General Spring Weight Load Restriction Bulletin #3
Effective 8:00 AM, Monday, March 15, 2010 weight restrictions will be lifted on all state trunkline highways from the southern Michigan border, north to and including I-94. State trunkline highways typically carry M, I, or US designations.
In the restricted area the following will apply:
On routes designated as "All Season Routes" (green and gold on MDOT Truck Operator’s Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights.
On routes designated as "Seasonal" (solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operator’s Map), there will be weight reduction of 25% for rigid pavements and 35% for flexible pavements.
Extended permits will be valid for oversize only in the weight restricted area. Single trip permits will not be issued for overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet or in width or 11 axles in the weight restricted areas.
Weight restriction information and updates may be obtained by calling 1-800-787-8960. For companies located in Canada or New Jersey, information may be obtained by calling: 517-373-6256. Detailed weight restriction information may be obtained by linking to www.michigan.gov/truckers or by calling: 517-373-2121. Refer to the MDOT Truck Operator Map for route designations.
General Spring Weight Load Restriction Bulletin #1
Effective 8:00 AM, Monday, March 8, 2010 weight restrictions will be imposed and enforced on all state trunkline highways within the State of Michigan from the southern Michigan border, north to and including the Mackinac Bridge. State trunkline highways typically carry M, I, or US designations.
In the restricted area the following will apply:
On routes designated as "All Season Routes" (green and gold on MDOT Truck Operator’s Map), there will be no reduction in legal axle weights.
On routes designated as "Seasonal" (solid or dashed red on the MDOT Truck Operator’s Map), there will be weight reduction of 25% for rigid pavements and 35% for flexible pavements.
Extended permits will be valid for oversize only in the weight restricted area. Single trip permits will not be issued for overweight loads or loads exceeding 14 feet in width in the weight restricted areas.
Weight restriction information and updates may be obtained by calling 1-800-787-8960. For companies located in Canada or New Jersey, information may be obtained by calling: 517-373-6256. Detailed weight restriction information may be obtained by visiting www.michigan.gov/truckers or by calling: 517-373-2121. Refer to the MDOT Truck Operator Map for route designations.
Canada Gazette, Part II, EXTRA Vol.143, No. 3 is the proclamation proroguing Parliament to March 3, 2010. As a result of this proclamation, the Government of Canada virtually comes to a standstill: Parliament does not meet, committees are suspended, etc. In other words, TDG Amendment 8 is delayed yet again.
I often get the impression the international community is beginning to look at Canada as a banana republic. Schedule 1 of the TDG Regulations is at the 11th Edition of the UN Recommendations and everyone else is working on the 15th Edition. And we are not making any headway.
If you received a shipment marked UN3471 and looked it up in Schedule 1 of the TDG Regulations, you will notice that it is not listed. Do you know where to go to see if it is a valid UN number?
So, Prime Minister—once Parliament resumes on March 3, what are your plans to get the government working? Are you going to direct the Minister of Transport, John Baird, to get the lead out and publish Amendment 8? Will Minister Baird direct Marie-France Dagenais to expedite amendments to fix Amendment 6 and bring Canada into line with the international community, i.e. 15th Edition of the UN Recommendations? Why is this so hard?
Prime Minister—New Year’s resolution for you: I’m sure you have heard of Mike Holmes’ slogan, "Make It Right"; how about for the Government of Canada: "Make It Work".
An errata and corrigenda has been published by the IMO for the 2008 Edition of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. This errata makes a number of changes to the Code:
reference changes
minor word changes, i.e. "this data" changes to "these data"
deletion of single words
punctuation corrections
the marine pollutant mark has changed (the fins on the fish are gone)
several paragraph rewrites
seven column 16 corrections
A copy of this errata and corrigenda can be downloaded from the IMO website at. Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.
What is it? Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010) is a program being rolled out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to improve truck and bus safety. The aim is to reduce commercial vehicle incidents, injuries and fatalities.
On October 26, the regulations regarding the use of electronic devices while behind the wheel came into force in Ontario. Yet, with all the advertising and media information about the new law, people are still using their mobile phones, blackberries, etc. while driving.
Enforcement officials have stated that drivers will be given a warning if caught, but there are other areas under the Highway Traffic Act that they can use. And hopefully will.
For just a few bucks, you can get a Bluetooth device so that you can drive while using your device hands-free. Let’s use some common sense and focus on the driving, not the number pad or keypad.
Otherwise, Commissioner Fantino will be coming after you.
Just announced: the province of Ontario will ban the use of handheld electronic devices starting October 26. Handheld devices such as cell phones, blackberries, iPhones, GPS units, DVD players etc. will be banned when you are in the driver’s seat of a vehicle.
There will be a three (3) month education period before officials issue citations.
The placarding saga continues. Transport Canada has issued an ALERT to explain (?) the options available when a large means of containment that requires placards is loaded into a large means of transport. So if we have 2 IBC’s (class 8 and class 3) to be shipped, our options are:
Option 1: for each primary class placard and UN number, duplicate on the outside of the truck.
The federal government has made changes to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act which will increase security for dangerous goods. Most of this is being implemented due to Vancouver hosting the Olympics next year. For the most part there is nothing for anyone to do as there are no regulations for these changes. So there is nothing for us to comply with. The amendments to the regulations for these changes look like they will take some time as I imagine that plenty of people will want to comment on the proposed changes.
