Nova Scotia Truck Weight Limits
Complete guide to commercial vehicle weight regulations in Nova Scotia, including axle limits, permit requirements, and seasonal restrictions.
Weight Limits
| Axle Type | Nova Scotia Limit | Federal Limit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Axle | 20,000 lbs | 20,000 lbs | 0 lbs |
| Tandem Axle | 37,400 lbs | 34,000 lbs | +3,400 lbs |
| Tridem Axle | 55,100 lbs | 0 lbs | |
| Gross Vehicle Weight | 139,700 lbs | 80,000 lbs | +59,700 lbs |
| Steer Axle (min) | 11,000 lbs | 12,000 lbs | -1,000 lbs |
| Steer Axle (max) | 20,000 lbs | 20,000 lbs | 0 lbs |
* Canadian limits shown in lbs for comparison. Federal comparison is to US federal limits.
Showing stateRoute route, standard operation.
Enforcement tolerance: 5% on gross weight.
Bridge Formula
Nova Scotia uses a custom weight formula: Nova Scotia Formula.
Permissible Gross Loads in Nova Scotia
| Permissible Gross Loads for Vehicles in Nova Scotia | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Based on Nova Scotia FormulaBridge Formula: W = 500 × [LN/(N-1) + 12N + 36] | ||||||||
| Showing stateRoute route, standard operation | ||||||||
Distance (ft) L | 2 AXLES | 3 AXLES | 4 AXLES | 5 AXLES | 6 AXLES | 7 AXLES | 8 AXLES | 9 AXLES |
| 4 | 34,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | 35,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | 36,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | 37,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | 37,400 | 42,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | 39,000 | 42,500 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | 40,000 | 43,500 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | 40,000 | 44,000 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | 40,000 | 45,000 | 50,000 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | 40,000 | 45,500 | 50,500 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | 40,000 | 46,500 | 51,500 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | 40,000 | 47,000 | 52,000 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | 40,000 | 48,000 | 52,500 | 58,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | 40,000 | 48,500 | 53,500 | 58,500 | — | — | — | — |
| 18 | 40,000 | 49,500 | 54,000 | 59,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 19 | 40,000 | 50,000 | 54,500 | 60,000 | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | 40,000 | 51,000 | 55,500 | 60,500 | 66,000 | — | — | — |
| 21 | 40,000 | 51,500 | 56,000 | 61,000 | 66,500 | — | — | — |
| 22 | 40,000 | 52,500 | 56,500 | 61,500 | 67,000 | — | — | — |
| 23 | 40,000 | 53,000 | 57,500 | 62,500 | 68,000 | — | — | — |
| 24 | 40,000 | 54,000 | 58,000 | 63,000 | 68,500 | 74,000 | — | — |
| 25 | 40,000 | 54,500 | 58,500 | 63,500 | 69,000 | 74,500 | — | — |
| 26 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 59,500 | 64,000 | 69,500 | 75,000 | — | — |
| 27 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 60,000 | 65,000 | 70,000 | 75,500 | — | — |
| 28 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 60,500 | 65,500 | 71,000 | 76,500 | 82,000 | — |
| 29 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 61,500 | 66,000 | 71,500 | 77,000 | 82,500 | — |
| 30 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 62,000 | 66,500 | 72,000 | 77,500 | 83,000 | — |
| 31 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 62,500 | 67,500 | 72,500 | 78,000 | 83,500 | — |
| 32 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 63,500 | 68,000 | 73,000 | 78,500 | 84,500 | 90,000 |
| 33 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 64,000 | 68,500 | 74,000 | 79,000 | 85,000 | 90,500 |
| 34 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 64,500 | 69,000 | 74,500 | 80,000 | 85,500 | 91,000 |
| 35 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 65,500 | 70,000 | 75,000 | 80,500 | 86,000 | 91,500 |
| 36 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 66,000 | 70,500 | 75,500 | 81,000 | 86,500 | 92,000 |
| 37 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 66,500 | 71,000 | 76,000 | 81,500 | 87,000 | 93,000 |
| 38 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 67,500 | 71,500 | 77,000 | 82,000 | 87,500 | 93,500 |
| 39 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 68,000 | 72,500 | 77,500 | 82,500 | 88,500 | 94,000 |
| 40 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 68,500 | 73,000 | 78,000 | 83,500 | 89,000 | 94,500 |
| 41 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 69,500 | 73,500 | 78,500 | 84,000 | 89,500 | 95,000 |
| 42 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 70,000 | 74,000 | 79,000 | 84,500 | 90,000 | 95,500 |
| 43 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 70,500 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 85,000 | 90,500 | 96,000 |
| 44 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 71,500 | 75,500 | 80,500 | 85,500 | 91,000 | 96,500 |
| 45 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 72,000 | 76,000 | 81,000 | 86,000 | 91,500 | 97,500 |
| 46 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 72,500 | 76,500 | 81,500 | 87,000 | 92,500 | 98,000 |
| 47 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 73,500 | 77,500 | 82,000 | 87,500 | 93,000 | 98,500 |
| 48 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 74,000 | 78,000 | 83,000 | 88,000 | 93,500 | 99,000 |
| 49 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 74,500 | 78,500 | 83,500 | 88,500 | 94,000 | 99,500 |
| 50 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 75,500 | 79,000 | 84,000 | 89,000 | 94,500 | 100,000 |
| 51 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 84,500 | 89,500 | 95,000 | 100,500 |
| 52 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 76,500 | 80,500 | 85,000 | 90,500 | 95,500 | 101,000 |
| 53 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 77,500 | 81,000 | 86,000 | 91,000 | 96,500 | 102,000 |
| 54 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 78,000 | 81,500 | 86,500 | 91,500 | 97,000 | 102,500 |
| 55 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 78,500 | 82,500 | 87,000 | 92,000 | 97,500 | 103,000 |
| 56 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 79,500 | 83,000 | 87,500 | 92,500 | 98,000 | 103,500 |
| 57 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 80,000 | 83,500 | 88,000 | 93,000 | 98,500 | 104,000 |
| 58 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 80,500 | 84,000 | 89,000 | 94,000 | 99,000 | 104,500 |
| 59 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 81,500 | 85,000 | 89,500 | 94,500 | 99,500 | 105,000 |
| 60 | 40,000 | 55,100 | 82,000 | 85,500 | 90,000 | 95,000 | 100,500 | 105,500 |
Values reflect FHWA policy of rounding down when calculated weights fall exactly halfway between 500-pound increments.
Nova Scotia GVW limit of 139,700 lbs differs from the federal interstate limit of 80,000 lbs.
Nova Scotia allows a 5% enforcement tolerance on gross weight.
Always verify current regulations with Nova Scotia DOT before making shipping decisions.
Seasonal Weight Restrictions
Spring Weight Restrictions
25% weight reduction on secondary
Exemptions: emergency
Permit Information
Requirements & Costs
- Overweight threshold
- 139,700 lbs
- Single trip permit
- $120
- Annual permit
- $960
- Processing time
- 48 hours
- Divisible loads
- Not permitted
- Online application
- Not available
Required Documents
- Insurance
- Registration
Contact Information
Permit Office
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM AST
Official Website
Nova Scotia DOT WebsiteCalculate Your Weight Compliance
Use our interactive calculator to check if your truck configuration is compliant with Nova Scotia regulations.
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Get Expert ConsultationSource: Nova Scotia Regulation 78/2006 | Last Updated: 1/15/2025 | Effective: 1/1/2025
Always verify current regulations with official sources before making shipping decisions.