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Rules of circulation

527 facts from 3 places, each quoted from the agency that sets it.

Start with a question

Open a question to read the facts on file that bear on it.

General

96 topics

Night travel allowed (Yes or no)

Whether a vehicle or combination of vehicles is permitted to travel at night under the applicable permit or exemption.

  • New York

    Yes

    Yes in 2 cases, no in 2.

  • Ontario

    No

    Yes in 2 cases, no in 1.

  • Quebec

    Yes

    For cranes. 4 more cases.

Escort vehicle required (Yes or no)

Whether one or more escort vehicles are required to accompany the over-dimensional vehicle or combination, including load and equipment, under the applicable conditions.

  • New York

    Yes

    For oversize movements of extreme width or length or if highway conditions warrant them.

  • Ontario

    Yes

    For Height 4.87 m and greater. 5 more cases.

  • Quebec

    Yes

    For condition 1. 3 more cases.

Permit amendment allowed (Yes or no)

Whether an active permit may be amended, under the applicable conditions.

Not stated in Quebec.

Sunday and holiday travel allowed (Yes or no)

Whether a vehicle or combination of vehicles is permitted to travel on Sundays and legal holidays under the applicable permit or exemption.

  • New York

    Yes

    Yes in 2 cases, no in 2.

  • Quebec

    Yes

    Yes in 4 cases, no in 1.

Not stated in Ontario.

Escort vehicle minimum distance (Measures)

Minimum distance, in metres, to be maintained between the escort vehicle and the escorted vehicle or convoy, as specified by the applicable permit condition or signalling annex.

  • Ontario
    60 m (196′ 10″)
  • Quebec
    30 to 500 m (98′ 5″ to 1640′ 5″)

    General rule 100 m (328′ 1″), with 3 other cases.

Not stated in New York.

Permit holder responsible for route authorization (Yes or no)

Whether the permit holder is responsible for ensuring that travel on the road network is authorized for the load and size of the vehicle (true if the region places this responsibility on the permit holder).

  • New York

    Yes

    For roadway not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation.

  • Quebec

    Yes

Not stated in Ontario.

Convoy travel allowed (Yes or no)

Whether vehicles or combinations of vehicles whose registration numbers are listed on the permit may travel in convoy.

  • Ontario

    No

  • Quebec

    Yes

    For maximum of 2 oversize vehicles; Class 7 permit: expressly authorized. 3 more cases.

Not stated in New York.

Minimum distance between oversize vehicles (Measures)

The minimum distance that must be maintained between a vehicle or combination of vehicles and another oversize vehicle whose registration number is listed on the permit, while travelling.

  • Ontario
    10 km (6.2 mi)

    For When on route.

  • Quebec
    30 km (18.6 mi)

    Across 2 cases, each with its own conditions.

Not stated in New York.

Warning lights, signs and flags

15 topics Open Warning lights, signs and flags

Warning light required (Yes or no)

Whether the vehicle or combination must be equipped with a yellow warning light meeting the prescribed visibility, flash frequency and lens dimensions.

  • New York

    Yes

    For Type 8 – Oversize Snow Plow Equipment for Private Contractors.

  • Ontario

    Yes

    1 more case.

  • Quebec

    Yes

Flag required (Yes or no)

Whether the vehicle or combination must display warning flags meeting the prescribed dimensions and placement when its dimensions exceed the specified thresholds, or when required by a permit condition.

  • New York

    Yes

    For Vehicles over 8'6" in width.

  • Ontario

    Yes

    1 more case.

  • Quebec

    Yes

    For load exceeding the side of the vehicle by more than 30 cm.

Flag minimum dimension (Measures)

Minimum required side length of each warning flag displayed on the vehicle or load, in metres.

  • New York
    0.46 m (1′ 6″)

    General rule 0.46 m (1′ 6″), with 1 other case.

