Extraordinary Loads

What is an Extraordinary Load?

The Commercial Transport Program is responsible for providing special authorizations, approvals or permits for vehicles and/or loads that:

• Exceed 64 000 kg on non-approved overload routes (load must be stripped or fully reduced in order to obtain an approval)
• Exceed 85 000 kg
• Do not comply with policy limits specified in the Commercial Transport Procedures Manual (i.e., loads that are larger or heavier than allowed by regular permits)
• Is an oversize non-reducible load travelling more than 110 km
• Exceed 4.4 m wide, except on pre-approved routes described in these forms:
  • CVSE1001 (up to 5 m wide)
  • CVSE1002 (up to 6.1 m wide in the Peace River Region)
• Exceed 4.88 m high (5.33 m in the Peace River Region), or exceed any policy height limit
• Exceed 40 m in overall length (except Lower Mainland)

Before you apply for a permit

If you have reviewed the pre-approved weight corridors found in Section 6.3.3 of the Commercial Transport Procedures Manual, the 5 m wide routes found on the CVSE1001, the Project Cargo Corridors Map and determined you require an Extraordinary Load Approval, the next steps are:

• Review your route on the Height Clearance Tool in order to determine if there are any known dimensional limitations along the route.
• Complete the form CVSE1049 - Extraordinary Load Approval Request. Please be thorough when you complete the form. Ensure your diagrams are clear and legible.
• If your load is over 6 m wide or over 4.88 m high (6.1 m wide or 5.33 m high in the Peace Region), complete a CVSE1052 form for each district you will travel through. You may need signatures from utility companies and district offices. You may also need to notify the RCMP. Contacts for the CVSE1052 can be found on the List of Contacts for Use with Form CVSE1052.
• Ensure you have a valid CVSE1053 on file at the Provincial Permit Centre prior to obtaining permits if your Extraordinary Load Approval contains Special Bridge Crossing Conditions.
• Review the District Extraordinary Load Travel Conditions to familiarize yourself with pilot car requirements, travel times and special conditions that may apply based on the load dimensions.

Extraordinary Load Approval Process

The complexity of your request determines the amount of time we require to process your application.

Be clear on the distance, proposed route (including exact start and end points), specifics of the configuration, dimensions of load, and axle group weights as they are all factors that are taken into consideration prior to your approval or non-approval.

Identical Loads

Identifying a previous overload number can help your application be processed faster, but only if your load is identical to the previous overload number, meaning:

• Same truck configuration, including axle groups and spacing
• All axle weights are the same or less than the previous approval
• Same roads being travelled in the same direction
• Same start and end locations
• Provide previous Bridge Approval (Overload) number i.e. OL1111
• Approval within the last 5 years

180-day Approval Process

Approvals are typically valid for 180 days you must specify the commodity you will be transporting at the time you get your permit. You may obtain an unlimited number of single trip permits under your extraordinary load approval, provided the interaxle spacings and axle groups do not change and the overall dimensions and weights are less than or equal to the approval. If you are not sure if you need to apply for a new approval, please check with Provincial Permit Centre staff.

Note: If you will require an oversize permit for an empty return trip, request approval on your original request.

Sub-contractors

You can make a request as the sub-contractor as long as your company or operating name is included on the extraordinary load approval. 

Voice Messages and Extraordinary Loads

The best way to contact the Extraordinary Load Approval team is through our email address ExtraOrdLoads.DC@gov.bc.ca. Phone contact can be made through 855-795-0313, but requests cannot be taken over the phone. We encourage you to allow us to process your requests more quickly by not tying up our time on phone calls unnecessarily. 

When we receive your request, we create a file with your company name and a reference number. Everything we receive or send to you is kept in this file, so that if you are making an inquiry a response can be provided by any member of our team.

Still not sure?

If you have questions related to policy, contact the Commercial Transport team at 250-953-4017 or Commercial.Transport@gov.bc.ca. If you have questions related to permits, contact the Provincial Permit Centre at 1-800-559-9688 or PPCPermit@gov.bc.ca.