Transporting heavy equipment to a job site can be burdensome in itself – especially during the cooler months in Michigan. There are a number of guidelines in place to protect the state’s roads and infrastructure, plus the transporter and other drivers, too. If you anticipate transporting heavy equipment, it’s important to be aware of the frost laws that may impact your routes and load restrictions. 

What are “Frost Laws?”

Much like your commercial roof, while things may look indestructible, water can cause serious damage to our roads as we go through the freeze and thaw cycle of winter. 

Frost laws are seasonal regulations put in place during the winter months to protect roads from damage caused by heavy loads. These laws typically restrict the weight and size of loads that can be transported on certain roads, and these can vary depending on where you’re operating.

Michigan Frost Laws

Michigan is one of the many states that have frost laws and are usually in effect for periods of time between February and May. Some of these guidelines include: 

  1. Weight limits: During the winter months, weight limits are often reduced on Michigan roads to protect against damage caused by heavy loads. The Michigan Department of Transportation has a number of great resources regarding seasonal weight restrictions.

     

  2. Speed Limits: In some areas, speed limits may be reduced during the winter months to prevent damage to roads and bridges.
  3. Road closures: In extreme weather conditions, roads may be closed to all traffic, including heavy equipment transport. It’s important to stay up to date on road closures and plan alternate routes if necessary.
  4. Tarping requirements: To prevent damage to roads and bridges from falling debris, heavy equipment may be required to be covered with tarps during transport.
  5. Equipment requirements: In addition to complying with weight and size restrictions, heavy equipment transport may also be subject to additional equipment requirements, such as specialized lighting or warning signals.

It’s important to note that these guidelines can vary depending on the specific area of Michigan you’re operating in and the conditions at the time of transport. While the temperatures may remain below freezing, our team of heavy equipment transport experts have been working diligently to stay on top of safety training, certifications, and ensuring compliance with all regulations and guidelines with local authorities. Contact our transport department today to help get your business in motion.