Minnesota status
Minnesota load limits by frost zone
State highways only
This page shows MnDOT’s own load limits on Minnesota’s state trunk highways, set by frost zone. County, city and township roads post restrictions of their own, and ThawWatch doesn’t cover them yet: check with the road authority.
Always confirm with the road agency before you travel.
Map of MnDOT zones
Skip the map to the list of zones- Restrictions on
- Winter increase
- No restrictions
- Unknown
Checking the latest reports…
Checking the latest reports for 6 places…
Every zone
Every MnDOT zone
The same statuses as the map, as a list you can search and filter.
How it works in Minnesota
Spring load restrictions and winter load increases
MnDOT, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, sets seasonal load limits on state highways for six frost zones: North, North-Central, Central, Metro, South and Southeast. Each zone gets its own dates, because the ground freezes and thaws at different times across the state.
In winter, once the ground is frozen hard, MnDOT starts winter load increases: trucks may carry heavier loads than normal on state highways in that zone until the increase ends. In spring, as the frost comes out of the ground, spring load restrictions start, and some highways are posted with lower weight limits until the roadbed firms up.
Every start and end takes effect at 12:01 a.m., and MnDOT announces each one at least three days ahead. ThawWatch reads MnDOT’s zone dates and restricted routes and texts you when a zone you follow changes, in winter as well as spring. Check MnDOT for the exact limits and permits that apply to your load.
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