Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance In Alberta

Effective: July 2012

MODULE 7 Vehicle Weights And Dimensions

Module 7: Vehicle Weights And Dimensions

Overview
The Carrier Services Branch of Alberta Transportation has prepared this guide to assist and ensure that commercial carriers operate safely and are compliant with the regulations that govern highway use. The Province of Alberta, other Canadian jurisdictions, the Government of Canada, and the Transportation Industry developed the National Safety Code (NSC) to help reduce the number and severity of collisions. Each jurisdiction has used the NSC standards as guides in drafting their own transportation safety legislation. This approach promotes uniformity across Canada and helps to ensure that the transportation industry remains as viable and sustainable as possible. Provincial (operates solely in Alberta) and Federal (operates in and outside of Alberta) National Safety Code legislation applies to Alberta carriers who have commercial vehicles registered that are: Trucks, tractors or trailers or a combination of these vehicles that are registered to Provincially regulated motor carriers and have a registered gross weight of 11,794 kilograms or more; Buses with a manufactured seating capacity of 11 persons or more, including the driver (provincially and federally regulated); and Trucks, tractors or trailers, or a combination of these vehicles that are registered to Federally regulated motor carriers and have a registered gross weight greater than 4,500 kilograms.

Provincial and Federal carriers must meet different standards. It is important for carriers to understand the differences prior to deciding if they wish to operate outside of Alberta. For more information visit our Operating Status web page located at www.transportation.alberta.ca/661.htm.

Updated: July 2012

Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta

Module 7: Vehicle Weights And Dimensions

The guide contains several modules, each dealing with a specific topic. To get a complete picture of compliance requirements, you should obtain the complete guide. If you intend to use certain parts of this guide only, for example Module 1, Getting Started, it is recommended that you also obtain the modules Introduction and Appendices. This is a guide only and is not meant to be a substitute for the actual legislation.

Updated: July 2012

Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta

Module 7: Vehicle Weights And Dimensions

Vehicle Weights and Dimensions Learning Objectives

As you work through this module, you will be able to: Understand the need for overweight and oversize permits; Describe carrier responsibilities; Identify legal dimensions and weights; Determine which vehicles require permits and the specific conditions which apply; Identify the types of permits available; Apply for Transportation Routing and Vehicle Information System (TRAVIS) registration, the web interface for permit application and permit status check; Apply for permits using TRAVIS; Obtain the latest road ban information; Access the latest Long Combination Vehicle (LCV) access routes; Access the latest High Corridor routes.

Updated: July 2012

Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta

Module 7: Vehicle Weights And Dimensions

Alberta Transportation Permits

Alberta Transportation monitors, controls and issues permits for the movement of all commercial vehicles, including oversize and overweight vehicles. Alberta Transportation establishes maximum vehicle weight and dimension limits for any vehicle using public roads and makes provisions for the movement of oversize and overweight loads by issuing oversize and overweight permits. This is done for the following purposes: To ensure the safety of the traveling public; To minimize the inconvenience to the traveling public; To minimize damage to the roadway infrastructure; To facilitate the movement of commodities which are non-divisive, deemed impractical to divide, or uneconomical to transport at legal dimensions; To establish and communicate to the carrier a set of conditions for the safe movement of the load; To prevent damage to the carriers vehicles and load.

Responsibilities It is the responsibility of the transporter to consult the legislation for the exact requirements and to obtain all required permits before moving any oversize or overweight shipment. Alberta Transportation, Transport Engineering Branch, is not responsible for any omissions in these documents. Further, Alberta Transportation is not responsible for incomplete, inaccurate or missing permits. Descriptions of vehicle types with detailed, current, legal dimensions are available on the Alberta Transportation web site www.transportation.alberta.ca/622.htm.

Updated: July 2012

Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta

Module 7: Vehicle Weights And Dimensions

Legal Dimensions (Size)

Width: Height: Length: Single Vehicle Truck-tractor and semi-trailer Truck and towed trailer in combination Truck-tractor, semi-trailer and full trailer and or semi-trailer in combination 25.0 metres (820) 12.5 metres (410) 23.0 metres (756) 23.0 metres (756) 2.6 metres 4.15 metres (8 6) (13 6)

Permits are required for the movement of vehicles and their loads that exceed the above legal dimensions.

