Vehicle Weight and Dimension Reforms in Ontario

Regulatory changes to implement Phase 3 of Vehicle Weight and Dimension Reforms. These changes address excessive damage to provincial and municipal roads and bridges and are expected to reduce the numbers of tractor-trailer collisions, while maintaining industry productivity.

Vehicles have been divided into four groupings under vehicle weight and dimension reforms:

1. Non-dump semi-trailers equipped with four or more axles and all double trailers built in 2006 and after must meet Safe, Productive, Infrastructure-Friendly (SPIF) standards or operate at reduced weights.
2. Dump semi-trailers built in 2003 must also meet these standards.
3. All non-dump semi-trailers with one, two or three axles were required to meet SPIF standards by December 31, 2005 or face the first of a two-step weight reduction.
4. Trucks and their trailers will be the focus of the final phase of this project which is expected to be implemented in 2010.

Changes related to the first three phases of these reforms are reflected in new Highway Traffic Act Regulation 413/05 titled, "Vehicle Weights and Dimensions — for Safe, Productive and Infrastructure-Friendly Vehicles".

For more information: Vehicle Weights and Dimensions Reforms — FAQ