It all starts with roads, doesn’t it?

The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) released a report today that provides guidance on the development of truck routes by Ontario municipalities.

The report, titled Local Truck Routes: A Guide for Municipal Officials, aims to explain the factors that municipal planners should consider when assessing the need for truck routes, and the steps needed to ensure a successful route development process and outcome.

“We developed this guide to serve the need for general truck route development principles to assist municipal leaders and the trucking industry through the process,” explains Stephen Laskowski, senior VP at OTA.

The guide defines a truck route, the types of truck traffic, the nature of moving goods, and the importance of considering the needs of shippers, carriers, local businesses and residents.

Laskowski said that municipalities must first ask whether a truck route is necessary. “If freight is moving efficiently through a municipality without issue, the development of a truck route is probably not warranted," Laskowski explained. "However, if it is determined that a truck route would be helpful in addressing traffic challenges, there are key issues and stakeholders that must be considered if a truck route is to be successful including clearly defining the problem to be resolved at the outset.”

“The efficient movement of goods is vital to the economic development and growth of commerce in Ontario,” continued Laskowski. “An effective transportation system that optimizes freight capacity must exist if Ontario is to maintain and enhance its economic strength.”

OTA is sending a full copy of the report to every municipality in Ontario, as well as the Government of Ontario and other professional organizations associated with municipal transportation issues.

You can also download a copy for yourself.