Caution: wide load
Rethinking the rules of the road for Manitoba truckers
Jssica Stewin
“How’s my driving?” This tag line often appears on the back of semi-trucks across the country, complete with a number to call if you wish to respond. And there is no better time to respond to this question then when you see one of these semis wedged beneath an overpass.
Osborne Street’s northbound traffic was recently reduced to one lane as a semi-truck became stuck underneath the CN Rail Bridge on the morning of Oct. 9. This was a nuisance for early morning traffic, yet it was a nuisance that was completely avoidable. Street signs clearly label the height of each bridge, and nothing stops drivers from getting out of their trucks and measuring their loads. Drivers should be aware of their height while driving, to avoid these situations. In order to enforce semi drivers to operate their vehicles responsibly, major fines should be imposed on drivers who fail to exhibit the care necessary when driving their rigs.
Bob Dolyniuk, general manger of the Manitoba Trucking Association said it is a big mistake to increase fines for drivers. Dolyniuk explained his opinion, saying, “Closing the gate after the horse has been out doesn’t do anything.”
Fortunately, we don’t have horses driving semis around Winnipeg. People, however, are motivated by the threat of fines. Avoiding unnecessary economic loss is a good motivator for people and businesses. Increasing fines to more substantial amounts could encourage companies to make their drivers aware of their load heights, and could lead to increased training and higher standards within the industry. The fine for the trucker who hit a girder under the Highway 9 at the
The new legislation would raise penalties for truckers who do not have proper permits, drive carelessly, and who do not follow transportation rules.
north Perimeter Highway overpass last July was dinged for a measly $249 fine.
That very same bridge was under repair for two months, which created headaches for drivers as repairs to the bridge were made. Traffic flow is reduced and tax payers’ dollars go toward repairs because of the fault of the driver who carelessly decided not to check how large their load was.
The Hwy. 9 overpass was equipped with a $250,000 sensor, designed to warn truckers if their loads are too high. However, these sensors did not prevent these accidents from happening. The idea is a good one, but needs to be looked at in order to ensure that the sensor system is able to execute the task it’s designed to do. Yet at the end of the day, there is no need for this elaborate system, as companies and drivers should be responsible for knowing whether or not they’re able to use that route.
Inconvenience is not the only issue. Bridge repairs are prohibitively expensive. Take for example the case in October 2006, where the Disraeli Bridge took a hit from a concrete pumper that cost about $300,000 to repair. This money, inevitably, came from the pockets of taxpayers. Worse, this was a cost that could have been easily avoided had the driver simply got out of his truck and measured his load.
The Manitoba provincial NDP government is set on increasing the fines come this fall, according to statements made by acting transportation minister Stan Struthers, to the CBC in July. Currently, there is no minimum fine for drivers. The maximum fine for loads being oversized ranges between $2,000 and $5,000. Although Struthers did not know in July what the minimum charge would be set at, he informed truck drivers that the fines would increase dramatically.
Struthers seems to have a grasp on the problem. He was also quoted as saying, “We have to get across to people that this is a serious issue, so we’re not just going to bump up the penalties a little bit. We’re going to take the approach that these are going to be substantial increases that will get people’s attention.” This is a line of thought that resonates with many Manitobans.
The new legislation would raise penalties for truckers who do not have proper permits, drive carelessly, and who do not follow transportation rules, such as their loads exceeding height restrictions. The new legislation is apparently on the way, thankfully. With no less than seven incidents this year of truckers hitting overpasses in Manitoba, the legislation couldn’t come at a better time.
Struthers and Manitobans are hoping the increased penalties will encourage awareness in the trucking industry. The industry needs to increase training and policies surrounding the responsibilities of drivers.
Jessica Stewin is a University 1 student
