Lessons learned about the impacts of size and weight regulations on the articulated truck fleet in the Canadian prairie region

Abstract

Three highway engineering policies directed at improving truck productivity by increasing size and weight limits have been implemented in the Canadian prairie region within the last 35 years: the 1974 Western Canada Highway Strengthening Program, the 1988 Roads and Transportation Association of Canada Memorandum of Understanding on Heavy Vehicle Weights and Dimensions, and special permitting of longer combination vehicles. As policies change, the trucking industry adjusts its fleets to take advantage of available efficiencies. Evidence of these changes and the lessons learned from the adoption of these policies are provided. Ultimately, as a result of these policies, articulated trucks now carry heavier and larger payloads, have different axle configurations, and have higher axle weight limits than they did 35 years ago. The threefold to fivefold increase in articulated truck volumes that occurred during this period would have been more dramatic had these policies not been implemented. Further research is necessary to understand the interactions among policies, vehicles, and infrastructure.