GOVERNING TRUCKS AT 105 KM/H

For two hundred and fifty years in Canada we have been striving to create a democracy. We haven’t perfected the system yet but we have been doing pretty well. We elect officials to represent us and we empower them to enact legislation to govern us. When we don’t agree with such legislation we have a choice when next there is an election to turf them out of office.

In the case of governing trucks a number of our provincial governments are in the process of introducing legislation to govern the speed of commercial trucks on our highways. In the case of Ontario a bill has been introduced that would require all trucks operating in the province to be governed at 105 km/h. Quebec has similar legislation and may be awaiting action from Ontario in order to enact theirs. I firmly believe other provinces may very well follow suit especially now that this “green” environment is enveloping all of us.

I have read ad nauseam the responses from owner operator groups, owner operators and individual drivers about why such a move would be wrong and wil never work and will cause chaos on the roads etc etc. At the same time and often out of the same side of their mouths they will say that a large percentage of their trucks are already governed. Then, if they are we should be seeing some of this chaos that is forecast by the naysayers such as unreasonably long lines of trucks in the right lane and long line ups to exit and enter 400 series highways and catastrophic accidents everywhere. We are not seeing any such thing nor do I for a moment anticipate any such experiences once the legislation becomes law.

For those of you who can remember back in the 1970s when we had the phony shortage of oil and the U.S. imposed 55 mph limits on most if not all of their Interstates it was a joy to drive on their highways. New York State only in recent years did they remove the 55 mph restriction. It was a pleasure to cross over into the U.S and drive under those conditions. If you want to save on fuel consumption just drive below 65 mph hour and you will quickly realize savings and wear and tare on your equipment and on your nerves. I hear drivers with veins bursting in their necks telling me why they need to be able to “make a run for the next hill” or face the danger of not getting over it. How silly can you get. Most commercial drivers today are operating pulling 80,000 lbs and often far less being powered by 400 – 600  plus horse power with no grade on any part of the Trans Canada or any Interstate more than 5 degrees. Even the Rogers Pass has only a 7 degree maximum grade.

I don’t for a moment believe all that we are being told about the environment and climate change and the threat of polar bears coming south and foraging in my backyard but I do accept that we must do our part in changing our wasteful ways.

If this governing of our commercial vehicles is so ‘off the wall’ why would one of the largest LTL carriers in the U.S. just announce that they are initiating action to govern their 8,400-tractor fleet to run at 62 miles per hour. They did this to improve fuel conservation and reduce carbon emissions. A trucking company with this standing and having conducted thousands of hours of research and spent millions of dollars must realize what they are doing. They have also invested in technologies and implemented other operational practices designed to reduce fuel consumption, which also lowers carbon emissions.

There is no question about it but the speed limiters will be part of our operational inventory in the not too distant future. The most persuasive  in favour of speed limiters comes from the driving public who continue to view the ‘big rig’ on the highway as a menace and anything that will cause them to be slowed will be supported by this driving public. It is very rare to see a tractor/trailer combination on any major highway maintain the 100 km/h speed limit – very rare. The vast majority of them cruise along between 105 and 115 km/h with the rare driver exceeding this speed and the very rare exceeding 120 km/h but they are out there.

It is my opinion that speed limiters will be law within two years on most multi lane highways. We must prepare for it and get used to it.

 

SAFETY TIPS

Ontario – Ontario unveiled a more secure driver’s licence in December, 2007. The new licence – one of the most secure cards in North America – will help Ontarians avoid identity theft and protect them against fraud and misuse. It incorporates leading-edge security features, including a secondary photo and signature on the front of the card, and raised lettering of the number, signature and date of birth. With specific enhancements, the new licence could also become an acceptable passport-equivalent for U.S. border crossings. Any newly-licensed individuals or anyone renewing their licence will now receive one of the new cards.

Quebec – In December, Quebec opposition parties rejected Transport Minister Julie Boulet’s proposal for a 24-hour driver’s licence suspension for any driver stopped with a 0.05% BAC. The legal limit in Quebec will remain 0.08% blood alcohol content (BAC). The 0.05% measure is in effect in all other provinces, and Saskatchewan has set the threshold at 0.04%, it was noted.

Quebec – Starting next winter, all passenger cars, taxis and rental vehicles in Quebec will be required to have four snow tires on from November 15 to April 15. Currently 90% of Quebec drives switch to winter tires each year. Will other provinces follow Quebec’s lead? Stay tuned.

