TORONTO, Ont. — In a strongly-worded submission released May 22, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) says a U.S. proposal calling for labels on trucks and trailers would be impossible to achieve.

Under the plan, all commercial motor vehicles produced for sale in Canada would have to bear a label denoting compliance with U.S. manufacturing standards if they are to be used in the U.S.

In-use vehicles would have to be returned to manufacturers within 24 months to have the labels affixed; and new vehicles manufactured for sale in Canada would be required to have the American labels as of the effective date of implementation.

The CTA submission was sent to the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“We take absolutely no issue with the right of the U.S. federal government to take all reasonable steps to ensure safety on the highway” says David Bradley, CTA chief executive officer.

“However, the proposed rules and policy statement completely ignore the fact that Canada already has virtually identical manufacturing standards for commercial vehicles, and that all commercial vehicles driven into the U.S. must already adhere to all U.S. on-road standards.”

He went on to add, “Affixing a second label won’t make these vehicles any safer, but it will impose an immense administrative burden on our industry.”