Quebec spring thaw: zones, dates and load reductions

Updated October 18, 2026

Every spring, Quebec lowers allowed loads on its roads for a few weeks. A load that is legal in February can be overweight in April.

Why the thaw restrictions

When the ground thaws, meltwater collects under the pavement, which loses much of its bearing capacity. Heavy trucks then do far more damage than in summer. To protect the network, the Ministry of Transportation lowers allowed axle loads during this period.

The three zones

The province is split into three zones, from zone 1 in the south to zone 3 in the north. The thaw comes later up north, so each zone has its own dates.

The period usually starts in March in zone 1 and lasts about eight weeks.
Zones 2 and 3 follow a few weeks later.
Dates are announced every year and can be moved earlier or extended depending on the weather.

Check Québec 511 or the Ministry of Transportation website for the current dates and zone map.

Load reductions

During the thaw, allowed axle loads drop, generally by about 10 to 20% depending on the axle type. Exact values are set by regulation and can change: refer to the official notice for the year. Municipalities may also restrict their own roads, and some loads need a special permit.

Planning your loads

Cut the ordered weight before the period starts, not at the scale.
Balance matters more: with lower limits, the margin on each axle group is thinner.
Check the destination zone as well as the origin zone.

In AxleLoad 53, choose Quebec (MTQ), turn on Quebec spring thaw and pick the zone. The default reductions (10, 12 and 15%) are indicative: enter the percentage from the current official notice. The gauges and the Optimize button use the new limits right away.

Open the AxleLoad 53 calculator →Free, in English, French and Spanish. Works on a phone in the cab.

More guides

Axle weight limits in Canada and the United StatesSteer, tandem, tridem, gross weight and the Bridge Formula: the limits that apply to a tractor with a 53-foot semi-trailer.Balancing a 53-foot trailer: slider, fifth wheel and palletsHow pallet weight splits between the kingpin and the trailer axles, and how many pounds each slider hole or fifth-wheel notch moves.California’s 40-foot kingpin-to-axle ruleWhat California’s 40-foot KPRA rule measures, how to check it on a 53-foot trailer and how it changes your axle weights.

This guide is for information only. Legal limits change and depend on the road, the season and your permits: always check with the competent authority. Certified scale weights govern.