The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will begin winter load increases on unrestricted highways in the north-central frost zone, which Polk County is a part of, at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, December 12, 2022.
Winter load increases are already in effect in the north zone.
Frost zones and restricted routes can be found on the MnDOT load limits map. Start and end dates and other load limit information are shown at mndot.gov/loadlimits.
Vehicles will be allowed to operate up to 10 percent over the standard legal maximum loads on unrestricted highways during the winter load increase period. However, trucks must comply with current registration weight laws and not exceed registered gross weight tolerances. Please check with local agencies (cities, counties, and townships) prior to increasing any weights on their routes. The sign erected on the roadway governs the load limit in effect. A winter weight increase permit is required to take advantage of the 10 percent weight increase on interstate highways only; a permit is not required for state trunk highways.
MnDOT will report start and end dates on its 24-hour automated message center at 1-800-723-6543 for the U.S. and Canada and locally at 651-366-5400 for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
For questions about legal axle weight during SLR; Gross Vehicle Weight Schedule, call the Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Patrol – Commercial Vehicle Enforcement at 651-350-2000
For questions about oversize/overweight loads/permitting, call the Minnesota Department of Transportation Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations – Oversize/Overweight Permits at 651-296-6000 or email: ofcvopermits.dot@state.mn.us.
