EDMONTON, Alta. — Alberta Transportation has released the results of a discussion paper calling on commercial vehicle operators to step up their safety programs.

The Commercial Vehicle General Equipment and Safety Regulations Discussion Paper called on the public to provide input into a series of recommendations aimed at improving truck safety.

Among the suggestions receiving public support are: 85 per cent support equipping all commercial trailers with brakes on each wheel; 70 per cent are in favor of requiring owners to retain automatic slack adjusters on vehicles that came equipped with them; 62 per cent agree that truck owners must keep their rigs in compliance with Transport Canada’s Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Act; and 89 per cent support a written maintenance and inspection program for all carriers as part of the Commercial Vehicle General Equipment Safety Regulations.

If the proposals go through and become part of the Traffic Safety Act in 2002, then truckers will be unable to alter their rigs after original manufacturing, unless approved by an engineer.

Trucks and trailers that will be most affected by the proposals are those that are homemade or modified by unregistered manufacturers.