Alberta truckers unfazed by B.C.'S required speed-limit devices: group
Alberta truckers crossing into British Columbia as of Friday will be subject to new speed-limiting regulations that require devices allowing a maximum speed of 105 km/h.
But Alberta says it won't implement similar rules for truck drivers.
B.C.'S new regulations require commercial vehicles manufactured after 1994 that weigh more than 11,794 kilograms to have speed-limiter devices. Those driving in the province without the device could face fines of around $370.
The new regulations will apply to all truck drivers entering the province, meaning the many Alberta truckers who venture into the neighbouring province on a regular basis will have to add the technology to their vehicles.
B.C.'S rules are now harmonized with Ontario and Quebec's regulations.
Overall, the regulations are estimated to affect 6,700 registered carriers in Alberta — about one-third of the province's 19,000 commercial fleets, said Rob Harper, president of the Alberta Motor Transport Association. Between those fleets, Alberta is home to about 150,000 commercial vehicles, Harper said.
He said the regulations aren't causing a splash among Alberta truckers, and those needing the devices are adapting.
“I don't think it's (creating) a huge impact,” Harper said. “The companies that need to install the hardware will install.”
In a statement to Postmedia, Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen said “Alberta has no intention to further limit the speed of commercial trucks.”
Harper said there isn't as much of a case for similar regulations in Alberta because of the differences in driving conditions and current speed limits on Alberta highways.
He added the topic has come up on a handful of conference calls with other provinces, but few concerns have been raised.
On the flip side, Harper said he'll be interested to see further research studying the effect of speed-limiting devices' in situations where acceleration above the limit is required.
B.C. has also introduced a handful of other regulations intended to increase safety on its highways, which often venture through tunnels and mountain passes. One of those requires all commercial vehicles taller than 4.15 metres to have a permit to drive in specific areas.
That regulation is targeted at preventing oversized trucks from hitting overpasses or bridges. Commercial trucks have hit nearly 40 overpasses and bridges in the province since the end of 2021, according to B.C. government data.
The B.C. government said last month that it's considering up to $100,000 fines and 18 months of jail time for truckers who hit overpasses. In Texas, another area that sees several similar incidents every year, companies and drivers are liable for damage.
Those issues are less acute in Alberta, where transport trucks driving through the Prairies face significantly fewer overpasses.