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When a permit is required
Vehicles, indivisible loads, or combinations of vehicles that exceed legal size or weight limits must secure special permits to operate on highways in Québec. Special Permits are issued as a “general permit” allowing motor carriers to operate on Québec highways for one month to one year on unspecified routes; or as a “specific permit” (one trip) which enables the motor carrier to operate on a specified route (including the return trip along the same route), but only for seven consecutive days.
Application procedure
Anyone wishing to obtain a special permit must send the appropriate application to the Société de l’Assurance Automobile du Québec. A permit may also be obtained by telephone, telegram, phototelegraph (Belin system) or telex.
Permits may be obtained for a specific seven-day trip or for up to one year under a general permit. Its valid period never exceeds that of the registration of the vehicle or combination of vehicles mentioned on the permit.
Special travel permit holders must verify that intersections, ramps, and curves on the proposed route are able to handle the oversize/overweight vehicle. Permit holders must also ensure that bridge weight limits, overhead obstructions, or road work projects do not interfere with the transport of the oversize/overweight vehicle. Upon request from a special permit holder, the Ministere des Transports du Québec (MTQ) will provide a listing of bridges subject to weight limits, bridge clearances, or current road work projects. The information is also available on the MTQ website at http://tinyurl.com/MTQportal.
Scale of fees
The fees for a SPECIFIC PERMIT are the following:
- In the case of a Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 permit, $105;
- In the case of a Class 4, Class 5, Class 6 or Class 7 permit, $230;
- In the case of a Class 6 permit issued for
travel on a bridge where a sign prohibits travel by outsized
vehicles, $30 where the permit is issued to one of the following
persons:
- To the holder of Class 4 or Class 5 general permit;
- To the holder of a Class 6 general permit authorizing travel on the network or autoroutes referred to in Schedule 4 or on all public highways.
The date of expiry of a Class 6 permit for travel on a bridge on which signs prohibit travel by outsized vehicles must be identical or prior to the date of expiry of the general permit referred to in clause ( i) or (ii).
The annual fees for a GENERAL PERMIT are the following:
- In the case of a Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 permit, $260;
- In the case of a Class 4, Class 5, Class 6 or Class 7 permit, $600;
- In the case of a Class 6 permit issued for
travel on a bridge where a sign prohibits travel by outsized
vehicles, $100 where the permit is issued to one of the following
persons:
- To the holder of Class 4 or Class 5 general permit;
- To the holder of a Class 6 general permit authorizing travel on the network of autoroutes referred to in Schedule 4 or on all public highways.
The period of validity of the general permit referred to in item a. or b. must be of the same length as or longer than the period of validity of the Class 6 permit for travel on a bridge where a sign prohibits travel by outsized vehicles and the date of expiry of the permit applied for must be identical or prior to the date of expiry of the general permit referred to in item a. or b.
The fees for a general permit covering a period of less than 12 months are determined by adding to the fees eligible for a specific permit the result obtained by multiplying the number of months to be authorized by the following amounts:
- $12.92 for a Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 permit;
- $30.83 for a Class 4, Class 5, Class 6 or Class 7 permit;
- $5.83 for a Class 6 permit issued to
travel on a bridge where a sign prohibits travel by outsized
vehicles, where that permit is issued to one of the following
persons:
- To the holder of a Class 4 or Class 5 general permit;
- To the holder of a Class 6 general permit authorizing travel on the network of autoroutes referred to in Schedule 4 or on all public highways.
In the case of a Class 5 or Class 6 permit, the fees for a general permit covering a period shorter than one year are equal to the annual fees where the applicant applies for a permit of a duration equal to or exceeding nine months.
The fees for a permit belonging to more than one class shall be the highest amount of the eligible fees among all of the classes to which it belongs.
An eligible amount calculated under this Regulation must be reduced to the nearest dollar where it contains a fraction of a dollar less than $0.50; it must be increased to the nearest dollar where it contains a fraction of a dollar equal to or greater than $0.50.
For Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, or Class 7 GENERAL PERMITS, there is an annual fee of $215, or a quarterly fee of $80.
For Class 4, Class 5, or Class 6 GENERAL PERMITS, there is an annual fee of $450, or a quarterly fee of $165.
For Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, or Class 7 SPECIFIC PERMITS, the fee is $110 per permit.
For Class 4, Class 5, or Class 6 SPECIFIC PEMITS, the fee is $225 per permit.
Should a permit be required for more than one permit class, the permit fee will be the highest fee in the requested permit classes.
Insurance requirements
None.
