Commercial Standby List Guidelines
To prevent early lineups outside the terminal prior to ticket office opening, the following commercial check-in process is in place:
COMMERCIAL LIST OPENING
The commercial list opens 16 hours prior to the scheduled crossing:
- Company names only will be added at this time
- Each entry represents ONE (1) commercial unit
- Multiple units must be entered separately
- Entries are time-stamped and viewed by the ticket office in order received
DRIVER CHECK-IN REQUIREMENT
Drivers MUST check in at the ticket office NO LATER THAN ONE (1) HOUR PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
- Failure to check in within this timeframe may result in forfeiture of placement.
- If it is determined that the load/trailer booked is not in the parking lot at time of loading it will be dropped from the stand-by list.
IMPORTANT
This list is NOT a confirmed reservation.
It is intended to organize commercial traffic fairly and reduce early lineups at the terminal.
You will only be given the “join list” option by selecting one-way travel.
COMMERCIAL LIMIT PER CROSSING
Maximum of TWO (2) units per company per crossing (for remainder of winter schedule).
Additional units may be accommodated only if space remains after priority loading.
OVERSIZED LOADS
Reservations will only be accepted for oversized loads that exceed 10’ wide.
The following info MUST be sent to reservations@woodwards.nf.ca to confirm the load can be moved:
- Length of unit from front of tractor to end of trailer
- Width of load at widest point
- Height from ground to top of load as the load sits on the trailer
- Total weight of all (tractor, trailer and load)
- Number of axle
- Weight per axle
- Photos or diagram showing side view
- Overhang from last wheels to back of trailer
- Requested date to move the load
If a unit arrives and is found to be UNDER the oversized specifications, the reservation will be void and the unit will proceed as standby traffic on a space available basis.
Note that a wide load counts as 2 spaces.
THIRD-PARTY LOADS
Third party moves will no longer be recognized by LMI.
The company presenting the vehicle and load at the terminal will be the company responsible for payment and transport of that load.
IE: You present as XXX, truck is labelled XXX, we will not charge to YYY.
COMMERCIAL LIMITS
Starting May 1, 2026, there will be no limit per company, however, there may be occasions where LMI dictates the priority. IE – after delays/cancellations, emergencies, time sensitive items, etc.
Boarding
Ticket office opens (2) hours prior to departure. Any commercial units not already on the standby list will be added at this time.
Commercial units will be accommodated in order of standby list which will commence two (2) hours prior to departure.
Commercial Passengers
Company Representatives must present the following info to the terminal attendant:
- Trailer number or Plate number if single unit
- Driver (required if travelling)
- Length (front of complete unit to back)
- Width at widest point
- Weight
- Contents
There are no available lanes on the parking lot for unconfirmed commercial units. Should a unconfirmed commercial unit be parked in those lanes, the ticket agent will remove that unit from the standby list for that departure – no exceptions. Any dropped trailers on the dock will also be removed from the standby list for that departure.
Commercial Policies
If a reserved unit is located at the opposite terminal, and the driver bringing that unit has checked in, the reservation will be honored provided that the driver/truck is on the vessel to come off the ship to take the reserved load. If no Driver or truck comes off the ship to take the reserved load it will not move and the reservation will be forfeited. It then falls into the wait-list category and a driver must be present to add it to the wait-list. This policy exists as there is insufficient time for a driver to follow the one hour check-in policy if they are travelling on the vessel to pick up the load. It recognizes that in such circumstances it is not economically feasible for companies to have drivers on-site to hold the space.
Third party moves will no longer be recognized by LMI.
The company presenting the vehicle and load at the terminal will be the company responsible for payment and transport of that load.
IE: You present as XXX, truck is labelled XXX, we will not charge to YYY.
The company hauling the load must have a bill of lading that clearly states the reservation holder is the consignee or shipper of the load.
Leakage from trucks travelling on the Strait of Belle of Isle Service will no longer be tolerated. The following policies will be enforced as per direction of the Department of Transportation and Works:
- Trucks/Trailers found to be leaking fluid in any quantity prior to loading will be refused access to the vessel.
- Trucks/Trailers that are found to be leaking after boarding the vessel will be removed from the vessel before departure if possible.
- Any company transporting product that causes leakage/spillage onto the ship’s deck during removal of a Truck/Trailer from a vessel, a crossing, or on exiting the vessel, will be held liable for a minimum clean-up cost of $1,000.00 or the actual costs of clean up cost of the leakage/spillage concerned, if it is greater than $1,000.00.
- Any company or person that is responsible for repeat incidents or that fails to pay the clean up costs referred to in item 3 above or to make arrangements acceptable to pay the same, will have its Trucks/Trailers denied access to the vessel until such costs have been taken care of and it can provide assurance acceptable to the vessel operator that appropriate measures have been taken to ensure that the cause(s) of the problem have been addressed.
This has been an on-going problem and a serious health, safety, operational and passenger concern. Despite repeated warnings and denial of access to trucks because of leakage, it continues to be an issue. The ferry services not only the transportation industry but plays a major part in tourism and movement of the general public. As such we endeavor to provide the best service possible and having passengers tracking this leakage into passenger areas of the vessel as well as their vehicles is not acceptable.
For the betterment of all our customers please ensure that you adhere to these policies effective immediately.
The following is the allowance for extra gasoline and propane tanks:
- Extra gasoline may be carried but the quantity is limited to 25 litres and must be in CSA approved containers properly secured.
- A maximum of two cylinders of propane, not more than 25 kg each (55L water capacity each), provided they are connected to a regulator, and secured in or on the vehicle.
- A third cylinder of propane no larger than 15 kg (30L water capacity) for BBQ needs.
This includes those fixed to RV’s and travel trailers.
The safety of the travelling public and ship’s crew is of highest priority and we have reason to believe there have been dangerous goods moving on the ship that are undeclared. In the event of an emergency onboard the Captain has to know if there are any products onboard that can have a detrimental effect on how an emergency is handled, i.e., methods used by crew to fight a fire. The customer has an obligation under law to declare any dangerous goods.
ALL products that are dangerous goods must be reported to Labrador Marine at least 48 hours prior to loading at St. Barbe or Blanc Sablon. Dangerous goods are deemed to be any product that has a UN number.
To learn more about our dangerous good policy and complete a dangerous goods declaration, please visit our dangerous goods page.