To obtain more information about this program, call the Alberta Transportation Central Permit Office: From Alberta From out-of-province Fax in permit request Road ban information 1-800-662-7138 403-342-7138 403-340-5278 1-855-762-3226

Conditions are applied to the available permits to minimize infrastructure damage and enhance public safety.

Notes

Updated: July 2012

Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta

Module 7: Vehicle Weights And Dimensions

Permit Conditions Summary Only

DIMENSION Over 2.60 metres wide (8 6) Flags by day Warning lights by night Over 3.05 metres wide (10) Over 3.35 metres wide (11) Over 3.85 metres wide (12 6) As above PLUS 2 dimension signs, front and back As above PLUS 1 or more flashing lights As above PLUS 1 pilot vehicle *behind when on 4-lane road *in front when on 2lane road No movement from 3:00 p.m. until midnight on a Friday or a day preceding a statutory holiday No movement on Sunday or a statutory holiday Over 4.45 metres wide (14 7) Flags, signs, flashing lights On 2-lane road 1 pilot and 1 trailing vehicle On 4-lane road *up to 5.5 m (18) needs 1 trailing vehicle, *over 5.5 m (18) needs 1 pilot and 1 trailing vehicle No movement from 3:00 p.m. until midnight on a Friday or a day or preceding a statutory holiday No movement on Sunday or a statutory holiday Travel during DAYLIGHT HOURS ONLY Over 5.49 or 5.5 metres wide (18) As above PLUS policies on movement of buildings as in policy numbers: mts26e (over 4.45m) OR mts26h (Must not detain school buses) Stopping on provincial highways only permitted at designated truck pull-outs (except for emergencies and power line lifting) Travel during DAYLIGHT HOURS ONLY CONDITIONS

Updated: July 2012

Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta

Module 7: Vehicle Weights And Dimensions

Over 7.32 metres wide (24)

As above plus notify RCMP No traveling in convoys

Over 5.3 metres high (17 4)

Notify power and telephone companies Travel during DAYLIGHT HOURS ONLY

Legal Weights
Alberta Transportation establishes maximum vehicle weights to preserve highway infrastructure and to ensure public safety. Legal weights are dependent on a variety of factors including the number of axles and so on. For a complete list and description, access the Alberta Transportation web site \\ATURDDFW01\SHARED\TSCNSC\Carrier Compliance\Web Projects\January 2007 Version\www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca\Commercial_Transportation\Road_Restrictions__Ba ns\index.htmwww.transportation.alberta.ca. On this site, go to Commercial Transportation, select Licences, Permits and Applications, pick Road Restrictions/Bans and under Legal Weights and Dimensions, select Regulation Summary. From this point, select the configuration of interest.

Permits are required for the movement of vehicles and their loads which exceed the legal weights. Conditions may be applied to the permits to minimize infrastructure damage and enhance public safety. Notes

Updated: July 2012

Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta

Module 7: Vehicle Weights And Dimensions

TRAVIS Registration and Applications

The Transportation and Vehicle Information System web interface is TRAVIS. This system allows you to quickly and easily submit oversize and overweight permit applications and to check the status of applications and permits which you have submitted. In order to use TRAVIS, you must first complete and submit a registration form available from the Alberta Transportation website at: www.trans.gov.ab.ca/TravisWebLogin/redirect.htm. Once you have registered, you will be able to access the site using your Log-in and Password.

Obtaining Overweight and Over-Dimension Permits

Carriers have the option of obtaining the following permits either by entering their permit applications directly on the TRAVIS Web or by phone or fax to one of a network of TRAVIS Agents.
Available over the web or through an agency: 1. Single trip overweight 2. Single trip over-dimension 3. Drilling rig overweight 4. Multi trip over-dimension 5. Single trip licensing 6. 30/60/90 day licensing Not available over the web or through an agency: 1. Equipment exemption 2. Road ban exemption 3. Log haul permits 4. Special licence 5. Annual steering axle overloads 6. Long Combination Vehicles (LCV)

Web site: www.trans.gov.ab.ca/TravisWebLogin/redirect.htm Other Agencies Selected third party agencies now process applications for overweight and overdimension permits. These agencies charge a fee for their service and carriers should check on the fee and hours of operation. Contact Transport Engineering to get further information on these agencies.