Nova Scotia – Effective April 1, 2008 Nova Scotia has banned in-car use of hand held cell phones.

Nova Scotia – Effective April 1, 2008 Nova Scotia has banned smoking in automobiles with passengers 18 years of age and younger.

Quebec – Effective April 1, 2008 Quebec has banned in-car use of hand held cell phones.

Alberta – A new high-security birth certificate designed to protect Albertans from fraud and identity theft became availabe on February 1, 2008.

Alberta – James Trombley, a transport officer with Alberta iInfrastructure and Transportation, won the Grand Champion Award at the North American Inspectors Championship, held in Minneapolis in August 2007.

Quebec – Quebec plans to Ban Car Advertising that promotes speed and recklessness “Zoom, Zoom” type ads aimed at selling cars will soon be banned in Quebec.

Ontario – Ontario’s roads will be safer thanks to New Legislation targeting drunk drivers, street racers and other dangerous drivers.

New Brunswick – Applications from the trucking industry to operate long combination vehicles (LCVs) under special permit on four-lane highways in New Brunswick will be accepted by the Department of Transportation effective June 30.

Prince Edward Island – New radar equipment will soon be installed in two Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) patrol cars at the P.E.I. Dept of Transportation and Public Works. This will add to the Department’s ability to enforce the Highway Traffic Act.

An LCV is a twin semi-trailer combination with an overall length of 40 metres. They have been operating on Routes 1 and 2 between Saint John and Dieppe as part of a pilot project since 2005. The safety of these vehicles has been subject to a University of New Brunswick study that determined they were safe for use on New Brunswick’s four-lane highways. (see Truck News article by Adam Ledlow for further details)

Ontario – MTO is improving standards for beginner driver education (BDE) in Ontario to help teach novice drivers safe driving habits and to keep Ontario’s roads secure.

Ontario – Ontario is rebuilding Ontario’s Highway Service Centres. There are 23 service centres in Southern Ontario located along Highways 400 and 401. The majority were built in the 1960s. Over the next five years, these centres will be modernized. There will be temporary closings and inconveniences but the end result promises to be exciting.

HUMAN ERRORS CAUSE ACCIDENTS

The CVSA, FMCSA and Transport Canada in recent studies found that actions or inactions by drivers of large trucks and automobiles accounted for 88% of the critical reasons for crashes. Almost nine out of 10 crashes between cars and trucks were attributed to the driver, and only 12% were found to be due to vehicle, road or weather factors. The study also concluded that in multi-vehicle crashes between large trucks and cars, the car driver was assigned the critical reason for the crash 56% of the time, and the driver of the large truck was judged responsible the other 44% of the time.

Those interested in reading more about these studies may go to the following web site to review further the contents of Operation Safe Driver, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration all of whom focused on improving commercial and non-commercial vehicle driver performance through enforcement and education. 

Check out http://cvsa.stores.yahoo.net/opsadrouma.html

ONTARIO THAW ZONES

For information about the Ontario Spring 2008 Thaw Zones please go to the following web site.

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca:80/english/trucks/loadnotice.htm

QUEBEC THAW ZONES

For information about the Spring 2008 Quebec Thaw Zones please go to the following web site for information and details.

Remember where it will apply to the vast majority of carriers operating into Quebec be aware that in Regions 1 and 2 these are the maximum load limits during the Thaw from Mar 24 – May 17:

Steer axle                  5,500 kg

Drives                       15,500 kg

Trailer tandems      15,500 kg

Total tandem tandem 36,500 kg

http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca:80/portal/page/portal/entreprises_en/camionnage/charges_dimensions/periode_degel/zones_periodes_degel

CELL PHONE BAN – NOVA SCOTIA

A ban on the use of handheld cell phones while driving will come into effect April 1, 2008 and the RCMP warn that they are ready to enforce it.

Drivers caught using their cell phone while behind the wheel will face a fine of $164.50 for 1st offence, $222.00 for 2nd offence with subsequent offences costing the perp $337.00

Please be guided accordingly.

“HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY”

SNOW REMOVAL – TRAILERS

http://www.jdtrailerprotection.com/

This time of year in most of Canada we worry about snow flying off the tops of our trailers. First off we must get one thing straight and that is if it comes off your truck or trailer and hits someone or something it is the responsibility of the driver and carrier. That said there is a need for some common sense by the carrier, the driver and the driving public. The driving public using a modicum of common sense in the winter time MUST stay well clear of moving tractor/trailers that might have snow and ice on the roof.

