REGINA -- A couple of changes to Saskatchewan’s Energy Efficient Motor Vehicles (EEMV) agreement will bring the dimensions of the province’s long combination vehicles (LCV) in line with their neighbours.

The EEMV permits configurations of LCV combinations like Rocky Mountain Doubles (maximum of 34m), Turnpike Doubles (maximum of 41m), and Queen City Triples (maximum of 41m).

Beginning on Feb. 1, maximum speed for all three LCV combinations will increase to 100 km/h (from 90 km/h) on designated four-lane highways.

Other changes to the EEMV include the abolishment of the requirement for carriers to monitor speeds through a tacographs or similar devices, companies are now required to make a reasonable effort to determine how adverse weather is along transport routes, and it was noted that B-train configuration GVW will increase by 1,000 kg to 63,500 kg at sometime later this year.

Highways Minister Jim Reiter outlined the changes to the Saskatchewan Trucking Association during a meeting in late-January.

The changes arise from a combination of moving some regulatory components to Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) from the highways ministry, and an MOU with Alberta. The MOU initiates a number of regulatory harmonization aspects on weights and dimensions for truck transport.

Both governments will seek common solutions to some compliance issues, border weigh/inspection facilities and wide-base single tires, among other things.

STA president Glen Ertell described the latest changes as another positive step on the western Canadian harmonization front.

“Our industry’s relationship with the ministry (of highways) continues to grow,” he says. “There’s a constructive dialogue going on here and these changes show they’re listening.”