Ontario expanding 60-ft. trailer trial

by Truck News

TORONTO, Ont. – For-hire carriers will be allowed to participate in an Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) trial using 60-ft. trailers.

Changes to the trial, which previously only involved the retail sector, include: broadening of the trial to include other types of fleets – including private and for-hire; permits will be based on CVOR, rather than semi-trailer VIN; and the MTO is allowing a 10-year grandfather allowance at the end of the trial, in recognition of the investments made in new equipment.

Applications are now being accepted, to participate in the program. The Ontario Trucking Association welcomed the expansion of the program.

“MTO’s measured approach in addressing 60-ft. trailers through a limited trial is the appropriate action to take when considering if a new configuration should be introduced. MTO followed this path with long combination vehicles and extended stinger steer car carriers – both those programs are on successful, but limited, implementation paths,” said OTA president and CEO Stephen Laskowski. “Opening up the 60-ft. trial to sectors outside of the retail world will allow opportunity for proof of concept to be tested in other areas, which is necessary to monitor the effectiveness and acceptance of this new configuration.”

A total of 20 permits are up for grabs, with no single carrier allowed to hold more than eight permits, and no shipper being associated with more than eight. Currently, three carriers operate a total of 20 permits. Once carriers in the trial have completed 3.2 million kilometers of travel with the 60-ft. trailers, the MTO plans to conduct a full evaluation of the trial.

For more info on the trial, contact:

 

Alfonso Corredor

Senior Policy Advisor

Carrier Safety Policy Office

Carrier Safety and Enforcement Branch

125 Sir William Hearst Ave. 3rd floor

Toronto, Ontario M3M 0B5

Phohe: 416-235-5275

Email: alfonso.corredor@ontario.ca


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  • As a driver for a large LTL carrier I cringe at the possibility of 60ft trailers. 53ft trailers are already enough of a nuisance to get in and out of shippers and receivers. 60ft trailer would work good for auto industry or a company who just goes warehouse to warehouse.

  • Ok 60 ft trailer what about the weight permitted with this kind of non sense Will it be tridem or four axle and a lot more weight to destroy highway and if any jack knife situation on the 400 you are blocking the whole highway who is the genius that came with the idea??

  • I do not see a need for 60 ft trailers ever in our environment, ever…it just creates an environment of shippers to create bigger trailers to ship there products at at a lower rate…….

  • The one good thing about a 60 ft trailer is it will not go anywhere and especially in older industrial area no room to turn as it is now with a 53 more money to be made by MOT onto the bridge formula and driver would not know anything on how to calculate the proper way to do it.
    Very clever Ontario Transport all about making money regardless.

  • These 60′ trailers are insane. At least the twin 33′ trailers they want legalized in the US articulate in the middle. And you can bet the driver’s pulling them aren’t compensated for the increased freight volume.

  • There gonna do it & it’s about time we went from 45 to 48 to 51 to 53 now that the economy is finally growing it makes sense longer trailer less trucks need bring it on .ca tx most western state already have 57 let just do the 60 & get it over with weight 90000 wish they would hurry up