OTTAWA — The Canadian Trucking Alliance proposed a uniform national change to existing policies and practices regarding double drop and low bed trailers.

In a presentation to the National Task Force on Vehicle Weights and Dimensions Policy (NTF), CTA Regional Vice President (Manitoba) Bob Dolyniuk said the move will introduce productivity and efficiencies into the supply chain without compromising road safety or maintenance.

Under current policies and practices double drop and low bed trailers with a wheelbase in excess of 12.5m must move under permit and under certain strict conditions (which vary from province to province). As a result, CTA says, this type of equipment tends to be designed and built for sole purpose use, while trying to comply with the trailer wheelbase and / or permit requirements.

The proposal — originally brought forward by the Manitoba Trucking Association with subsequent support from all provincial trucking associations — calls on all Canadian jurisdictions to allow the use (without permit) of tandem and tridem axle double drop and low bed trailers with a minimum wheelbase of 6.25m and maximum overall length of 16.15m.

CTA is calling on the provinces to allow these configurations to operate with both over-dimensional loads (with permits as required) and reducible, non-dimensional loads at RTAC weight limits (without permits).

CTA’s proposal to the NTF further outlined that if a trailer is further specialized and is wider than 2.6m it should be allowed to haul reducible loads on a round trip basis. It is the position of CTA that the only time a permit should be required is when an over-dimensional load is being hauled, or if the actual trailer itself is over-dimensional.

"There is a need to increase the allowable wheelbase on these trailers to allow for an increased deck well length in an effort to accommodate farm, harvesting and construction equipment which are becoming larger," said CTA VP of Operations Geoff Wood.

Official reaction to the CTA proposal is expected at a future meeting, the group says.