On December 6th I attended the Annual meeting of the Task Force on Vehicle Weights and Dimensions in Montreal. The purpose of the meeting is to receive updates from Provincial, Territorial, and federal governments on their status with complying with the National MOU of weights and Dimensions, as well as receive reports on items being considered for change/improvements with items related to permitting, vehicle licensing, weights, and dimensions updates being considered in their respective jurisdictions, as well as other items deemed important to the transportation industry. It is also an opportunity for the industry to comment on items they feel need to be addressed and updated for the betterment of the industry, such as requesting an expansion of the MOU on weights and dimensions. Below I have included a summary of the items of note discussed during the meeting. Included is a link to access the National Task Force Vehicle Weights and Dimensions website, which has the full reports filed by each jurisdiction that provided one, as well as minutes from previous meetings & presentations.
https://comt.ca/english/programs/trucking/Meetings.htm
Newfoundland
- Wide base single tires can now operate at parity on the Island only. Not yet in regulation, so must apply for a permit.
- The driveways scale bypass system is open for application for all carriers that operate in Newfoundland regardless of home base registration.
- An LCV review was conducted, and as a result of the lack of 4-lane roads, it was determined that LCVs are not suited for operation in Newfoundland at this time.
- 60-foot extended trailers will be allowed under application as part of a pilot.
Nova Scotia
- Wide base tires are allowed under permit only, not yet adopted into regulation.
- Extended 60-foot trailers as well as LCV’s currently operating under a pilot.
Prince Edward Island
- Regulations were updated in the spring of 2023 to adopt all MOU items/updates.
New Brunswick
- Currently, regs align with the 2019 MOU, changes since then have not yet been adopted into the regs.
- 60-foot extended trailers can operate under a permit only.
- Tri drive – quad pilot currently underway with the forestry industry.
- Super B-train testing underway with J.D. Irving, has increased the box length to 23M.
- A-train off road logger pilot underway with J.D. Irving.
Quebec
- 60-foot extended trailer allowed under the permit.
- LCVs being allowed to operate on long weekends and during rush hour, which was first allowed during COVID, has been extended and will be allowed to continue going forward.
Ontario
- Self-steer/lift axles can be lifted in an emergency with a switch separate from the 4-way flasher switch. Will come into effect January 1st of 2024. The original date was January 1st of 2020 but had to be delayed allowing manufacturers time to come up with a solution.
- New extended trailer permit conditions, which had been under a pilot program, should be out soon, no date confirmed, but the hope is early 2024.
Manitoba
- Identified Trade and commerce Routes to have RTAC weights, some routes will need to be upgraded to support the higher weights. The identified routes represent 36% of all routes. 86% of the routes identified can support the weights, other 14% will need to be upgraded.
- Weight exemptions are in place for APU’s.
- 60-foot extended trailer allowed under permit only, will be handled similarly to an LCV.
- Dimension loads can be marked with red or orange flags. All OD loads under a permit must be marked with a red flashing light.
Saskatchewan
- SGI will be updating its permitting system.
- A 10-year program is underway to update 10,000 km of roads, after next year (year 5), 4600 km will be completed. 14 bridges will be rebuilt in 2024.
Alberta
- 60-foot extended trailer allowed under permit only.
- Have begun a 5-year program to modernize registry services.
- A New Travis Permitting system is being developed, hope to have it fully operational by January 2025. Will automate allot of the permitting process/approvals.
British Columbia
- Vehicles up to 31 meters in length, if the legal weight, can operate on 2-lane roads without a pilot car.
- On route B.C. app will be available in early 2024.
- Custom permitting system for carriers is being rolled out, as areas become available, they will be rolled out in phases.
- 60-foot extended trailers can be operated everywhere by permit.
- In general discussion, it was suggested that the task force put together a group to discuss trying to develop an MOU for similar specs/guidelines for extended trailers across jurisdictions.
AMTA also presented to the group on low emission technologies, the increased weights as a result, and the costs associated with it. A suggestion was made to put together a task force to talk about and work on these real-life issues associated with adopting low or zero-emission vehicles. The PMTC supported both of these task force suggestions.
