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Dear Customer,
CN has issued following update to the industry:
This is a reminder to all customers shipping to/from the Province of Quebec during the provincially mandated Vehicle Load and Size Limits Regulation period, colloquial known as “Thaw Period”.
To comply with the mandated requirements and avoid a backlog of loads requiring special handling, we will implement Spring Weight Restrictions in advance of the Quebec Government notice.
The annual start date for cargo weight restriction is dynamic and is regulated by the Quebec Provincial government. The timing is dependent on a host of criteria with the intention of minimizing damage to Provincial roads. While there is no definitive start date for the annual weight restriction period, our plan is to have all loads exceeding the thaw period weight limits arrive/depart Quebec before March 17. Should the Province mandate and earlier start date, all loads exceeding the prescribed thaw period weight limits will be subject to special handling charges.
Learn more on the government site
Please note that payload weights in equipment to be delivered by CNTL must be reduced per the requirements below for shipments planned to arrive after the start-date noted above.
To assist our customers during this period of reduced payload:
CN will establish a "Latest Shipping Date" where customers may ship at regular payload weights from each terminal (based on the consignee receiving the traffic immediately upon arrival at the destination terminal).
Note, the shipping date will be referred to as the Reservation Date. CN’s online tools can assist in determining the Reservation Date and Trip Plan.
In the event of an overweight load, CN may arrange transloading, or use specialty equipment to deliver the load. Any transloading requirements will be done at the prevailing market rate to be confirmed. To ensure the specialty equipment is not detained, all deliveries must be live-unloads. The overweight arrangements will be made after receiving written confirmation that the payer understands the charges.
Overweight traffic delayed online, but shipped prior to the "Latest Shipping Date", will be delivered by CN without the application of overweight charges.
The following table shows the "Latest Shipping Date" relative to the start of CN’s Spring Weight Restrictions:
Table 1 – Latest shipping date for deliveries in Quebec’s Zone 1
| Traffic Origin |
Latest shipping date for Spring 2025 |
| Halifax |
14 March |
| Moncton |
14 March |
| Montreal |
16 March |
| Winnipeg |
3 March |
| Saskatoon |
3 March |
| Edmonton |
3 March |
| Calgary |
3 March |
| Vancouver |
3 March |
| Detroit |
10 March |
| Chicago |
10 March |
| Memphis |
10 March |
| Jackson |
10 March |
| New Orleans |
7 March |
| Mexico |
26 February |
The maximum payload handled using CNR equipment during the Spring Weight Restriction period is:
Table 2 – Maximum Payloads and Axle Weights
| 53ft Dry |
49,100 lb |
| 53ft Heat |
46,900 lb |
| 53ft Reefer |
47,000 lb |
| 20ft Dry |
51,600 lb |
| 40ft Dry |
52,500 lb |
| 40ft Ecotherm |
47,730 lb |
Table 3 - Maximum Gross weight
| Steer and drive weights cannot exceed |
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| Steering |
12,000 lb |
| Drives |
34,100 lb |
| Tridem |
46,300 lb |
Please reach out to your Hensall Global representative should you have any questions.
Sincerely,
HENSALL GLOBAL LOGISTICS
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