TORONTO (May 17) — Ontario plans to amend its regulations to allow eight- or nine-axle B-trains to be equipped with two liftable axles, one on each of the trailers in the combination, according to the province1s director of motor carrier compliance.

The current rule, Regulation 32/94, conflicts with a national agreement on B-trains, said Mike Weir of Ontario1s Ministry or Transportation. He did not specify when the amendment would be made, other that to say, “Soon.”

The Ontario Trucking Association lobbied hard for the change, which will overturn an amendment made last year. It allows one trailers in a train combination to have a liftable axle, as long as the axle is in the raised position while the trailer is operating in Ontario and the remaining axles conform to the specifications described in the regulation.

Under the impending rule change, both axles must be in the raised position while operating in Ontario, and the remaining fixed axles must conform to the specifications described in the regulation.