Dear Editor,

It was with great interest that I read the column by Dave Holleman in your July edition: “Canada’s minimum wheelbases need to be rethought”.

I have been the international representative for a large U.S. flatbed carrier for the past six years, and most of our fleet consists of tractors with wheelbases in excess of 244 inches. In addition, the majority of our trailers are equipped with 10-foot spreads.

I have inquired many times, as well as to many different authorities, as to the reason why current regulations are in place. I can assure you I received different explanations each time I asked.

None of them made much sense to me.Once I was told tractors with long wheelbases cause their trailers to track into oncoming lanes on two-lane roads. If that’s the case, why not simply limit the roads on which they can operate? But my all-time favorite explanation came from a scale master in Alberta. He said, “Look buddy, you just don’t understand. We don’t want U.S. trucks up here in Alberta.”

So much for NAFTA.

Jim Reeves

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