from the vehicle conveying the load. When proceeding at a speed less than 50 kilometres/hour, escorts must maintain a distance of 150 metres from the vehicle conveying the load.

Travel Restrictions

Permitted loads may only travel Monday through Friday. Oversize or overweight loads staying within certain dimensions/weights may travel on the weekends, during holidays, or during nighttime hours. Travel times and restrictions vary depending on the size and/or weight of the vehicle.

Nighttime travel, unrestricted weekend travel, and unrestricted holiday travel is generally allowed if:

The vehicle does not exceed 3.65 metres wide, 30.0 metres long, and 4.27 metres high;
The front overhang does not exceed 3.05 metres; and
The rear overhang does not exceed 6.10 metres.

The operator of an overdimensional load must not permit the accumulation vehicles behind the load. Also, the vehicle operator must maintain a distance of at least 500 metres from another movement. A permit is not valid when highway conditions make it dangerous to convey permitted loads, and in any event if visibility is less than 300 metres.

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Oversize/overweight permits - New Brunswick