Commercial Trucks

The movement of goods and services within the City of New Westminster and throughout the surrounding region is essential for the success of the local and regional economy. While New Westminster's central geographic position and proximity to regional routes and gateways provides strategic advantages, it also means that the city accommodates significant truck and rail traffic which bring with them noise, air pollution, safety concerns, and increased congestion and delays. The City aims to mitigate these negative impacts to ensure comfortable livability and long-term health and wellness for its community.

Street and Bylaw Changes

To remain consistent with provincial regulations related to commercial vehicle enforcement and permitting, the new Street and Traffic Bylaw (PDF) adopted various sections of the Motor Vehicle Act, Transportation Act and Commercial Transport Act. Weight and dimension restrictions for commercial vehicles have been changed to be consistent with the Regional Permit Policies and Procedures Manual (RP3M) developed by TransLink.

The tables below contain the weight and dimensional limits where no oversized or overweight permit is required for certain vehicle types. For more information on specific vehicles, please refer to tables 1 and 2 of RP3M (hyperlink).

Table 1: Maximum Dimensions without permit

Type of Vehicle	Buses, Trucks, Semi- Tractors and Recreation Vehicles with 2 axles	Buses, Trucks, Semi- Tractors and Recreation Vehicles with 3 axles	Trucks, Semi-Tractor with Trailers up to 7 axles	Semi-Trucks with 8 axles
Maximum Length	12.5m	14m	23m	23.5m
Maximum Width	2.6m (excl. mirrors and other aux. equipment)
Maximum Height	4.15m (4.30m if the vehicle is equipped with a tarp system)

Table 2: Maximum Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) without permit*

Type of Vehicle	Single Unit Truck (non-articulated)	Buses and Recreation Vehicles	Tractor Semi-Trailer (articulated)	Single Unit Trucks with Pony Trailers
Maximum Length	18,200kg - 33,100kg	16,350kg - 24,250kg	24,200kg - 47,000kg	43,100kg - 54,100kg

* For the maximum gross vehicle weight for vehicles or vehicle classes not listed here, please refer to table 2 of RP3M.

Permits

Oversize/overweight (OS-OW) truck permits are required for oversized vehicles travelling within or through New Westminster. There are two categories of OS-OW truck permits available.

Term Permits: Term permits allow the transport of OS-OW vehicles and/or loads up to specific weights and dimensions and are valid for up to 12 months.
Single Trip Permits (Basic or Complex): Single trip permits allow the transport of OS-OW vehicles and/or loads under specific permit conditions based on the weights and dimensions of the vehicle and/or load. Unless otherwise indicated, single trip OS-OW permits are valid for up to 24 hours.

Type of Vehicle	Single Unit Trucks, Buses, Recreation Vehicles	Articulated Vehicles
Maximum length with term permit	16m	27.5m
Maximum length with basic single permit	16m	36m
Maximum length with complex single permit	16m	36m
Maximum height with tern permit	4.3m
Maximum height with basic single permit	4.57m
Maximum height with complex single permit	>4.57m
Maximum width with term permit	3.2m
Maximum width with basic single permit	4.4m
Maximum width with complex single permit	>4.4m

Overweight permits are issued for non-reducible loads and certain specialized vehicles. If a vehicle and/or load exceeds 63,500 kg on municipal roads or axle group weights do not meet bridge formula, detailed bridge engineering assessment may be required.

Bridge formula is a mathematical equation that is used to calculate the basic overload weight allowed by permit for various axle groups in a combination and should guide the vehicle configuration (i.e., configuration of axle spacing and loads) to minimize potential impacts to infrastructure. Exceeding bridge formula is possible but may require detailed evaluation of bridges and structures (such as culverts) conducted by an engineering firm at the carrier's or move proponent's expense.

Bridge Formula: 30 x wheelbase (cm) + 18,000 kg = Maximum weight allowed by permit.

Apply for a Truck Permit

To apply for a truck permit, please complete a Truck Permit Application (PDF) and email it to sop@newwestcity.ca. We will contact you with payment options.

Fees & Payment

Permit Type	Fee
Single Trip	$87.00 per vehicle
One Year	$291.00 per vehicle
Duplicate Permit	$30.00 each

Other Permits That May be Required

Approvals may be required from utility companies or any other city department with infrastructure that can be affected by the large load.

Note that where traffic control is needed for the load to proceed safely, it must be performed by an authorized person (i.e., a Peace Officer or a certified traffic control person) and a Street Occupancy Permit must be acquired.

Reserving parking meter spaces by obtaining a Street Occupancy Permit may be required in order to clear other vehicles from the road for particularly large load.

Truck Routes

Trucks travelling within the City of New Westminster are required to follow Federal, Provincial and municipal government regulation. Vehicles with a gross weight greater than 11,800 kg must travel on a designated truck route and during designated times as set out in the City's Street and Traffic Bylaw (PDF).

Local deliveries to a destination not on a truck route must be made via the closest and most direct route between the destination and closest truck route. Other deviations from truck routes must be approved by the City of New Westminster's Engineering Department.

Truck Routes Map (PDF)

Contact

For additional permits, approvals or information please contact Engineering and Public Works at 604-527-4592 or email sop@newwestcity.ca

Street Occupancy Permit