REGINA – Saskatchewan carriers can haul heavier loads to more places – now with single wide-base tires and oodles of aerodynamic devices — following amendments the province’s transport department made to vehicle weight and dimension regulations.

Among the major changes, weight limits for B-train combinations have been increased by 1,000 kg to 63,500 kg, harmonizing them with Alberta and B.C.

As well, the list of eligible highways at which B-trains can operate at the new weight threshold has been expanded to include:

Highway 9 from Highway 1 to Yorkton; Highway 13 from the Manitoba boundary to its junction with Highway 39; Highway 18 from the Manitoba boundary to its junction with Highway 39; Highway 39 from Highway 6 to Highway 1; and Highway 40, from its junction with Highway 4 to its junction with Highway 29.

Other significant changes:

Increased allowable weight on wide based tires (super singles) to 3,850 kg per tire (or 7,700 per axle) on primary highways for consistency with the national Vehicle Weights and Dimensions MOU. (This doesn’t allow full parity between single tires and duels, but like B.C. and Alberta, makes certain loads, especially to the U.S., economically possible with wide-base singles).

The introduction of tridem drive trucks and truck tractors (used primarily by in petroleum and heavy construction sectors), allowing them to operate without special single-trip or term permits;

Excluding aerodynamic devices at the rear of trucks and trailers trailers from the determination of overall length, (provided the device does not protrude beyond specific lengths).

Allowing the use of lift axles that auto-deploy when the vehicle is loaded, and grandfather those semi-trailers that currently have lift axles.

The complete list of VW&D amendments and further technical details can be found here.

The province says the changes cut red tape and improve productivity for shippers by about 2.5 percent.

"These and other amendments are aimed not only at harmonization but at increasing the profitability of shippers and making Saskatchewan an even more competitive place to do business," said Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter said.