Truck Height Clearance Canada: What You Need to Know

In Canada, truck height clearance is a crucial factor to consider when driving, especially for tall vehicles like trucks and RVs. The maximum height clearance in Canada is 4.32 meters (14 feet 2 inches) for most highways and roads.

You'll often see warning signs indicating low overhead clearances, so it's essential to be aware of these restrictions to avoid damaging your vehicle or getting stuck. These signs are usually posted at bridges, tunnels, and other low-clearance areas.

Low-clearance areas can be a real challenge, especially for taller trucks. For example, the Alexandra Bridge in Ottawa has a clearance of just 3.55 meters (11 feet 8 inches), which is much lower than the standard height clearance.

In Canada, oversized loads are defined as any combination of road transport exceeding 75 feet in length, 8’6” inches in width, and 13’6” inches in height.

Canada's restrictions are managed and enforced by the province traveled on, so it's essential to check with the province for specific rules and regulations.

The classification of freight in Canada is determined by the weight of its contents, and each province has its own rules for maximum axle weights.

Oversized loads in Canada are defined as any combination of road transport exceeding 75 feet in length, 8’6” inches in width, and 13’6” inches in height.

Canada's restrictions for oversize loads are managed and enforced by the province traveled on, so it's essential to check the specific regulations for each province.

In Canada, the maximum per axle limit is determined by each province rather than the overall vehicle weight.

A truck is legally allowed to load 12,000 pounds on the steer axle, 39,600 pounds on a tandem axle, and 59,400 pounds on a tridem axle in Ontario.

Any combination of vehicles exceeding these legal axles or gross weights needs an oversize permit in Ontario.

Knowing the specific Canada shipping regulations per province is essential to provide safe and legal transport.

Shipping from Canada to the United States, or vice versa, requires separate paperwork to ensure the oversize load crosses the border legally.

The maximum height allowed for loads in Canada is 4.15m (13' 7"), which is a crucial thing to keep in mind when navigating overhead structures.

Loads that are of legal height may still be too high to pass underneath, so it's essential to beware of clearance signs.

This has become a significant problem, with Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) starting to report bridge strike incidents to the public.

You should always be on the lookout for clearance signs as you approach overhead structures, as the difference between a legal height load and one that's too high to pass underneath can be just a few inches.