CALGARY — A next-generation version of Alberta’s Partners in Compliance (PIC) program for trucking carriers is slated to officially kick-off in May, says the Alberta Motor Truck Association.

Savings by fleets bypassing scales could
exceed $2,000 per truck, per year, says AMTA

AMTA says a new yellow licence plate will be displayed on PIC-compliant trucks. There are already over 1,500 trucks that have qualified to have an in-cab transponder, which will allow them to bypass 98 percent of trips by scales equipped with readers.

First established as a pilot project in 1995 by Alberta Transportation and the Alberta Trucking Association (the predecessor of the AMTA), PIC is a voluntary, self-assessment program created so that the safest, most reputable carriers could police themselves. As a reward for exceeding National Safety Code Standards and other safety benchmarks — as well as rigorous annual audits — carriers were supposed to receive relaxed scale enforcement and favorable notoriety among shippers.

Most of that didn’t happen, though. And interest in the beleaguered program faded away.

However, as Today’s Trucking reported last year, the ministry and the AMTA began retooling PIC and now the new and improved program is almost here.

New transponder technology is expected to give compliant carriers the automatic scale bypass they deserve, and reporting requirements for the most part will be electronic.

Testing of a new “Automated Vehicle Identification” system is currently underway to insure that the system is operating properly. Savings realized by company trucks passing the scales for 300 trips per year could be in excess of $2,000 per truck, calculates AMTA.

Most importantly, compliant PIC members will be recognized on their Carrier Profiles as “Excellent/Audited” and then be able to reflect that to potential customers and clients, boasts the AMTA.