Updated: July 2012

Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta

Module 7: Vehicle Weights And Dimensions

10

In order to obtain permits using an agency, use the following procedure: Contact one of the agencies to verify their hours of service and to make arrangements for their payment of service fee (this fee is in addition to the permit fee). When you need a permit, contact the agency. They will take your information and submit the application to TRAVIS for processing. The permit number will be provided to the agency and forwarded to you. If you need a copy of the permit immediately, the agency could print the document and fax it to you. Otherwise, it would be mailed to you directly by TRAVIS. Payment procedures for the permit (not including the agency service fee) is the same as it would be by phoning the permit office directly.

For further information regarding obtaining overweight and over-dimension permits contact the Central Permit Office:
Business hours: 06:00 am to 10:00 pm Monday to Friday 07:00 am to 09:00 pm Saturday and Sunday After business hours

Ph. 800-662-7138 Ph. 403-342-7138 Fax 403-340-5278 Ph. 866-772-9153

In Alberta Out of province

The after business hours number is only for permits that are needed to move a vehicle prior to 6:00 am

Road Restrictions and Seasonal Road Bans

From time to time, the roads in Alberta are restricted because of construction, maintenance or seasonal conditions such as spring thaw. Information related to these conditions is available on the Alberta Transportation web site at: www.transportation.alberta.ca/522.htm.

Updated: July 2012

Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta

Module 7: Vehicle Weights And Dimensions

11

If you travel on unnumbered highways and on county roads during spring thaw, contact the local county office or municipal district office to determine the road ban conditions if there any are in effect.

There are also route restrictions due to dimensional constraints of highways by overhead structures and bridges. Information on these restrictions is available on the Alberta Transportation web site at: www.transportation.alberta.ca/522.htm The web site also shows the existing High Load Corridor map.

Long Combination Vehicles (LCV) Permits and Routes Section 62 of the Traffic Safety Act allows permits to be issued for the movement of Long Combination Vehicles (LCV). Permits for the operation of an LCV and the conditions of the permit are available through the Alberta Transportation web site at: www.transportation.alberta.ca/3191.htm. An LCV route map is also available on this site.

High Vehicle Permits and Routes The High Load Corridor consists of designated highways within the Province of Alberta which have had the overhead utility lines raised to accommodate loads up to 9 metres high. Permits for moving high loads through this corridor are required from Alberta Transportation. A map of the corridor and the fees are available on the Alberta Transportation web site at: www.transportation.alberta.ca/3192.htm Notes

Updated: July 2012

Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta

Module 7: Vehicle Weights And Dimensions

12

Quick Test
Check your understanding by answering the following questions. Circle T if the statement is true or F if the statement is false. T F 1. Alberta Transportation sets maximum vehicle weight and dimension limits for any vehicle using public roads. 2. It is the carriers responsibility to consult the legislation for the exact requirements and to obtain all required permits before moving any oversize shipment. 3. Permits are required for the movement of vehicles and their loads that are more than 2.5 metres wide. 4. A vehicle and load that is more than 2.60 metres wide requires flags by day and warning lights by night. 5. A vehicle and load that is more than 4.45m wide can travel at night as long as there are flashing lights and a pilot vehicle. 6. You must notify the RCMP if your vehicle is over 7.32 metres wide. 7. TRAVIS is a web interface that allows you to submit oversize and overweight permit applications. 8. You do not need a permit to transport a load up to 9 metres high as long as you are in the High Load Corridor.

T T

F F

Check your answers with the answer key on the following page. Review the materials in this module if you answered any of these questions incorrectly.

Updated: July 2012

Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta

Module 7: Vehicle Weights And Dimensions

13

Quick Test Answers

True/False 1. True 2. True 3. False Permits are required for the movement of vehicles and their loads which exceed 2.6 metres wide. 4. True 5. False A vehicle and load that exceeds 4.45 metres can only travel during daylight hours. 6. True 7. True 8. False You need a permit from Alberta Transportation to move high loads through the high Load Corridor.

Updated: July 2012

Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta