WASHINGTON, D.C. — Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) CEO David Bradley visited Washington last week to stress the importance of better cooperation between the US and Canada on truck standards.

In speaking to the Transportation Law Institute, Bradley said both countries must establish a better balance between security and trade facilitation.

“While no country should be asked to give up its sovereignty, given the extraordinary level of economic and social integration that exists between Canada and the United States, you would think this (working more closely together) would be self-evident,” Bradley pointed out.

He explained that speed limiters, electronic on-board recorders and electronic stability control are growing in popularity in the trucking industry and should all be part of a North American safety standard.

Bradley also suggested lawmakers encourage the adoption of environmentally-friendly truck technology, including what CTA refers to as the enviroTruck.

“Governments should also be working with industry to accelerate the penetration of SmartWay vehicles and equipment and its Canadian counterpart CTA’s enviroTruck initiative,” Bradley insisted.
“The industry’s economic goals are more aligned with the effort to combat global warming than ever before.”

Bradley also urged US regulators to look at Canada’s transportation system to see how longer, heavier trucks can be safely operated to improve efficiency.

“Policy-makers need only look north to see how Canada has benefited from a more productive truck weights and dimensions regime and how we are now approaching national coverage for LCVs,” he said.