  • Ontario
    0.4 m (1′ 3.5″)
  • Quebec
    0.4 m (1′ 3.5″)

    General rule 0.4 m (1′ 3.5″), with 1 other case.

Travel hours and calendar restrictions

15 topics Open Travel hours and calendar restrictions

Sunday and holiday travel allowed (Yes or no)

Whether the permit authorizes circulation on Sundays and the named public holidays, for the vehicle or combination, including load and equipment.

Night travel allowed (Yes or no)

Whether the permit authorizes circulation at night, defined as the period between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise, for the vehicle or combination, including load and equipment, under the applicable conditions.

Rush hour travel prohibited (Yes or no)

Whether circulation is prohibited during specified rush-hour time windows on the named roads or areas, as set out in the applicable permit condition.

  • Ontario

    Yes

    For Single trip and project permits exceeding specified dimensions, GTA.

  • Quebec

    Yes

    For width > 3.75 m or length > 17 m (single-unit vehicle), 21 m (crane), 27.50 m (combination of 2 vehicles), 30 m (combination of 3 vehicles or combination covered by a class 2 permit) or rear overhang > 4 m.

Not stated in New York.

Spring thaw travel restrictions

7 topics Open Spring thaw travel restrictions

Thaw period travel allowed (Yes or no)

Whether circulation is authorized during the spring thaw period, during which permitted axle and gross vehicle loads are reduced on all public roads.

  • Quebec

    No

    Yes in 1 case, no in 1.

Not stated in Ontario and New York.

Thaw period start date (Dates)

Calendar date on which the spring thaw load-restriction period begins in the zone concerned, as published annually by the road authority.

  • Quebec

    March 16, 2026

    For Zone 1. 2 more cases.

Not stated in Ontario and New York.

Thaw period end date (Dates)

Calendar date on which the spring thaw load-restriction period ends in the zone concerned, as published annually by the road authority.

  • Quebec

    May 15, 2026

    For Zone 1. 2 more cases.

Not stated in Ontario and New York.

Bridge and ferry crossings

6 topics Open Bridge and ferry crossings

Required bridge crossing position (Choices)

Required position of the vehicle or combination when crossing a bridge, including the precise bridge centre, a central lane, or straddling lanes.

  • Quebec
    • Central lane

    For condition F, roads with more than 2 lanes in the same direction. 3 more cases.

Not stated in Ontario and New York.

Maximum speed on bridges (Measures)

Maximum speed, in kilometres per hour, at which the vehicle or combination may travel on bridges under the applicable permit condition.

  • Quebec
    10 to 40 km/h (6.2 mph to 24.9 mph)

    Across 4 cases, each with its own conditions.

Not stated in Ontario and New York.

Bridge crossing alone required (Yes or no)

Whether the vehicle or combination must cross the bridge alone, without other traffic, under the applicable permit condition.

Not stated in Ontario and New York.

Road network access

4 topics Open Road network access

Maximum off-network access distance for STAA vehicles (Measures)

Maximum distance, in kilometres, that a Federal STAA-dimensioned vehicle may travel on roads where it is not otherwise allowed, for access to and from a highway exit.

  • New York
    1.61 km (1 mi)

    Across 3 cases, each with its own conditions.

Not stated in Ontario and Quebec.

Commercial vehicles allowed on parkways (Yes or no)

Whether commercial vehicles are permitted to travel on parkways.

Not stated in Ontario and Quebec.

Overweight vehicles allowed on BQE (Yes or no)

Whether vehicles exceeding legal weight limits are permitted to travel on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway between Atlantic Avenue and Sands Street, with or without a permit.

  • New York

    No

    For BQE between Atlantic Avenue and Sands Street.

Not stated in Ontario and Quebec.

Where the comparisons come from

  11. Période de dégel — Dates officielles(opens in a new tab)

    www.transports.gouv.qc.ca, web page, 16 facts

  19. Special Hauling Permit Fees(opens in a new tab)

    www.dot.ny.gov, web page, 3 facts