Permitted vehicle limitations
Within the new permit regulations for oversize and overweight vehicles, Québec now categorizes all permits by Class. Either a GENERAL PERMIT or a SPECIFIC PERMIT are required for one or more of the following classes:
CLASS 1 - Permits allowing the following limits including the load and equipment, including a vehicle that was manufactured as an oversized vehicle, but without a divisible load:
- Width:
- 4.40 metres, general or specific permit.
- 5.0 metres, specific permit only.
- Height:
- 4.30 metres, general or specific permit.
- 5.0 metres, specific permit only.
- Length:
- 21 metres for cranes, general or specific permit.
- 17 metres for other motor vehicles, general or specific permit.
- 27.50 metres for road vehicle combos, general or specific permit.
- 40 metres, specific permit.
- Equipment and Load:
- Front overhang of 4 metres for cranes, and 2 metres for any other road vehicle.
- Rear Overhang of 6 metres for tree length logs, and 4 metres for any other load or equipment.
- General or specific permit available.
CLASS 2 - Permits for transporting prefabricated buildings if not exceeding the following dimensions:
- Width:
- 4.30 metres for building body, plus 10 centimetres for protrusions, general or specific permit available.
- 4.30 up to 5 metres, specific permit only.
- 4.60 metres at roof of an entire building, general or specific permit,
- 4.60 up to 5.30 metres, specific permit only.
- 5.05 metres at the roof of a building in sections provided the additional 45 centimetres (measured from the body of the house) is on the right-hand shoulder of the highway and is 2.10 metres from the ground, while the 30 centimetres on the left-hand side is at least 3.65 metres from the ground, general or specific permit is available (if width is 5.05 up to 5.75 metres, a specific permit may be issued).
- Height:
- 4.30 metres, general or specific permit.
- 5.0 metres, specific permit only.
- Overall Length: 30 metres, general or specific permit.
- Rear Overhang: 5 metres, measured between semi-trailer chassis and rear extremity of building, general or specific permit available.
CLASS 3 - A permit for transporting a swimming pool whose width at the base is less than 4.40 metres, plus and additional 1 metre in the upper part at a height of at least 3.65 metres from the ground; the height and length shall comply with the standards established by the Vehicle Load and Size Limits Regulation made by Order in Council 1299-91 dated 18 September 1991.
CLASS 4 - A permit for a tow truck hauling another vehicle that has been in an accident or has broken down, without a load, without exceeding, for the load on the single or tandem rear axle of the tow truck and for its total loaded mass, the maximums prescribed in Schedule 1.
CLASS 5 - A permit for transporting an indivisible load with a vehicle that is outsized with respect to the axle load or total loaded mass, including a vehicle that was manufactured as an outsized vehicle, without exceeding the maximums prescribed in Schedule 1. Note: A Class 5 permit is not issued for a vehicle that could comply with the requirements of the Vehicle Load and Size Limits Regulation. For instance, vehicles with a concrete pump or used to dig wells could comply with the Regulation’s requirements and therefore may not obtain special permits.
CLASS 6 - A permit authorizing the travel of an outsized vehicle, including a vehicle that was manufactured as an outsized vehicle, in any of the following cases:
- Where its configuration is not prescribed in Schedule 1;
- Where its axle load or its total loaded mass, including the load and equipment, exceeds the limits prescribed for a Class 5 permit;
- Where a sign prohibits the travel of such vehicle;
- Where the travel of such vehicle is prohibited during a thaw.
Such permit is specific; however, it may be general where it is issued for repetitive transport of the same nature on a single specified route, where it is issued for all public highways or where it is issued for the network of autoroutes.
CLASS 7 - A specific permit specifying limits, including the load and equipment over those listed in Class 1. Although the permit is specific, it may be general if transport is repetitive for same operation on same single specified route.
Sign requirements
The “D” sign consists of red vertical stripes on a white background with a white letter “D” (20 centimetres high) in the center of the sign. The sign must measure 30 centimetres high and 240-245 centimetres long. There are also specific requirements with regard to the materials used in the sign as it must be rigid.
Flags and lighting requirements
When a flag is required it must be red or orange, square, measure 40 centimetres on a side, and be attached in at least two places so that it waves and stays clean and in good condition.
On loads of tree length logs, the vehicle must also be equipped with a 10 centimetres red light that is visible for 150 metres. The light is to be placed at the end of the rear overhang. At night, the flags must be replaced by flashing amber lights.
A vehicle covered by a special permit must be equipped with a rotating amber light which is visible in every direction up to a distance of not less than 300 metres.
