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The short answer

Plan the whole route as one job: a permit for every U.S. state before the border, a crossing that works for the loaded size and weight, a permit from every Canadian province or territory after it, any municipal approvals, and escorts under each jurisdiction's own rules. Customs still applies. Start from the actual loaded configuration, and treat unpublished lead times as unknown rather than guessing.

This page is part of the U.S.–Canada freight shipping guide.

How the move works

The permit route, end to end

  1. Measure the loaded configurationLength, width, height and weight of the freight on the chosen trailer, with axle count, spacing and weights.
  2. Permit every U.S. stateEach state on the U.S. leg issues its own permit.
  3. Confirm the crossingBridge and tunnel clearances, weight limits and permit conditions near the port.
  4. Permit every province or territoryEach one sets its own limits, routes, travel times and escort rules.
  5. Add municipal approvalsA provincial permit may not cover city streets at pickup or delivery.
  6. Coordinate customsThe importer's broker and the carrier still need the release set up.

Our Oversize Load Planner covers the U.S. state leg only. It does not cover Canadian provinces or territories.

Canada is province by province

Each province runs its own program. For example, from the official pages checked on 27 September 2026:

  • Ontario issues oversize and overweight permits through its PRIO system; it states a current turnaround of five business days for a single-trip permit, and longer for superloads.
  • Alberta issues many permits through TRAVIS Web; not every permit is available online.
  • British Columbia reviews extraordinary loads, beyond its normal permit limits, through a separate approval process.

That is why a generic "Canada oversize permit" does not exist. Check each jurisdiction's current rules and timing.

Escorts do not carry across the border

A U.S. state's pilot-car requirement does not set the requirement in Ontario or Alberta, and an escort certification accepted in one jurisdiction is not automatically accepted in another. See pilot cars and escorts for the U.S. side, and plan each province from its own rules.

What changes the plan

  • The trailer. It changes deck height, overall height and axle weights, so choose it before permit research.
  • The crossing. If the load cannot use the intended port, the whole route changes.
  • Reducible freight. A load that can be dismantled may not qualify for an oversize permit.
  • Lead time. Dimensions, number of jurisdictions, engineering reviews, route surveys, utility or police needs and customs readiness all add time.

Common failure points

  • Permitting one side and assuming the other follows.
  • Brochure dimensions instead of measured ones.
  • A crossing that the load physically cannot use.
  • A large load held at the border while paperwork is corrected, which is expensive.

Before requesting a quote

  • Pickup and delivery addresses
  • Ready date and delivery target
  • Freight description, drawings or photos
  • Actual length, width, height and weight
  • Trailer, if known
  • Loading and unloading method (crane, ramps)
  • Whether the item can be dismantled
  • Customs broker and importer status
  • Preferred crossing, if known

Common questions

Does a U.S. permit cover the Canadian part of the trip?

No. U.S. state permits stop at the border. Each province or territory issues its own.

Does the Oversize Load Planner cover provinces?

No. It covers U.S. states only. Provincial permits are checked with each province.

How early should a cross-border oversize move be planned?

As early as possible. Use published agency turnaround times where they exist and treat the rest as unknown until confirmed.

Moving an oversize load into Canada?

Send the measured dimensions, weight, lane and dates, and we will build the transportation picture before the carrier starts permit work.

Request a Freight Quote

Official sources

Last verified: 27 September 2026 against the official sources listed.