TORONTO — As of July 1, Ontario will allow longer wheelbase tractors for single, tandem and tridem semi-trailer configurations.

It's a move that the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) said they are applauding. “The configurations MTO has moved forward on represent approximately 85 percent of the trailer fleet operating in Ontario,” said OTA president David Bradley.

The change is designed to accommodate environmental devices and add-ons, OTA said, and that is essential in reducing greenhouse gases. Ministry of Transportation's turning performance standards and all other HTA dimensional criteria are also met under the new rules.

Under the change, the maximum allowable tractor wheelbase will increase from 6.2 m (244 in.) to 7.2 m (282 in.) for vehicles classed as SPIF1 (Safe, Productive and Infrastructure Friendly) Designated Tractor-Trailer Combinations: single, tandem and tridem tractor/fixed axle semi-trailer configurations, OTA explained in a press release.

For longer tractors, MTO is using an already established formula from other jurisdictions that reduces trailer wheelbase as tractor wheelbase increase, which allows the configuration to negotiate turns the same as any other vehicle. All other Canadian provinces allow for a longer wheelbase tractor, save for Nova Scotia which requires a special permit.

OTA said it has begun work with MTO to determine the feasibility of allowing longer wheelbase tractors on other SPIF configurations including tri-axles, quad-axles, five, six-axle and B-train configurations.

"Together these components can occupy up to two metres (80") of frame rail space, or half of the area between steer and drive axles currently available to carriers on a 6.2-metre wheelbase tractor," OTA said in a press release. "This impinges on space typically reserved for fuel tanks, air supply tanks, batteries and other equipment and makes spec’ing a vehicle very difficult. Spec'ing APUs on tractors with a sleeper berth (essential for combatting fatigue by long-haul truck drivers) is also a particular challenge. Emerging technologies like hybrids and LNG vehicles may also create pressure on trucks’ frame rail space."

You can check out the changes here.