This report describes a survey of current practice as well as analysis performed to develop guidelines for agencies which need load restrictions during spring thaw periods. The results show for a range of locations in the U.S. and Canada that the average load restrictions applied is about 44 percent. The analysis performed in the study tends to confirm that level of load restriction. Further, it was found for the assumed conditions that a minimum load restriction level (if any load reduction is needed) is about 20 percent. Load restrictions greater than 60 percent are generally not warranted for the range of cases studied. An air temperature based criterion (Thawing Index) was developed which can be used to estimate when to apply and remove load restrictions.