Honourable Keith Milligan, Minister of Transportation and Public Works, announced today that Prince Edward Island has joined the other Atlantic Provinces in implementing more uniform regulations in the operation of commercial vehicles on Island roads.
"As a result of the Council of Maritime Premiers initiative to reduce transportation barriers and to adopt common definitions and uniform weights and dimensions, Cabinet recently approved changes to the Vehicle Weight Regulations of the Roads Act which will ensure greater harmonization between Provinces," said Mr. Milligan.
The changes are as follows:
> conversion of the Commercial Vehicle Weight Table from imperial to metric;
> increase in the maximum length of commercial trailers to 16.2 meters;
> transfers 1,000 kilograms from the front axle weight to the rear tandem axle; and,
> removes the $100 annual permit fee for 16.2 meter commercial trailers.
While the length of trailers has been increased, more stringent rules governing trailer requirements have also been put in place. To ensure the safety of all highway users, these longer trailers must be equipped with highly visible conspicuous markings; rear impact guards to prevent vehicles from riding underneath the trailer; automatic slack adjusters to keep air brakes in proper adjustment for maximum braking efficiency; and must not be equipped with liftable axles.
"Prince Edward Island is the only jurisdiction in the country using imperial weight measures. A conversion to metric, coupled with the longer trailer size, removal of the annual permit, and the shift in axle weight will enhance road maintenance and safety and ensure that Prince Edward Island's trucking industry remains competitive," said Mr. Milligan. "The transportation industry places a high priority on the need for uniform rules and practices as they apply to interprovincial movement of goods and we will continue to work towards achieving that by working with both the industry and other provincial governments."