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Canadian Truck Size & Weight Harmonization

Canadian Truck Size & Weight Harmonization. New Brunswick Department of Transportation Subcommittee on Highway Transport Portland, Maine June 6-9, 2010. Highway Transportation . Highways fall under provincial and territorial jurisdiction in Canada:

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Canadian Truck Size & Weight Harmonization

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  1. Canadian Truck Size & Weight Harmonization New Brunswick Department of TransportationSubcommittee on Highway TransportPortland, MaineJune 6-9, 2010

  2. Highway Transportation Highways fall under provincial and territorial jurisdiction in Canada: • Provinces and territories have primary responsibility for construction, maintenance and regulation of highways • Close collaboration between provinces and territories on highway engineering standards and guidelines, driver and vehicle regulations

  3. Truck Size and Weight Limits Until early 1970’s Canada and US had similar size and weight limits: • 73,280 - 80,000 lb • 65 - 70 ft vehicle length limit • Quest for greater productivity resulted in changes through 1970’s • Longer vehicles (including single and double trailers) • New Bridge Formula: higher axle and vehicle weights

  4. Truck Size and Weight Limits • By early 1980’s concerns growing with lack of uniformity in regulations across Canada • Barriers to trade between provinces • Resulted in significant national, cooperative research program – two focus areas: • Influence of size and weight limits on vehicle stability and control, and • Impacts of truck weights on range of pavement designs used across Canada

  5. Task Force on Vehicle Weights and Dimensions • Established in the National 1988 MOU to address inconsistencies related to vehicle weight and dimension regulatory policies within Canada. • Chaired by a member of the Council of Deputy Ministers, with representatives of the federal, provincial and territorial transportation departments.

  6. National Structure

  7. Pavement Analysis • Use of AASHTO Road Test: • Equivalent Single Axle Loads (ESALs) • 4th Power Law -damage caused by a particular load is roughly related to the load by a power of four • Made Significant advances in understanding the impacts of traffic on pavement deterioration

  8. Task Force on Vehicle Weights and Dimensions • Objective of greater national and/or regional uniformity of policies, regulations and enforcement practices for heavy vehicle weight and dimension limits and • Develop Canadian position for regulatory harmonization: United States and Mexico • MOU sets minimum limits which can be exceeded in various jurisdictions.

  9. Task Force on VW&D • Provides a National forum for technical research – recent evaluations of wide based single tires • Interstate highway system – equivalent or better to Canadian highway strength • Support extending highway upweighting pilot projects – significant benefits to the economy, the environment and the quality of life

  10. MOU on Vehicle Weights and Dimensions • 1988 – 4 configurations – tractor semi trailer and A, B and C Trains • 1991 – 4 more added: Straight Truck, Truck - Pony Trailer, Truck - Full Trailer, Intercity Bus

  11. MOU on Vehicle Weights and Dimensions • Other amendments in 1994, 1997, 2004 and 2008 to refine and update - • Weight / size adjustments, aerodynamic devices (Boat Tails), wide based single tires, specialized vehicle category – stinger steer car carrier,

  12. Task Force on Vehicle Weights and Dimensions Annual – 1 day meeting for industry – Nov. 2009 Presentations by : • Developments on Roll Stability Control Systems (Haldex) • Trailer Technology Developments (Wabco-Meritor) • Research on Roll Coupling of Truck Trailer Combinations (FP Innovations) • Tractor and Trailer Lighting (Grote) • Research on Safety Implications of Longer Boat Tails (Transport Canada) • Load Expert Software (P. Lavoie)

  13. MOU on Vehicle Weights and Dimensions – Regional • Atlantic MOU on Weights and Dimensions (2001), and MOU on Oversize Loads (2008). • Western – MOU on special permit conditions for movement of oversize and overweight indivisible loads within the region and hay bales. • Ontario - Quebec –agreement to harmonize vehicle weight and dimension limits for specific vehicle configurations which commonly operate between the two provinces.

  14. Configurations Outside MOU • LCVs in NB by permit only.

  15. Configurations Outside MOU • Process underway to allow 4-axle semi trailers as part of the Regulation to reduce the number of special permits issues (and revenues)

  16. Task Force on Vehicle Weights and Dimensions Very Effective National policy coordination mechanism • For further information: http://www.comt.ca/english/vwd-e.htm Thank you

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