News release

Restrictions Eased on Long-combination Vehicles

Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (Oct. 2007 - Feb. 2021)

The provincial government is eliminating the need for high-mounted lights on long-combination vehicles in Nova Scotia.

The province introduced the vehicles as a pilot project earlier this year.

"Safety is always our number one priority, but there has been no proven safety benefit to these lights," said Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "Almost all other jurisdictions in North America have eliminated the high-mounted light requirement and it makes sense for Nova Scotia to follow the same rules."

The province's pilot project issues permits to approved companies for double, 53-foot semi-trailers hauled by a single tractor trailer on the province's twinned 100-series highways, between Burnside and the New Brunswick border. Carriers can apply for permits at the department's website, www.gov.ns.ca/tran/trucking/vehiclewghtsdims.asp .

"Nova Scotia's continuing development as Canada's Atlantic Gateway requires that we think internationally," said Mr. Estabrooks. "We're hoping this change will assist companies who want to pick up, or ship, their goods through the Port of Halifax."

Proponents of the long-combination vehicles say they will allow Nova Scotia to remain competitive and increase business to the Port of Halifax. Other benefits cited include reduced truck traffic and reductions in fuel and greenhouse-gas emissions.

In addition to being restricted to four-lane highways in Nova Scotia, long-combination vehicles are required to keep below 90 km/h and remain in the right-hand lane at all times. Permits also require drivers to take a long-combination vehicle training course, and have a minimum of five years and 150,000 kilometres of tractor-trailer driving experience.