Escort and flagperson requirements
All required escorts must have a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 4,500 kilograms, and be equipped with flares, lamps or reflectors all of which must be visible for at least 300 metres. An escort vehicle must have a series of three amber lights on the roof, the middle one revolving, and the other two attached at least one metre apart in line with the side of the cabin. Flashing lights must operate at the rate of 60-90 cycles per minute and have a diameter of more than 17.5 centimetres. The three lights may be replaced by two amber lights at least one metre apart, which are to be activated and revolve only when the vehicle is escorting. When escorting a vehicle the escort must have both headlights and flashing or rotating lights turned on.
Should the vehicle be traveling on a Class 2 permit on a divided highway the escort vehicle may be replaced by four flashing amber lights. The lights must be 17.5 centimetres in diameter, be visible for a distance of more than 300 metres, and must flash 60-90 cycles per minute. Two of the lights must be on the front of the load or (located to the rear of the side rear-view mirrors), with the other two at the rear of the load not less than 2 metres from the ground and at the outer edges of the load.
Escort vehicles are required for the following types of vehicles:
Subject to section 10, one escort vehicle is required and must follow the outsized vehicle where, including the load and equipment:
- The width of the vehicle exceeds 3.75 metres and it travels on a road that has more than one traffic lane in the direction travelled by the vehicle;
- The length exceeds:
- 17 metres for a single unit vehicle;
- 21 metres for a crane;
- 27.50 metres for a combination of two road vehicles, including a combination of road vehicles consisting of a crane and a trailer;
- 30 metres for a combination of three vehicles consisting of a tractor, a hauled dolly and a semi-trailer of for a combination of vehicles covered by a Class 2 permit;
- The rear overhang exceeds the limits prescribed.
One escort vehicle is required and must precede the outsized vehicle where, including the load and equipment:
- The width of the vehicle exceeds 3.75 metres and it travels on a road that has only one traffic lane in the direction travelled by the vehicle;
- The width of the vehicle exceeds 3.10 metres without exceeding 3.75 metres and the vehicle travels at night on a road that has only one traffic lane in the direction travelled by the vehicle, except for a vehicle used on snow removal, provided that its equipment does not extend beyond the left side of the vehicle by more than 60 centimetres and beyond the right side by more than 130 centimetres, measured at the widest part of the vehicle, excluding its compulsory attachments;
- The height of the vehicle exceeds 4.50 metres.
Two escort vehicles (one in front of and the other behind the outsized vehicle) are required where:
- The width of the vehicle, including the load and equipment, exceeds 4.40 metres and the vehicle travels on a road that has only one traffic lane in the direction travelled by the vehicle;
- The escorted vehicle is covered by one of the conditions provided for in the first paragraph requiring an escort vehicle behind the escorted vehicle and by one of the conditions provided for in the second paragraph requiring an escort vehicle in front of the escorted vehicle.
Where two escorted vehicles travel in convoy, two escort vehicles are required, one in front of and the other behind the convoy. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where only one escort vehicle is required for each of the escorted vehicles and that escort vehicle is required to precede or follow each of them, only one escort vehicle is required to precede or follow the convoy.
The driver of an escort vehicle must follow the escorted vehicle at a distance of not less than 100 metres nor more than 300 metres on a highway with two or more traffic lanes going in the same direction. On a highway with traffic going in both directions, the escort must be in front of the vehicle anywhere from 100 to 500 metres, and be in radio communication with the escorted vehicle.
Travel restrictions
When traveling on a special permit, certain travel restrictions are in force. A special permit does not authorize travel under the following conditions:
- At night, for a vehicle or combination
of vehicles where, including the load and equipment:
- The length exceeds, respectively, 17 metres for a single unit road vehicle, 27.50 metres for a combination of two road vehicles, including a combination of road vehicles consisting of a crane and a trailer, and 30 metres for a combination of three road vehicles consisting of a tractor, a hauled dolly and a semi-trailer or for a combination of vehicles covered by a Class 2 permit;
- The rear overhang is greater than 4 metres, except for trees loaded lengthwise and posts;
- The width exceeds 3.75 metres. Notwithstanding the foregoing, that restriction does not apply if the width does not exceed 4.40 metres, provided that the vehicle travels on a divided autoroute or over a maximum distance of 8 kilometres on a road numbered from 100 to 199 to reach a destination. In the case of a Class 2 permit, the width must be measured at the widest part of the building, excluding the roof.
- On Sundays and legal holidays;
- By a vehicle whose total loaded mass or dimensions exceed the limit established for that public highway;
- Where the visibility does not extend to a distance of one kilometre or the roadway is not cleared of snow or ice in accordance with the maintenance conditions applicable to that highway.