HALIFAX, N.S. — The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal has announced that weight tolerance within the Weights and Dimensions of Vehicles Regulations will not be extended beyond Dec. 31.

Beginning on Jan. 1, enforcement officers will be provided with officer discretion equivalent to regulated weight tolerance which will be applied automatically, at least for 12 months. A three-year transition plan will be developed to reduce officer discretion to 500 kg per axle group and cap the gross tolerance at 1,500 kg. The application of officer discretion will go from being automatic to only for exceptional situations.

There will be no officer discretion above manufacturer’s maximum weight ratings for axles, tires, and all other vehicle components, and for the vehicle itself.

For axle groups, the calculation of overweight will be from the maximum regulated axle weight, and not from the maximum regulated axle group weight plus tolerance. For gross vehicle weights, the calculation of overweight will be from the maximum registered gross vehicle weight, and not from the maximum registered gross vehicle weight plus tolerance.

The maximum gross vehicle registered weights of A-train, B-train and C-train configurations will be increased to national maximum gross vehicle weight standards.

Tractors hauling double trailer combinations will need to be reregistered for the increased maximum gross vehicle weights. The transition plan will allow for a period of time to re-register these tractors. Since Service Nova Scotia will not have the necessary administrative procedures in place to re-register 7 and 8 axle B-trains until early summer of 2008, the transition plan will also recognize such a delay. For double trailer combinations, there will be officer discretion for axle weights, but there will be no officer discretion above the maximum gross vehicle weights, except as noted above.

The maximum gross vehicle weight for all other highways will be increased from 38,500 kg to 41,500 kg.
On all other highways there will be officer discretion for axle weights, and there will be officer discretion on the maximum gross vehicle weights, but not above 41,500 kg.

For six-axle tractor tridem-semi-trailers operating on B-train routes, the maximum gross vehicle weight will be increased to 47,500 kg. There will be officer discretion for axle weights, but there will be no officer discretion above the maximum gross vehicle weight of 47,500 kg. For five-axle tractor tandem-semi-trailers operating on B-train routes, there will be officer discretion for axle group weights, and for gross vehicle weights for a period of time, but not less than 12 months.

The Department will be initiating an accelerated bridge review program to speed the designation of B-train routes. Until the program is in place, B-train route designation will continue to be on a case-by-case basis.

The maximum gross vehicle weight for which a tractor, model year 2002 and earlier, with a heavy front-end hauling a semi-trailer can be registered will be reduced to 49,500 kg. The transition plan will allow for the continuing recognition of the higher gross vehicle weights for a period of time, but not less than 12 months.

For seven-axle tandem steering axle truck – pony trailer combinations, seven-axle truck – full trailer combinations, seven-axle or a eight-axle tandem steering truck-full trailer combinations operating on maximum weight roads, there will be officer discretion for axle weights, but there will be no officer discretion above the maximum gross vehicle weight of 53,500 kg.

When completed, there will be additional Bulletins regarding the transition plan and registration changes.

For more information contact Don Stonehouse, program manager, weights and dimensions policy at 902-424-2490 or stonehdo@gov.ns.ca.