TORONTO, Ont. — Phase 4 of the MTO’s Weights and Dimensions reforms has been written into law, covering flatdeck straight trucks with fork lifts, cement mixers and dump trucks pulling trailers.

“The purpose of Phase 4 as with other phases is to gradually replace vehicle configurations that reportedly cause issues for the infrastructure and require safety performance modernizations,” said Geoff Wood, OTA’s vice-president of operations and safety.

Vehicles covered in Phase 4 of the reforms that are manufactured after June 30, 2011 must be built to MTO’s SPIF standards or operate at reduced weights. Phase 4 vehicles manufactured before July 1, 2011 will be grandfathered and may continue to operate under current rules until Dec. 31, 2020 or until it reaches 15 years from the date of manufacture, whichever is longer, the OTA reports.

“Phase 4 is just another example of how weights and dimensions regulations in Ontario continue to be redefined in a co-operative government industry-lead initiative,” said Wood. “In this case OTA members were at the negotiating table from the get-go and MTO was very receptive to our members concerns. For the next set of refinements, OTA will be working with MTO on the addition of extended length B-trains to increase sleeper berth capacity as well as extended tractor wheel-bases on single trailer configurations to make room for additional mandated environmental equipment on tractors.”

To view the changes outlined in Phase 4, click here.