The Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Materials & Road Research has started publishing information on seasonal load limit notifications in frost zones.

NORTH FROST ZONE

On Thursday December 14, winter load increases began on unrestricted highways in the North Frost Zone beginning at 12:01 a.m. Vehicles will be allowed to operate up to 10 percent over the standard legal maximum loads on unrestricted highways during the Winter Load increase period, according to a “Seasonal Load Limit Notification” distributed by the Minnesota DOT.

The release also stated trucks must comply with current registration weight laws on their routes and a Winter Weight Increase Permit is required to take advantage of the 10 percent weight increase on Interstate Highways only. A permit is not required for state trunk highways.

NORTH-CENTRAL FROST ZONE

The MN DOT Office of Materials & Road Research released a seasonal limit notification on the North-Central Frost Zone which will begin on unrestricted highways at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. Like the Winter load increases already in effect in the North Frost Zone, vehicles will be allowed to operate up to 10 percent over the standard legal maximum loads on unrestricted highways during the Winter Load Increase period. Trucks, however, must comply with current registration weight laws and not exceed registered gross weight tolerances.

MORE INFO

It is urged by the MN DOT that you check with local agencies (cities, counties and townships) prior to increasing any weights on routes. Winter weight increase permits are required.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety can be reached at 651.405.6196 (select option 3, option 3).

Winter load increases beginning and ending dates are based on how weather is affecting roadway strength, and are established by monitoring such as weather conditions change. The ending dates for these Winter load increases is not known at this time and drivers must check for updates.

WCS IS HERE TO HELP!

WCS Permits & Pilot Cars is here to help with all questions relating to over-dimensional, heavy haul trucking. We will do our best to keep you up-to-date on Winter load increase dates. WCS can also answer any questions you may have about Winter weight increase permits, or any questions on your everyday oversize load permits, trip & fuel permits and superloads. Contact us now, or give us a call at 888.737.6483.