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;
(c) an axle weight in excess of the lesser of
(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 N/A 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 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 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 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 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 18 000 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 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 12 000 kg11 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 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 N/A 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 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 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 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 18 000 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 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 12 000 kg11 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 N/A 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 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 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 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 12 000 kg 12 000 kg 12 000 kg 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 18 000 kg 18 000 kg 18 000 kg 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 18 000 kg 18 000 kg 18 000 kg 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 12 000 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 18 000 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 18 000 kg 18 000 kg 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.
Maximum Permit Weight Allowed
Maximum Allowable Registered Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) – 62,500 kg
Source: https://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/mvwd.htm#TOC1_5
Source: Oversize.io
