To all Customers shipping to/from the Province of Quebec. In order to avoid a potential backlog of heavy loads requiring special handling, we are implementing our Spring Weight Restrictions in advance of the Quebec Government notice. We are planning to have all heavy loads arrive prior to the anticipated start of restrictions on March 6, 2023. If the Government of Quebec issues an earlier date, we will adjust accordingly.
Please note that payload weights in equipment to be delivered by CNTL must be reduced per the requirements below for shipments planned to arrive after the start-date noted above.
To assist our customers during this period of reduced payload:
CN will establish a "Latest Shipping Date" where customers may ship at regular payload weights from each terminal (based on the consignee receiving the traffic immediately upon arrival at the destination terminal).
Note, the shipping date will be referred to as the Reservation Date. CN’s online tools can assist in determining the Reservation Date and Trip Plan.
In the event of an overweight load, CN may arrange transloading, or use specialty equipment to deliver the load. Any transloading requirements will be done at the prevailing market rate to be confirmed. To ensure the specialty equipment is not detained, all deliveries must be live-unloads. The overweight arrangements will be made after receiving written confirmation that the payer understands the charges.
Overweight traffic delayed online, but shipped prior to the "Latest Shipping Date", will be delivered by CN without the application of overweight charges.
The following table shows the "Latest Shipping Date" relative to the start of CN’s Spring Weight Restrictions:
Table 1 – Latest shipping date for deliveries in Quebec’s Zone 1
| Traffic Origin: | Latest shipping date for spring 2023 |
| Halifax | 24 February |
| Moncton | 24 February |
| Montreal | - |
| Winnipeg | 17 February |
| Saskatoon | 17 February |
| Edmonton | 17 February |
| Calgary | 17 February |
| Vancouver | 17 February |
| Detroit | 24 February |
| Chicago | 24 February |
| Memphis | 24 February |
| Jackson | 24 February |
| New Orleans | 24 February |
| Mexico | 10 February |
The maximum payload handled using CNR equipment during the Spring Weight Restriction period is:
Table 2 – Maximum Payloads and Axle Weights
| 53ft dry | 49,100 lbs |
| 53ft heat | 47,700 lbs |
| 53ft reefer | 46,500 lbs |
| 40ft Ecotherm | 51,300 lbs |
| 40ft dry | 52,500 lbs |
| 45ft dry | 50,400 lbs |
Table 3 – Maximum gross weight
| Steer and Drive Weights Cannot Exceed: | |
| Front single axle | 12,000 lbs |
| Tandem axle | 34,100 lbs |
| Triple axle | 46,300 lbs |
https://www.cn.ca/en/news/2023/02/spring-weight-restrictions-2023/