There are many methods of clearing snow and ice ranging from a shovel and ladder (dangerous) to ‘home made’ creations of a walkway along level with the trailer top where snow and ice can be scraped off to investing in multi thousand dollars machines that will do the job. See the web site above. If you want more information just ‘google’ snow removal from trailers and you will get all the information you need.

Not much can be done about a lot of those flat bed operators who may start out in northern Quebec or NB and accummulate snow and ice along the way until you encounter them along the 401 just when a large piece of ice is unlodged onto your windshield. See above about steering clear of tractor trailers during winter time conditions.

If it comes off your rig, tractor, trailer, or automobile – YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE!

Facility Audits

I have always wondered why facility audits between those administered by the Ontario Government (MTO) and the U.S. DOT differ so significantly. For example, in the MTO audit the scoring for the Driver Profile is worth 45 points virtually halfof the audit since the safety and training profile is only included at the request of the carrier. It is my opinion that the Driver Profile should be more extensive whereas at present it pretty much covers the driver’s commercial driving license and logs. For example:

MTO – Driver Profile

Qualified Driver           10 points

Log & Time Records    10 points

Cycles                             10 points

Data Items                       5 points

Total                                45 points

In other words half of the MTO audit is based on a driver’s license and logs. This needs to be changed to include such other important aspects of a driver’s profile as the cvor, abstract, job application, references, driving record, accident record, training record, specialty training, medical examination, road testing and annual performance reviews to name but a few.

At least the U.S. DOT Facility Audit is considerably more extensive and more than satisfies the requirements much more so then that of the MTO. For example:

U.S. Driver Qualification File

1. Application for employment,

2. Motor vehicle record from states for new hires,

3. Previous employer information for drivers hired before October 29, 2004,

4. Road test form and certificate, or certificate accepted in lieu of road test,

5. Medical exam certificate, original or a copy,

6. Any letter granting a waiver of a physical disqualification,

7. Annual motor vehicle record from states for current drivers,

8. Annual review of driving record and,

9. List of violations.

The MTO audit is weak as it is today, and any future revision must include a more extensive and meaningful Driver Profile certainly more inclusive then a driver’s license and six months of logs.

MISLEADING INFORMATION

I have been reading in Truck Magazines where drivers complain about 400 series highways being inundated with potholes to the extent that the highway infrastructure is crumbling. I just drove from Cambridge on the 401, to 416 to Ottawa, 417 to Orleans and return to Brighton via 417, 416 and 401. With the exception of one bridge where the pavement was somewhat shattered on the left lane I never saw a pothole. Conditions were sunny and dry pavement with relatively light traffic. I did however see a number of near misses and some terrible commercial driving incidents to go along with a lot of good solid driving examples to the rest of us.

With the controversy about the 105 km/h speed limit I wondered what are trucks doing out there. Over this same period and distances I gave up counting at well over 800 trucks (two of us in the car) and I would estimate that the large percentage of trucks travelled at 105, 110, 115 and 120 km/h. The majority of them travelled between 105 and 115. It was very rare to come upon a truck averaging 100 km/h.

Lobbyists are fond of saying repeatedly that the delays at the U.S./Canada border is causing havoc with our economy. I have been monitoring the CBSA border delay times web site for a number of weeks and it is extremely rare that there are any significant delays either southbound or northbound from St. Stephen, NB in the east to Huntington, BC in the west. I venture to say that most of the delay problems are caused by carriers who foot dragged in getting onboard with the new programs and left it up until the last minute and then went crying to their Trucking Associations. For example, I just checked the site at 1800 hours March 13, 2008 and there are only a 10 delay northbound and 20 delay southbound at Champlain. (probably due to snow removal) The trucking companies that I am associated with are C-TPAT/FAST and CSA/FAST approved and use ACE and RNS and never experience any problems at the border. I know it is hard to keep up and it costs money for support and sometimes personnel but if we want to run south we have get with the program. In fact, we would be wise to get ahead of the program and be ready at implementation.

Super Singles in NB

Effective January 1, 2008 carriers operating in the Province of NB with super singles on tractors and/or trailers require a permit. The permit may be obtained from the NB Dept of Transportation for $50.00 good for your fleet for one year.