Starting at 12:01 a.m. tonight, most highways around Saskatchewan will have winter weights in effect.

This doesn't apply to roads in the southwest, but for trucking in other areas of the province it's good news.

Starting tomorrow many secondary highways will be able to be treated as primary highways, as they can support more weight now the colder months have rolled around.

"When a road bed is frozen, secondary-weight highways contain the same strength as primary-weight highways," said Steve Shaheen from the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure. "Since we've had colder weather earlier this year, those roads can support the heaviest legal loads."

The southwest is an exception due to its warmer climate.

Winter weights go into effect between mid November and the start of December every year, and typically last until around mid March.

"Winter weights are an ongoing Ministry initiative that maximize the amount of goods that can be shipped across Saskatchewan by truck," Shaheen said. "As an export-based economy, trucking is one of the key methods of getting goods to market."

Which roads the winter weight changes apply to can be checked here.