Nova Scotia Canada Axle Weight Limits

Axle Weight Regulations By State

Maximum Legal Weight Allowed

Weight limits

Unless a special permit has been issued pursuant to Section 11, or otherwise specified in this Section or Section 7, no person shall operate or cause to be operated upon a highway a vehicle or combination of vehicles, either unladen or with load, and equipped with pneumatic tires, having Subsection 5(1) amended: O.I.C. 2002-504, N.S. Reg. 140/2002.

(a) a weight in excess of the weight represented upon the permit issued in respect of a vehicle or combination of vehicles by the jurisdiction;

(b) an axle weight in excess of the manufacturer’s gross axle weight rating;

(i) the sum of the tire load ratings of all tires installed on the wheels of any axle,

(ii) the sum of 10 kg per mm of tire width of all tires installed on the wheel of an axle for tires in excess of 150 mm in width, and

(iii) the following weights, as applicable

9100 kg, in the case of an axle equipped with 4 tires,
9100 kg, in the case of an axle equipped with 2 tires that is a steering axle,
6000 kg, in the case of an axle equipped with 2 tires, other than a steering axle,
7700 kg, in the case of an axle equipped with 2 tires, other than a steering axle, that has tire widths of 445 mm or greater and is installed on a vehicle that is operated on a Maximum Weight Road listed in Schedule “C” to the Road List Regulations made under the Act; Paragraph 5(1)(c)(iii)(D) amended: O.I.C. 2011-255, N.S. Reg. 232/2011. Clause 5(1)(c) replaced: O.I.C. 2007-406, N.S. Reg. 347/2007.

(d) a weight in excess of the maximum axle weight limits specified in Schedule A for an axle group;

(e) a static weight on any axle of an axle group that is 1000 kg greater or less than the weight of an adjacent axle in the same axle group; Clause 5(e) amended: O.I.C. 2015-362, N.S. Reg. 364/2015.

(f) a weight in excess of 4500 kg on any axle of an assembly of 2 or more consecutive axles that is not an axle group;

(g) a gross vehicle weight in excess of the manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating; or

Clause 5(1)(g) amended: O.I.C. 2002-504, N.S. Reg. 140/2002.

(h) a gross vehicle weight in excess of the maximum gross vehicle weight limits specified in Schedule A for a specified vehicle configuration and for a specified class of highways.

No person shall move or cause to be moved over or upon a highway a vehicle or object on wheels, rollers or otherwise, other than a motor vehicle, having a weight in excess of 9100 kg.

No person shall operate or cause to be operated upon a highway a vehicle, either unladen or with load, and equipped with solid rubber tires, having a weight in excess of the weight in kilograms represented upon the permit issued in respect of the vehicle or having an axle weight in excess of 75% of the vehicle weight that would otherwise apply to the vehicle.

No person shall operate or cause to be operated upon any highway a vehicle, either unladen or with load, having a wheel weight in excess of 55% of the weight prescribed for any axle upon which the wheel is mounted.

Axle Weight Limits

Axle Type

Application

Spread Range

Weight Limit

Maximum Axle Weights for Maximum Weight Roads

Single Steering

Straight Truck

Intercity Bus

Tractor

N/A

8000 kg¹

7250 kg¹

5500 kg¹

Tandem Steering²

Straight Truck

1.2 m to 1.85 m

16 000 kg

Tandem (single tires <445 mm ) (including tandem equivalent axle)

Straight Truck,

Tractor, Trailer,

and Semi-trailer

less than 1.2 m

1.2 m to 1.85 m

greater than 1.85 m

9100 kg

12 000 kg

Tandem (single tires = or >445 mm) (including tandem equivalent axle)

Straight Truck,

Tractor, Trailer,

and Semi-trailer

less than 1.2 m

1.2 m to 1.85 m

greater than 1.85 m

9100 kg

15 400 kg

Tandem (single tires < 445 mm and dual tires) (including tandem equivalent axle)

Straight Truck,

Tractor, Trailer,

and Semi-trailer

less than 1.2 m

1.2 m to 1.85 m

greater than 1.85 m

9100 kg

15 000 kg

15000 kg

Tandem (single tires = or >445 mm and dual tires) (including tandem equivalent axle)

Straight Truck,

Tractor, Trailer,

and Semi-trailer

less than 1.2 m

1.2 m to 1.85 m

greater than 1.85 m

9100 kg

16 700 kg

Tandem (dual tires)

(including tandem equivalent axle)

Straight Truck,

Tractor, Trailer,

and Semi-trailer

less than 1.2 m

1.2 m to 1.85 m

greater than 1.85 m

9100 kg

18 000 kg

Tridem (single tires < 445 mm) (including tridem equivalent axle)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 3.7 m

greater than 3.7 m

12 000 kg

18 000 kg

12 000 kg¹¹

Tridem (single tires = or >445 mm) (including tridem equivalent axle)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 3.7 m

greater than 3.7 m

15 400 kg

21 000 kg

23 100 kg

15 400 kg¹⁴

Tridem (lead axle with single tires < 445 mm and 2 axles with duals) (including tridem equivalent axle)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 3.7 m

greater than 3.7 m

18 000 kg

20 000 kg

22 000 kg

23 324 kg

18 000 kg¹⁵

Tridem (lead axle with single tires = or > 445 mm and 2 axles with duals) (including tridem equivalent axle)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 3.7 m

greater than 3.7 m

18 000 kg

21 000 kg

23 700 kg

25 034 kg

18 000 kg¹⁷

Tridem (dual tires)

(including tridem equivalent axle)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 3.7 m

greater than 3.7 m

18 000 kg

21 000 kg

24 000 kg

26 000 kg

18 000 kg⁶

Triaxle (single tires < 445 mm)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 4.9 m

