QUEBEC CITY, Que. — In addition to agreeing on a carbon cap-and-trade system this week, the leaders of Ontario and Quebec have also promised to harmonize rules on speed limiters, wide-base single tires and long combination vehicles (LCVs).

So says the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA), which applauded the cooperative effort by the two provinces.

“The two governments are moving forward on each of the priority items we recommended they pursue. For a first ever meeting of this type this is a great way to start. Premiers McGuinty and Charest are to be congratulated. It’s an historic day,” OTA chief David Bradley said.

He was responding to an information circular distributed by both provinces following their meeting, which said: “Ontario and Quebec will take steps to make it easier for goods to move seamlessly and safely between the provinces. Specifically, both economic and environmental benefits will be achieved by moving ahead together on a harmonized approach for implementing speed limiters for trucks, subject to passage of legislation. In addition, Ontario will pursue regulations to permit single wide-base tires on trucks to improve fuel efficiency, and will develop a program to permit long combination vehicles under carefully controlled requirements to ensure our roads and highways remain among the safest in North America.”

Bradley said while more work is still required to bring the commitments to completion, “now that the direction has been set we look forward to working with the two governments and with our partners, the Quebec Trucking Association to bring these matters to fruition as soon as possible.”