A high load low load cleaning blade assembly provided for cleaning a toner image bearing surface includes a blade member having a first edge mounted to a frame, a second and opposite edge for contacting and loading against the toner image bearing surface, and a blade width connecting the first edge to the second edge. The high load low load blade assembly also includes a blade holder for holding and loading the blade member against the moving toner image bearing surface. The blade holder includes a frame, and a blade loading plate operatively connected to the frame and extending from the frame towards the second edge of the blade member for stiffening the blade width and determining a resulting blade loading force of each portion of the second edge against regions of the toner image bearing surface. The blade loading plate includes a central segment having a first plate width for stiffening the central portion of the blade member, and end segments, each having a second plate width less than the first plate width, for stiffening end portions of the blade member, thereby resulting in a second edge having a high load central portion and low load end portions.