9100 kg

12 000 kg¹¹

Triaxle (single tires = or > 445 mm)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 4.9 m

9100 kg

15 400 kg⁴

15 400 kg¹⁴

Triaxle (lead axle with single tires < 445 mm and 2 axles with duals)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 4.9 m

9100 kg

18 000 kg¹²

18 000 kg¹³

18 000 kg¹⁵

Triaxle (lead axle with single tires = or > 445 mm and 2 axles with duals)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 4.9 m

9100 kg

18 000 kg⁴

18 000 kg¹⁶

18 000 kg¹⁷

Triaxle (dual tires)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 4.9 m

18 000 kg

18 000 kg⁴

18 000 kg⁵

18 000 kg⁶

Maximum Axle Weights for Intermediate Weight Roads

Single Steering

Straight Truck

Intercity Bus

Tractor

N/A

8000 kg¹

7250 kg¹

5500 kg¹

Tandem Steering²

Straight Truck

1.2 m to 1.85 m

16 000 kg

Tandem (single tires) (including tandem equivalent axle)

Straight Truck,

Tractor, Trailer,

and Semi-trailer

less than 1.2 m

1.2 m to 1.85 m

greater than 1.85 m

9100 kg

12 000 kg

Tandem (single tires and dual tires) (including tandem equivalent axle)

Straight Truck,

Tractor, Trailer,

and Semi-trailer

less than 1.2 m

1.2 m to 1.85 m

greater than 1.85 m

9100 kg

15 000 kg

Tandem (dual tires)

(including tandem equivalent axle)

Straight Truck,

Tractor, Trailer,

and Semi-trailer

less than 1.2 m

1.2 m to 1.85 m

greater than 1.85 m

9100 kg

18 000 kg

Tridem (single tires) (including tridem equivalent axle)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 3.7 m

greater than 3.7 m

12 000 kg

18 000 kg

12 000 kg¹¹

Tridem (lead axle with single tires and 2 axles with duals) (including tridem equivalent axle)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 3.7 m

greater than 3.7 m

18 000 kg

20 000 kg

22 000 kg

18 000 kg¹³

Tridem (dual tires)

(including tridem equivalent axle)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 3.7 m

greater than 3.7 m

18 000 kg

21 000 kg

24 000 kg

26 000 kg

18 000 kg⁵

Triaxle (single tires)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 4.9 m

9100 kg

12 000 kg¹¹

Triaxle (lead axle with single tires and 2 axles with duals)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 4.9 m

9100 kg

18 000 kg¹²

18 000 kg¹³

18 000 kg¹⁵

Maximum Axle Weights for All Other Highways

Single Steering

Straight Truck

Intercity Bus

Tractor

N/A

8000 kg¹

7250 kg¹

5500 kg¹

Tandem Steering²

Straight Truck

1.2 m to 1.85 m

16 000 kg

Tandem (single tires) (including tandem equivalent axle)

Straight Truck,

Tractor, Trailer,

and Semi-trailer

less than 1.2 m

1.2 m to 1.85 m

greater than 1.85 m

9100 kg

12 000 kg

Tandem (single tires and dual tires) (including tandem equivalent axle)

Straight Truck,

Tractor, Trailer,

and Semi-trailer

less than 1.2 m

1.2 m to 1.85 m

greater than 1.85 m

9100 kg

15 000 kg

Tandem (dual tires)

(including tandem equivalent axle)

Straight Truck,

Tractor, Trailer,

and Semi-trailer

less than 1.2 m

1.2 m to 1.85 m

greater than 1.85 m

9100 kg

18 000 kg

Tridem (single tires) (including tridem equivalent axle)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 3.7 m

greater than 3.7 m

12 000 kg

Tridem (lead axle with single tires and 2 axles with duals) (including tridem equivalent axle)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 3.7 m

greater than 3.7 m

18 000 kg

Tridem (dual tires)

(including tridem equivalent axle)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 3.7 m

greater than 3.7 m

18 000 kg

Triaxle (single tires)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 4.9 m

9100 kg

12 000 kg

Triaxle (lead axle with single tires and 2 axles with duals)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 4.9 m

9100 kg

18 000 kg

Triaxle (dual tires)

Semi-trailer

less than 2.4 m

2.4 m to less than 3.0 m

3.0 m to less than 3.6 m

3.6 m to 4.9 m

18 000 kg

1 Steering axle loads can be as a high as 9100 kg for a vehicle or combination of vehicles if the load carrying capacity of the axles, tires, and all other components is not exceeded, and the tire loading does not exceed 10 kg/mm of tire width; however, no increase in the specified maximum gross vehicle weight limit for the configuration will be permitted with higher steering axle loads.

2 Both axles in a tandem steering axle must be actively controlled by the driver; passive or self-steering axles are not permitted.

4 This weight limit is increased to 21 000 kg for a semi-trailer model year 2002 and earlier.

5 This weight limit is increased to 24 000 kg for a semi-trailer model year 2002 and earlier.

6 This weight limit is increased to 26 000 kg for a semi-trailer model year 2002 and earlier.

11 This weight limit is increased to 18 000 kg for a semi-trailer model year 2002 and earlier.

12 This weight limit is increased to 20 000 kg for a semi-trailer model year 2002 and earlier.

13 This weight limit is increased to 22 000 kg for a semi-trailer model year 2002 and earlier.

14 This weight limit is increased to 23 100 kg for a semi-trailer model year 2002 and earlier.

15 This weight limit is increased to 23 324 kg for a semi-trailer model year 2002 and earlier.

16 This weight limit is increased to 23 700 kg for a semi-trailer model year 2002 and earlier.

17 This weight limit is increased to 25 034 kg for a semi-trailer model year 2002 and earlier.