Longer days, warmer weather, and the return of spring can feel like a relief after a cold winter. But as the ground thaws, seasonal weight restrictions kick in to help protect Canada’s roads and infrastructure—making it essential for fleets to stay ahead of changing regulations.

With significant fines given to those who exceed provincial and regional limits, not to mention the added wear and tear on vehicles driving on softer roads, fleets need to stay on top of their operations to ensure safety and efficiency all season long. 

That’s where Samsara’s advanced fleet management tools come in. With real-time tracking, automated compliance, and intelligent route optimization, fleets can adapt to seasonal road restrictions with ease. Offering complete visibility and proactive safety tools in one system within the Connected Operations Platform, Samsara helps Canadian fleets stay efficient and compliant—all while minimizing disruptions.

Essential tools for managing spring thaw operations

Vehicle telematics

Spring thaw weight restrictions and road bans can make routing and load management a challenge. Samsara’s helps fleets stay ahead with:

• Live GPS tracking and real-time rerouting to proactively avoid weight-restricted roads, minimizing delays and compliance risks

• Preventative maintenance scheduling to ensure vehicles are road-ready before encountering thaw-weakened roads, reducing the risk of breakdowns

• Geofencing around areas with weight restrictions or closures, paired with instant alerts notifying fleet managers and drivers when approaching certain zones

• Fuel and engine monitoring to optimize vehicle performance as changing temperatures and reduced loads impact efficiency

Driver safety and compliance

As roads soften, unexpected hazards and shifting conditions can make safety and compliance more important than ever. Samsara equips fleets with tools such as:

• AI-powered dash cams and in-cab alerts to help drivers anticipate road hazards and adjust to changing conditions instantly

• Incident verification with HD video footage to enhance accountability and exonerate drivers from not-at-fault incidents on softer roads

• Real-time communication through the Samsara Driver App, allowing managers to warn drivers of road closures, detours, and weather-related delays immediately

• Digital pre- and post-trip DVIR submissions, via the Driver App, to streamline vehicle inspections and ensure every vehicle is road-ready

To add another layer of complexity, spring thaw restrictions differ across Canada, with varying weight limits, timelines, and enforcement zones in each province. Let’s explore how these regulations differ and what you need to know to avoid fines.

Spring thaw regulations by province

Québec

Known for its strict thaw regulations, Québec enforces specific weight limits based on three designated thaw zones. These annual updates apply to both heavy vehicles and shippers on public roads:

• Zone 1 (March 24 to May 3): Montréal, Montérégie, and surrounding regions

• Zone 2 (March 24th to May 3rd): Parts of Lanaudière, Laurentides, and more

• Zone 3 (March 31st to May 30th): Abitibi-Témiscamingue and northern regions

See the full thaw zone map from the Ministère des Transports et Mobilité Durable above and all additional details here. 

Ontario

The province’s spring load restrictions vary between northern and southern regions. Reduced load limits apply to designated sections of the King’s Highways, which started on March 21, 2025. See the full list of highways that require reduced load limits here.

Saskatchewan

Unlike Ontario and Québec, Saskatchewan issues official spring restriction orders every Tuesday and Friday. Thaw restrictions have been in effect in southwest Saskatchewan since March 21st. See the full list of government-issued weight allowances here.

Manitoba

In effect since March 25th, Manitoba’s spring road restrictions are split into four distinct climate zones:

• Zone 1A (March 25 to May 29): Winnipeg, Brandon, and surrounding areas

• Zone 1B (March 25 to May 31): Swan River, Bowsman, and nearby areas

• Zone 2 (March 25 to May 31): The Pas, Flin Flon, and surrounding areas

• Zone 3 (March 25 to June 10): Thompson, and all regions farther north

See the full list of affected areas and dates here.

Alberta

The province’s spring weight restrictions have been in effect since March 24th for heavy haul and service rigs in southern regions, while winter weights remain in effect north of the thaw line:

• Mar. 3: south of and including Township 28

• March 6: South of Township 57 (varies by region)

• March 10: South of Township 69

• March 24: South of Township 98

View the full frost/contour map and township restrictions here.

British Columbia

B.C.’s Seasonal Strength Loss Program places weight restrictions on roads affected by excess moisture in the road base. These limits apply to heavy vehicles and commercial transport trucks on B.C. highways. See the full map of seasonal load restriction areas here.

New Brunswick

Spring weight limits have been in effect since March 10th in Southern New Brunswick and March 17th in Northern New Brunswick. See the province-wide weight restriction map here.

Prince Edward Island

P.E.I. has enforced seasonal weight restrictions across the province since March 11th. Explore the full interactive map of weight-restricted routes here.

Nova Scotia

Spring weight limits have been in effect since March 10th, impacting several counties: Annapolis, Digby, Lunenburg, Queens, Kings, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Halifax, Hants, Colchester, Cumberland Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough, Cape Breton Inverness, Richmond, and Victoria. View the full interactive map here.

Newfoundland and Labrador

As of now, the province has no active spring thaw restrictions.

By connecting drivers and managers through a single platform, Samsara helps even the most complex fleets operate smoothly and safely. During spring thaw, connectivity is key to avoiding costly fines, protecting vehicles, and keeping operations on track—while empowering teams to perform at their best, ever season.

Schedule a demo to explore our solutions or log in to maximize the value of your existing Samsara platform."