Phase 4 of VW&D reform details in the books

TORONTO — Simplification of weight tables, significant grandfathering for existing vehicles and flexibility for carriers to spec wide single tires all included in the latest phase of Ontario’s weights and dimensions reforms, says the Ontario Trucking Association.

The first three phases of the amendments between 2001 and 2006 covered tri-axle trailers, dump semi trailers and multi axle units and b-trains.

Phase 4 comes into effect in 2011 and covers all other trailers. Including flat deck straight trucks with fork lifts attached, cement mixers, and dump trucks pulling trailers.

"The purpose of phase 4 as with other phases is to gradually replace vehicle configurations that reportedly cause issues for the infrastructure and require safety performance modernizations," Geoff Wood, OTA’s VP of Operations and Safety explained in a statement.

Vehicles covered in phase 4 manufactured after June 30, 2011 must be built to new MTO requirements, referred to as SPIF standards, as contained in the regulation, or operate at significantly reduced weight allowances.

Any Phase 4 vehicle manufactured before that will be grandfathered and may continue to operate under current rules until December 31, 2020 or until it reaches 15 years from date of original manufacture, whichever is longer.

For the next set of refinements, OTA will be working with the ministry on the addition of extended length b-trains to increase sleeper berth capacity as well as extended tractor wheel-bases on single trailer configurations to make room for additional mandated environmental equipment on tractors, says Wood.

The OTA reports that in the latest phase, calculating allowable axle and gross weights of SPIF vehicles has been simplified as well as penalties for non-spif vehicles.

As well, weight reduction for vehicles hauling aggregate product will no longer apply to spif compliant vehicles; and relaxation of track width has been provided to allow flexibility in spec’ing wide single tires on all trailers without having to separate Ontario and Canadian trailer fleets.

Complete details of the changes outlined in phase 4, the official amending regulation 457/10, can be found by clicking here.

The official amended regulation 413/05 will be posted within a couple of weeks.

OTA says it will also be hosting a webinar January 19th with MTO to cover off the details of these changes.

Meanwhile, a reminder that grandfathering of phase 2, non-SPIF dump semi-trailers ends on Dec. 31, 2010.

As of January 1, 4,500 kg will be subtracted from GVW of a single end dump semi-trailer or open-top hopper for non-SPIF equipment.