Portuguese 
The PRF’s restriction alters the circulation of oversized cargo vehicles today, September 7, from 4 PM to 10 PM, on sections of single-lane federal highways, a measure that affects heavy combinations right after the Independence Day holiday.
Those working with special cargo need to keep an eye on the clock before hitting the road. This rule does not close highways to all trucks but prevents the circulation of vehicles that exceed regulatory limits on weight or dimensions for six hours.
The calendar is outlined in the DIOP/PRF Ordinance No. 26, dated March 6, 2026. For Independence Day, the last restriction period begins at 4 PM today and ends at 10 PM.
The measure applies to vehicles or combinations exceeding a width of 2.60 meters, a height of 4.40 meters, a total length greater than 19.80 meters, or a Gross Combined Weight exceeding 58.5 tons.
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PRF Restrictions Apply to Loads Above the Limits
This distinction is important because a hasty reading might lead a regular truck driver to think that the entire fleet will be halted. The PRF’s text is aimed at oversized combinations, whether or not they have a Special Transit Authorization (AET).
This group includes Cargo Vehicle Combinations, those used in the transport of vehicles, and those designated for vehicles with palletized loads. Even a combination authorized by AET must observe the pause outlined for the holiday.
Territorial coverage also has exceptions. According to the ordinance, the restriction applies on sections of single-lane federal highways; however, Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Pará, and Roraima are exempt from the general circulation rule.
Mato Grosso do Sul has a calendar limited to specific situations detailed in the act, while Rondônia enforces the prohibition on single-lane sections only during the year-end period. Therefore, both transporters and shippers need to check the entire route, not just the starting point.
The operational goal is to reduce the interaction between very large combinations and the concentrated flow of automobiles returning from a holiday. On a single-lane road, overtaking requires temporary use of the opposing lane, leaving less room for correction.
A wider, longer, or heavier truck also requires more space for turns, braking, and acceleration. When thousands of families return home within the same time frame, removing these combinations from peak hours helps organize traffic, even if it doesn’t eliminate delays.
Trip Planning Begins Before 4 PM
For carriers, the tangible consequence appears in planning. It is not enough to send a vehicle to the highway by 3:59 PM. It’s necessary to calculate where the vehicle will be when the restriction starts and identify a safe waiting point before reaching the restricted area.
Stopping on the shoulder creates another risk and does not replace a suitable yard. Ideally, adjustments should be made for loading, delivery windows, driver hours, and rest locations so that the combination is not immobilized in an unsuitable area for six hours.
This adjustment also involves the recipient. An industrial load that misses the reception window may find the loading dock closed, insufficient staff, or a busy area after 10 p.m. Thus, road delays ripple through warehouses, factories, and distribution centers.
The impact is especially significant for indivisible loads, machinery, equipment, and assemblies that require escorting. These are operations planned in advance, where shifting a few hours may necessitate renewed coordination between the driver, escorts, the toll operator, and the client.
People tend to see such restrictions solely as obstacles. However, they also establish a predictable window: those organizing the departure can utilize the morning and early afternoon or schedule travel after 10 p.m., in compliance with work hours and rest periods.
The monitoring is supported by the Brazilian Traffic Code. Non-compliance is treated as an infraction outlined in Article 187, Section I, and the fined vehicle is only released for circulation after the prohibition period has ended.
Holidays increase the risk
The selected period is not random. Monday marks the end of a long holiday for many, and the time between late afternoon and night sees cars, buses, and commercial vehicles filling the access routes to major cities.
On a dual carriageway, parallel lanes better accommodate speed differences. In a single lane, a combination of nearly twenty meters or several tons can create a long queue and increase the pressure for risky overtaking.
The national rule does not exempt local conditions from consideration. Construction, rain, road closures, and directives from toll operators can alter travel times. Therefore, the loading dock hours must be coordinated with the actual situation of each corridor.
Companies that hire freight also bear practical responsibility. Scheduling deliveries incompatible with the restrictions shifts the problem to the driver. A realistic schedule reduces waiting times, avoids undue pressure, and protects the load and those sharing the road.
The central point is straightforward: special authorization does not grant free passage during the holiday. If the vehicle exceeds any specified limits, it must wait outside the restricted segments and hours.
After 10 p.m., traffic is once again allowed, but that does not guarantee automatic exit. The driver still needs to comply with the other conditions of the authorization, observe any required escort, and respect professional driving limits.
For the passenger in a car, this measure tends to remove larger vehicles that occupy more space and perform slow maneuvers from peak times. For logistics, it adds a few hours of pause. It is a planned trade-off aimed at reducing conflict during the busiest moments.
The calendar was published months in advance, allowing companies to incorporate the break into their routes. However, this Monday, the operation relies on each company effectively translating the standard into realistic departure, rest, and delivery times.
Has your company adjusted the routes of excess loads to avoid encountering the PRF restriction at 4 p.m.?
