Inter-provincial Agreement Removes Barriers for Trucking

The trucking industry is transporting goods more easily and efficiently thanks to a new co-operative agreement between Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

The new agreement means that long-combination vehicles can move more freely between provinces.

"Harmonized trucking standards between our jurisdictions makes sense for industry and for Nova Scotia," said Geoff MacLellan, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "We are removing a barrier standing in the way of economic growth and promoting the safe, efficient movement of goods in and out of our province."

Long-combination vehicles are multiple, tandem trailers on one tractor truck. Longer vehicles offer shippers a cost-effective option as they can move more goods at one time, reducing fuel consumption and gas emissions.

"Until now, if you wanted to haul a long-combination vehicle from Ontario to Nova Scotia you were required to operate under four different regulatory policies," said Dave Miller, vice president, human resources, loss prevention, safety and compliance, Armour Transportation Systems. "In order to survive today's competitive economy, trucking companies must take advantage of ways to move freight more efficiently.

"The inter-provincial agreement removes most of the differences amongst provinces and provides a streamlined, efficient and modern approach to the business of trucking."

In 2015, Nova Scotia exported $5.39 billion worth of goods, generating 3.38 per cent of the province’s gross domestic product. The transportation and warehousing sector employs more than 20,500 Nova Scotians, accounting for 4.6 per cent of total provincial employment.

Long-combination vehicles are already in use on four-lane highways, following a pilot project that confirmed the value and safety of having longer trucks on the road. Long-combination vehicle movements are highly controlled and are generally permitted to haul only on designated four-lane highways and from approved locations.

For more information, go to novascotia.ca/tran/trucking/vehiclewghtsdims.asp